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COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire says "everyone needs to have a Bex" as debate continues over the aesthetics of modern football.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and leading coaches have called for calm amid growing frustration at the state of the game. Source: Getty Images
McGuire's call for calm was echoed yesterday by top coaches Alastair Clarkson, Chris Scott and Nathan Buckley.
They were responding to suggested rule changes — some radical — from AFL greats such as Leigh Matthews, Kevin Bartlett and Kevin Sheedy after a string of games this season blighted by a rubgy-style maul at stoppages.
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The AFL has said it may consider measures such as players being restricted to zones during stoppages in order to relieve the congestion.
But football operations boss Mark Evans said yesterday "you need to respect the role of the Laws of the Game committee — that is the greatest debating table around.
"The fans tell us they like the game to be tough and contests, and they like exciting passages of play, they like exciting runs, exciting marks and exciting goals. So long as our game produces those things, it'll be in a good state."
McGuire acknowledged the game was going through a "phase", but said "it might be long bombs to Snake in a year's time".
"The footy is unreal," he said. "I think everyone just needs to have a Bex — we had 83,000 on Monday — we're going to have 95,000 on Friday. That's the NRL's weekly average covered in two games.
"Per capita, it is the biggest most successful sport in the world."
Alastair Clarkson isn't surprised by the debate around the state of the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
Hawthorn coach Clarkson said it was not unusual for the "ugly" debate to occur at this time of year as teams found their feet.
"It's a great debate — it's very, very early in the season and I reckon if we go back to Round 3,4,5 of every season we have these type of debates about the game and how it is evolving.
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"It is a little bit dramatic at the moment because it is so early in the season.
"Certainly from a coaching point of view and the players at Hawthorn, we are still feeling our way — what is going on, what trends are happening, what different teams are doing.
"It's probably a little bit premature to be jumping to conclusions."
Chris Scott thinks AFL is fantastic to watch and doesn't understand current criticism of the game. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
Geelong coach Scott urged caution on potential changes, with a tighter interchange cap and even 16 on the field among suggestions.
"I would move forward slowly when it comes to changing the game," Scott said.
"I tend to think that the game's in very good shape. I might have the blinkers on, but when I watch footy of 15 years ago, I'd take today's footy anytime."
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Scott took aim at a host of former greats who have criticised the modern game.
" ... I sense that there's a little too much focus on the poor games at the moment and not enough focus on the really good games," he said.
"I don't understand the people who love the game, trying to talk it down. I think the game's fantastic to watch. I've never been more intrigued by AFL football than I am now."
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the game will work itself out. Source: Getty Images
Collingwood coach Buckley said he had faith in the game to sort itself out, saying that congestion was often a part of the competition early in each season as teams sorted themselves out.
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"We are one of the lowest stoppage sides, so we are doing our part," Buckley said.
"I think the game has been in good shape. There is a good balance between offence and defence.
"The offence is challenging the defence which has controlled the last three to four years, in particular.
"It is important to make decisions based on evidence. We can't be looking at five or six week trends. Let's look at things over a longer period of time.
"I do feel that early in any season it takes a while for side to settle and find a balance."
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One dissenting voice yesterday was from Fremantle coach Ross Lyon, who said umpire's were at least partly to blame for the mauls .
"The saddle's back. People are being jumped on the ground. Being ridden and jumped on by two or three, and the ball can't get out," Lyon said.
"Clearly they'll blow for the ball-up, but they're not paying the obvious free kicks. Hence the term the rolling maul."
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