David EdwardsWonder Why Its Called AFL?
September 5th 2006 13:19
Well finals frenzy is upon us. For the next month, the newspaper and media (including this very site) will commentate, speculate, and essentially over-analyse how the competition will end up. Contests, rivalries and above all issues will rear its ugly head in the next month to jostle for column inches, some arguments worthy, some downright ridiculous.
And surprise, surprise, the one argument that is guaranteed to get my blood boiling has arisen once more in the AFL. With only three Victorian sides in the finals competition, and none able to reach the allusive Top four positions, which also includes a home final, it means that the home of the AFL, the MCG, will not be used from the first week of the finals until it hosts the Grand Final on September 30. So of course with this fact comes the argument of how the great ground of the MCG will only be used twice during the finals, and this is the point when I start to see red.
First and foremost, the AFL is now a certified national competition. The first club not based in Victoria (Sydney from South Melbourne) joined the competition in 1982, the first true interstate sides (West Coast and Melbourne) started in 1987, and even the AFL changed its named from the Victorian Football League to Australian Football League in 1990, so everyone has had a chance to come to terms of it being a national league.
However most people still cling onto the fact that Victoria must come first and foremost in the competition, which I really feel strongly against. Look at how the competition has played out over the last four years. Five interstate clubs have dominated the ladder, and the three big name Victorian teams (Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton) have won or have been close to winning the wooden spoon in the same time frame.
Let’s face it, the AFL is now national based, and it should be recognised. I think it’s not a big deal, or even a worthy article, about how the MCG will lay dormant for the next two weeks. First of all, it simply means that four interstate clubs were the best in the competition this year, and as a reward they should be allowed a home final for all their fans. Second of all, with no one using the ground for over a fortnight, this means that when the last Saturday in September rolls around, the ground will be in optimum condition for the most important game of the season. And finally, it will truly give the Grand Final a bit more edge by being a neutral ground.
Last year it was hard to predict how the Eagles and Swans could face up against each other on a neutral ground. The Swans were a force to be reckoned with both on home and away turf, but seemed to lack the talent that West Coast held, and the Eagles were truly a huge beast to take down at home for any team, but away they could show flaws. This means that since both sides had to travel for the premiership, and as it unfolded, the Swans were able to defeat the juggernauts of the competition.
The neutral ground is a great concept for the Grand Final. This is not me suggesting that we take the Grand Final away from the MCG if a Victorian team ever claws back into the top spot, as I cannot argue it is the home of football, but when the dominant interstate sides have to travel for the premiership, it makes the match and the contest a lot more interesting. Just remember last years last second mark and tell me otherwise.
On another note, tonight Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith took out the Dally M Medal for best player in the NRL competition in 2006. He was truly a fantastic player and was worthy of the award, as the Storm could not have dominated the competition without him. This is a true testament of how strong the Storm side is at the moment, and I am still confident that they will be able to take away the premiership this year.
Tomorrow, we start reviewing the clubs in the NRL who haven’t made the finals this year, and how they can improve or strengthen, who has already made a strong push for 2007?
Until next time, sports minds.
And surprise, surprise, the one argument that is guaranteed to get my blood boiling has arisen once more in the AFL. With only three Victorian sides in the finals competition, and none able to reach the allusive Top four positions, which also includes a home final, it means that the home of the AFL, the MCG, will not be used from the first week of the finals until it hosts the Grand Final on September 30. So of course with this fact comes the argument of how the great ground of the MCG will only be used twice during the finals, and this is the point when I start to see red.
First and foremost, the AFL is now a certified national competition. The first club not based in Victoria (Sydney from South Melbourne) joined the competition in 1982, the first true interstate sides (West Coast and Melbourne) started in 1987, and even the AFL changed its named from the Victorian Football League to Australian Football League in 1990, so everyone has had a chance to come to terms of it being a national league.
However most people still cling onto the fact that Victoria must come first and foremost in the competition, which I really feel strongly against. Look at how the competition has played out over the last four years. Five interstate clubs have dominated the ladder, and the three big name Victorian teams (Collingwood, Essendon and Carlton) have won or have been close to winning the wooden spoon in the same time frame.
Let’s face it, the AFL is now national based, and it should be recognised. I think it’s not a big deal, or even a worthy article, about how the MCG will lay dormant for the next two weeks. First of all, it simply means that four interstate clubs were the best in the competition this year, and as a reward they should be allowed a home final for all their fans. Second of all, with no one using the ground for over a fortnight, this means that when the last Saturday in September rolls around, the ground will be in optimum condition for the most important game of the season. And finally, it will truly give the Grand Final a bit more edge by being a neutral ground.
Last year it was hard to predict how the Eagles and Swans could face up against each other on a neutral ground. The Swans were a force to be reckoned with both on home and away turf, but seemed to lack the talent that West Coast held, and the Eagles were truly a huge beast to take down at home for any team, but away they could show flaws. This means that since both sides had to travel for the premiership, and as it unfolded, the Swans were able to defeat the juggernauts of the competition.
The neutral ground is a great concept for the Grand Final. This is not me suggesting that we take the Grand Final away from the MCG if a Victorian team ever claws back into the top spot, as I cannot argue it is the home of football, but when the dominant interstate sides have to travel for the premiership, it makes the match and the contest a lot more interesting. Just remember last years last second mark and tell me otherwise.
On another note, tonight Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith took out the Dally M Medal for best player in the NRL competition in 2006. He was truly a fantastic player and was worthy of the award, as the Storm could not have dominated the competition without him. This is a true testament of how strong the Storm side is at the moment, and I am still confident that they will be able to take away the premiership this year.
Tomorrow, we start reviewing the clubs in the NRL who haven’t made the finals this year, and how they can improve or strengthen, who has already made a strong push for 2007?
Until next time, sports minds.
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Comment by TheCoach
Sorry guys, two corrections need to be made on the article. First of all there are FOUR Victorian sides in the finals, not three like stated. Also it was Brisbane who joined the competition in 1987, not Melbourne, who have actually been in the competition since its origins. Sometimes it helps to proof read!