Weekly Ramblings
So round 1 of the season proper kicked off finally and it seemed to go for ages. The idea that the paying public can accept 9 games over 2 weekends to and stay excited about the season start is flawed if you ask me. Throw in Monday and Thursday night games and you have as non-traditional start to the year as you could get. It was lucky that the Thursday night was under lights at the Cattery or else I wouldnt have shown much interest at that time of the week. If it continues it might replace the Sunday twlight game as the most un family friendly schedule of all time.
It came after an unusual and almost farcicle pre-season non-competition that had no winners or losers and masqueraded as the real deal. I’m afraid that the next step will be a prolonged season with an early start, staggered approach, utilising interstate grounds, replicating the NRL rubbish of starting before the international cricket has ended and not finishing until Santa is doing his run throughs and warmups in the rooms before heading off on his xmas run. The fixation on NFL and all things American has dished up some positives for the AFL over the years, think draft, salary cap, TV rights deals, but the Aussie Rules public is not the American public, and the traditions of the game are unique and need to be preserved. They need to be careful, and with the departure of Vlad at the end of the year who knows what direction we’ll take next.
The games in round 1 were entertaining, those that I saw at least. The two expansion teams took it up to a couple of good teams and came out on top. It is a bit scarey to consider what they will be like once they really hit their straps. I tipped the Suns to make the 8 this year. Lets see what Round 2 delivers for the Giants before we get too carried away but gee wizz, those tall forwards are ominous. Not happy seeing Chappy running around in the red sash but happy for him, he’s at out and out champion and has delivered much happiness to followers of the Pivotonians. The other Catters in alternate colours didnt do too much, Podsy, Westy didnt trouble the statistician too much. It would be interesting to put together a team of ex Cats still playing and see what it would look like. Some handy ones around. Might do that one day.
As I said, the footy was pretty good. The umpires have such an influence on the flow of the game it had a big impact when they put the whistle away. If they improve now on paying in the back when its a pile on they might get back to the right balance of protecting the player and rewarding the hard heads. KB has retired from the laws of the game committee and as he departed he said something I agree with for the first time. Can't remember what it was though!
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