Why are AFL players so bent?

Fall Guy

Was watching a match there and the shooting was awful. Do clubs not place much emphasis on shooting ability?

chughes

Op, I made the mistake of thinking that you were referring to a lifestyle choice rather than their abilities on the pitch. I know very little about AFL but I do know that it's a very macho type of sport where "Sheilas" would not be tolerated.

Mackman

Well when you take into consideration that its an oblong ball, and the amount of running that they do during the game and the distance of a lot of the shots, i imagine its quite difficult to accuratly score goals. Some teams are better than others and obviously they focus on kicking a lot in their training.
Of course there are times when you're just like "how the **** did he miss that??" but you get that in every sport.


(just want to put in, GO DOCKERS!!!! 2 for 2 )

Fall Guy

Mackman wrote: »

Well when you take into consideration that its an oblong ball, and the amount of running that they do during the game and the distance of a lot of the shots, i imagine its quite difficult to accuratly score goals. Some teams are better than others and obviously they focus on kicking a lot in their training.
Of course there are times when you're just like "how the **** did he miss that??" but you get that in every sport.


(just want to put in, GO DOCKERS!!!! 2 for 2 )

do AFL players do more running than GAA players? I wouldn't of thought so...

Mackman

Fall Guy wrote: »

do AFL players do more running than GAA players? I wouldn't of thought so...

I dont know the statistics, but i would imagine they do. The pitch is much larger and they move around the pitch a lot more. Its not uncommon to see backs up in the forwards etc.

Fall Guy

but GAAs been moving that way for a while with backs going forward and forwards going back, especially with teams like tyrone. I would of thought AFL is more about short sharp bursts of speed to catch a ball, rather than hard running displayed in GAA.

Mackman

I didnt mean changing positions, i meant the positions arent as fixed as they are in GAA. The players move around much more freely. And plus, the game lasts longer too, 4 quarters of 20mins.

Fall Guy

Mackman wrote: »

I didnt mean changing positions, i meant the positions arent as fixed as they are in GAA.

So did I. I don't agree the players move around more freely in AFL than GAA but spose we'll just have to agree to disagree.

Bol_Whelan

Mackman wrote: »

I dont know the statistics, but i would imagine they do. The pitch is much larger and they move around the pitch a lot more. Its not uncommon to see backs up in the forwards etc.

There was a time when positions were more fixed and a Full Forward for example would move very little from the goal square. Modern tactics such as the Flood which the Sydney Swans used to great effect in the mid 90's have changed this.

The coach sends nearly all the players into defense to stop or smother the running play of the opposition. You can end up with nearly every player following the ball at times with loads of ball ups. Not much of a specticle. Its like watching under 7's play.

There are teams now that do a lot of zone attacking and defending. This requires lots of running and fitness and it what appears to be coming more into GAA. Much better to watch.

Xavi6

Fall Guy wrote: »

So did I. I don't agree the players move around more freely in AFL than GAA but spose we'll just have to agree to disagree.

AFL players imo move around a lot more than GAA players imo.

Quite often you will see an AFL full back follow his man right up the field to the opposition 50 or get involved in his team's attack.

Also a full forward is more likely to come out the field in AFL.

There aren't too many differences across half back and half forward but definitely in the other positions.

Shane10

Mackman wrote: »

I didnt mean changing positions, i meant the positions arent as fixed as they are in GAA. The players move around much more freely. And plus, the game lasts longer too, 4 quarters of 20mins.

dosent it end up been 4 quarters of 30 minutes ?

Mackman

Shane10 wrote: »

dosent it end up been 4 quarters of 30 minutes ?

4x20mins is the official time, but the overall time varies. could be 25 mins, or 35 mins per quarter, depends on the game, and the amount of time the ball goes out of play.

rebel girl 15

Its simply tiredness sometimes, the physical tiredness results in poor technique but you'll have completely bent kicks in the GAA as well. AFL ball is harder to kick due to the shape, GAA ball is much easier! I've both at home!

Mahatma coat

what with it being an Oval pitch bendin the ball is sometimes an advantageous thing