But with enough sample size after three rounds after shutting down the coronavirus, it’s time to act, according to David King, the premier player from North Melbourne.
Allocating Sunday’s AFL games left little to be desired as Geelong and Melbourne scored four goals for half a half, while Clarkson got to grips with the “terrible” nature of the games, including Hawthorn’s close win against North Melbourne.
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Falcons hold back kangaroos
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“This is not the first time he has said that,” King said at Fox Footy The first crack.
“It was three or four years ago when they lost the final. He said: “We did 100 duels, were not rewarded. What happens to our game?”
“We have to open the game, the referees have to take control. He is exactly right. In round 4, 954 tackles were placed. For 62 who hold the balls, that’s a shocking percentage.
“I think he’s right, he asked the referees at the end of this press conference, ‘Referees please pay them.’ He said for them and against us we will adapt. “
King outlined a radical rule change that would likely result in better ball decisions and forced players to think faster.
According to his theory, a team’s previous opportunity would become fashionable, meaning that a referee could punish a teammate further down the chain once a club player had the opportunity.
“We went on stage now, 10 years ago we had 60 tackles per game, now some teams have almost 200,” he said.
“The game has changed. You have to be prepared for this, teams intentionally pass the ball on to you (Tom Morris) a meter away and know that it won’t pay in the referee’s pocket to hold the ball because you haven’t had a chance before because you had me no more time to dispose of the footy.
“We have to change radically, we have to adapt when we are fleeing. We cannot wait another 15 rounds, we cannot wait until 2020 is over.
“You have to say right what the coaches say, what the master coach says. If you are caught with the ball now, it will hold the ball.
“Team holds the ball, team before opportunity. As soon as you have won the ball, the starting position, and played or kicked the ball with your hand, you have lost the right. “
Hawthorn press conference
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HOW WOULD THE PLAYERS REPLY?
King believed that it would take little time for the teams to adjust, even without normal training plans in 2020.
“It will force players to think faster. It will take five minutes to adapt and spread,” he said.
“Perhaps you hold a lower position if you want to get out of handball. You must have space for the operator. If you do something wrong, free kicks will be paid out against you.
“It will cost goals to change the ball movement. Why wait?
“The players will adapt. These are handball exercises that are performed 40 minutes each session. They’re rusty, but I’m not worried about the players. Let’s get our game back, get some ball movement. Maybe it’ll take two or three weeks.
“The NRL have taken a tough step and they have been the most observable for years.”
King also thought that the umpires would find it easy to adjust his radical rule with ease.
Clarko, Betts spray vapor
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IS THERE A DEEPER PROBLEM?
Despite King’s theory, Nick Dal Santo suggested that there was a deeper problem with the lack of points and excitement in the AFL.
“What we saw today … things have to change and they have to change very quickly,” he said.
“A lot of people have to raise their hands and take responsibility because this is more than the same player who turns them over or the same player who plays conservative football from the back half. Many people have to take responsibility.
“Nobody wants to dare to win anymore, we are all so conservative.
“If this trend continues, you want to push it in the butt early. I think coaches have to take responsibility for how they play.
“But you think when players come through the system, they play instinctively. We cannot blame all players. I’m a big skill level, I don’t think the skill level is where it should be on a team. It is not consistent enough.
“You think of all these players who get through, they’re all good at something. They are good at football, but at some point the structure and the system break it down: “I’ll go far because if I don’t, I’ll get into trouble.”
“Therefore, the responsibility goes back to many coaches.”
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