GROUNDHOG DAY AT THE AFL
It’s becoming boring.
Everytime there is a draw in the AFL, the reporters, press and talk back radio stations go beserk with the ‘Why do we have to have the draw’ syndrome.
As soon as the siren went in the Richmond v North drawn game, I knew we would be going into meltdown with the whinging and grissling of the AFL press who are desperate for a story…any story…
It’s the same each year for the ANZAC Day clash as well – GROUND HOG DAY. “Let’s have a phone in to see if your club deserves to host the ANZAC DAY clash” they cry.
Then they start on getting rid of the umpires bouncing the ball.
It’s boring and monotonous.
These are all fantastic parts of our unique game.
Let’s face it. I love the AFL draw. It’s tense and exciting in the last moments of the game. One team is the winner and one is the loser anyway because one of the teams has quite often blown the game (as in Richmond this year) and someone has saved their skin (North Melbourne this year).
The draw is a fantastic part of our game. I take you back to the first ANZAC DAY clash. Both sides, Essendon and Collingwood were fantastic that day. The result was a draw and we are all still talking about it.
How about my favorite. The “One more Kerna” day at the MCG where Carlton Bult, Steve Kernahan kicked for goal from Kernahan’s pocket after the siren when scores were level . He kicked out of bounds on the full! Carlton lost the draw that day, Essendon won the draw.
I’ve heard people say that it was terrible to see players so deflated after the Richmond/North game. They reckon Brent Harvey looked devastated and depressed…well stiff bikkies, I reckon. Scenes like these are part of our great game. They didn’t know whether to sing the song or not…get over it and sing the song next time you win. (In Richmond’s case, they’ve probably forgotten the words anyway).
How about caretaker Richmond Coach, Jade Rawlings who says he would rather have lost than finished on a draw. What kind of a fool statement is that?
Receiving 2 match points for the draw has often put a new slant on the shaping of the final 8.
*I’ve heard arguments for extended time of 5 minutes for each team.
*I’ve heard of a goal kicking shootout (you might as well toss a coin or do the paper, scissors, rock thing)
*How about the bloke who suggested that the team who kicks the first goal of the match should be retrospectively awarded the win in a drawn game.
*Or the next goal wins if scores are level at siren time – I hope we’re kicking with the wind with that one…
*One idiot even phoned the radio station to suggest a replayed match after the Grand Final – the funds to go to charity…Well I’m sorry, but when I begin my AFL career, I will be on the end of season trip for that one…
Mike Sheahan’s article in Tuesday 21 July Herald Sun just about made me sick. Sheahan always goes against the grain of our game as he is just another reporter desperate to fill his press column with a controversial headline.
That idiot Craig Hutchison was at it again on Talking Footy, Monday night. “Why is ours the only sport who doesn’t deal with a drawn contest?” he bleated. Well I’ve just got one word to say to Hutchy “Soccer”. Does this bloke forget that soccer deals up a draw in most of its encounters. Soccer World Cup has a penalty shootout which rewards the team with the best full forward.
How about cricket? You can play 5 days for a draw and I’ve seen some fantastic, tense and exciting drawn contests which go down to the last ball of the 5th day.
Our game goes for about 100 minutes, if you can’t separate the combatants in that time, well so be it. Enjoy the novelty of the draw. Some of the best games in history have been draws and these are games we are still often talking about.
Fair dinkum, I’m on my soap box about this one but I’m sick of people always trying to change what is perfect.
I’ve had enough – LEAVE OUR GAME ALONE.
15 Comments
July 22, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Truer words have never been spoke Collie Gray…accept the draw…live with it…these so called “expert jornos” must have 2 dicks, because you can’t get that stupid playing with one!!!
And the ANZAC Day losers…get over it…most clubs combined membership would hardly be more than Essendon or Collingwoods alone…get a fan base and create a history and MAYBE you’ll get a look in, until then…dry your eyes and harden the fark up!!!!!!
July 22, 2009 at 2:43 pm
You should lock down this post in case serial plagarist Craig Hutchison copies and pastes it and serves it up in his own column, minus the disparaging remarks against him personally of course.
July 22, 2009 at 2:44 pm
PS – At least this time the North players weren’t hugging and kissing and high fiving for five minutes after the siren before they realised they hadn’t won after all…
July 22, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Craig Hutchinson shits me!
Mike Sheehan shits me!
Maybe they should also spend some time trying to rewrite something remotely humourous based on a crappy ditty from a manic-depressives songlist, cause they ain’t got as life either!!!!
The draw is good.
The draw stays.
Long live the draw!!! (everybody in the crowd cheers loudly)
July 22, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Hurrumph you lot!
July 23, 2009 at 1:14 pm
Ban the draw – ban it I say:
It’s a waste of bloody time. So what if cricket matches go for a bloody fortnight with no result, that doesn’t mean it’s good for football.
Bloody soccer too… not only do they embrace the draw, but you can actually have nil all draws. What’s the bloody point?
Surely we can rise above the mediocrity of a drawn game and actually have a winner and a loser. After all, every footy fan wants their side to be the winner and their opponent to be the loser. Why do you go out in the cold, sit with ferals from opposition sides all afternoon, listening to their bullshit comments and wearing half their bloody pie?It’s so you can stick it up them after the final siren that’s why! So you can strut out of the ground waving your scarf around like a dickhead that’s why, not so you can all stand around looking at each other with a blank friggin’ stare.
I don’t care if you have to add extra time, see who can do the best cartwheel or who knows the 2nd verse of Advance Australia Fair, just get a winner for F***s sake!
To quote an old favourite – Yosemite Sam from the Bugs Bunny show….. “I paid my 4 bits to see the high divin’ act and I’m a gonna see the high divin’ act”….and what’s more I expect a @**&*ing result damn it!
Ban the f***ing draw!
July 23, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Bloody Hell! Struck a nerve there didn’t I Judester. You need some serious Zorba the Greek music to relax your mind and calm your mood…phew geez…
July 23, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Who is this woman, and what gives her the right to comment…
July 23, 2009 at 6:07 pm
Dunno, Hoot – but just reading all that, I bet she gives you hell at home…
July 24, 2009 at 11:23 am
But Collie, I was just trying to keep up the momentum that you started whilst balancing on your soapbox. I didn’t want to let it deteriorate to a whimper!
July 26, 2009 at 11:00 am
Seriously Colin get over it it is time to change, I think if it ends in a draw then should be decided by a spit the dummy comp, who ever can spit the dummy the longest distance wins the game or even better who ever spits the dummy the longest distance is the loser then we can introduce tanking into the spit the dummy comp.
Now wouldn’t that be exciting to watch at the end of a drawn game.
Ingo.
July 26, 2009 at 11:00 am
That is better than I thought that would mean tanking to win instead of tanking to lose, now there is a major improvement to the game!!
July 26, 2009 at 11:02 am
I spent almost an entire year in Melbourne before realising they started the game with a bounce in the middle.
July 26, 2009 at 11:06 am
Classic, Aussie Mal – of course in missing the start of the game every week, at least we used our time for good rather than evil at the MCG Hotel…
July 26, 2009 at 11:09 am
I’m planning on putting together some of my observations, quotes & things I have learnt / eaten since arriving in Melbourne in 2001. A quick sample of these are:
· How did possum boy become possum boy
· Pubs I have drunk at (all fine establishments) – Y & J’s, Hosies, The Royal etc
· Get a hard ball Bradley
· Balllllllllllll.
· The Melbourne train network
· Col’s special omelette