AFL 2022 has started with a bang! last night the defending Premier's, Melbourne, had a big win over the Western Bulldogs in the GF Replay, and tonight, Carlton have come from the clouds to down their old rivals the Tigers by 101-76, it's the first time in 10 years I believe that Carlton have won in round 1 over the Tigers!

Mindless humbug ...............

I don’t really care about football, but how many times have Richmond and Carlton played in the first round in the last ten years?

Every year since the late 2000s IIRC. 'Er indoors is a Tigress,  2008?

I was at the Carlton Game last night.

1st quarter I am thinking here we going again nothing has changed from last year, then 2nd quarter the boys lifted.

2rd we were behind but still remained in touch.

4th wow what a performance.

Could this be the goal of the year?

Yawn.  Go Cats!

And I haven't watched a single game this year - although I might watch the GF if the Cats are in it.  Too much gambling ads and 'wokeness' has turned me right off it.

I can understand Carnot's view.  My elder son and I are both Hawks members; we live within three minutes walk of each other, and five minutes from the MCG. We have reserved seats for home games. We have not been to one game this season, and the reasons are:-
Too many advertisements with a huge percentage of them for gambling.
Flashing lights around the boundary with more ads; very distracting.
Ground announcers whose job description reads "Yell at them about things they can already see for themselves".
Rock "music" at every opportunity.
and so on.
It seems that the system is designed around a mantra of " If there's no actual play occurring, create noise; any sort of noise".
There has been a deal of recent media comment along these lines.

In published statements by the AFL, its try at reasons for low attendances are COVID, high food prices, and bad weather. The AFL needs to look inwards, not outwards.

Yawn.  Go Cats!

And I haven't watched a single game this year - although I might watch the GF if the Cats are in it.  Too much gambling ads and 'wokeness' has turned me right off it.

I must say I have lost a bit of interest this year too yet AFL club memberships have hit an all time record this year

An astonishing 1,113,441 people are members of an AFL club - that's one in 23 Australians according to Gil

https://www.afl.com.au/news/659242/2021-afl-club-membership-breaks-all-time-record

An astonishing 1,113,441 people are members of an AFL club - that's one in 23 Australians according to Gil

Sure, but how many go to the games?

Frequent rule changes make the game less interesting to watch. The deliberate out-of-bounds is a case in point - seems to be optional, depending on which team is leading and the balance of free kicks at the relevant point in the game.

The noise level from other than spectator excitement is unreasonable.

Timing of matches is set by reference to tv rights, much of which is now with pay-tv, and bears no relationship to fan preference. Same with the stadium roster, which sees Richmond and Hawthorn “away” games played at their “home” ground - notably if the opponent is Geelong.

The wokeness is essentially a distraction.

Despite being a Cats fan (since 1963), and our team sitting top of the table, I struggle to watch a game on TV, let alone paying for a seat at the game itself. In past years, Swans v Cats at the SCG was a fixture in my calendar.

I support Valvegear’s assessment that the AFL should look inwards rather than outwards.

An astonishing 1,113,441 people are members of an AFL club - that's one in 23 Australians according to Gil

Sure, but how many go to the games?

Not as many as pre-covid but do the clubs really care? They already have your hard earned!!!

I know the AFL is looking into the lower crowd numbers and made a few changes like earlier starts on Friday nights etc

Seeing as how this is a Railway site and all I wonder how many non-attendees can be put down to V/Line and their constant shutdowns and bustitutions? A few fans I spoke to on the train during the last Sunbury shutdown said they would never use V/Line to try to get to a game again - Friday shutdown starting at around 8pm so they got the train in but it was going to be coaches back out to the sticks. Imagine that with hundreds if not thousands of people all trying to squeeze onto a few rickety buses at Southern Cross after a game! And of course not being regular users of the service the first they heard about it was when I asked them about it!

The most likely matches to lose out on crowds due to V/Line and it's constant shenanigans would be Geelong games so it would be interested to see how their crowd numbers are holding up. The fact that they are top of the ladder may skew the figures a bit though!

The most likely matches to lose out on crowds due to V/Line and it's constant shenanigans would be Geelong games so it would be interested to see how their crowd numbers are holding up. The fact that they are top of the ladder may skew the figures a bit though!

I agree BG even metro trains sruggles to actually provide services from the grounds, i can't imagine how disruptive it must be for V/Line users trying to attend games.

Of course attendances will be down by the multitude of 'oldies' who do not have (or need) smart phones and who rely on the shambolic arrangements surrounding paper tickets.

The YMs is a strong North Melbourne supporter; a club whose ticketing arrangements are no better than their on-field performance. She is still awaiting her paper tickets from the club for the Richmond game a fortnight ago.

Apart from the foregoing, the AFL should get on with the game and abandon all the frivolous 'woke' themes that they apply to just about every round.

As one of little faith, I suspect that there are too many balls in play somewhere.

As one of little faith, I suspect that there are too many balls in play somewhere.

I don't think it's only the balls.

As one of little faith, I suspect that there are too many balls in play somewhere.

I don't think it's only the balls.

I am renowned for tact and diplomacy!

The YMs is a strong North Melbourne supporter; a club whose ticketing arrangements are no better than their on-field performance. She is still awaiting her paper tickets from the club for the Richmond game a fortnight ago.

I hope the Shinboner Spirit is strong in the YMs

As someone who spends a fair whack of time in old Norf I get to speak to and hear some of the old school locals who support the club

The way things are going at the moment 1999 seems a long time ago.......

ESPN Says the following over the Carlton Performance last weekend:

Stocks up:

It what really was a pitiful performance from the Blues, the skipper did his best to keep his side in the contest. Patrick Cripps was massive; 41 disposals, 13 clearances, two goal assists, six tackles and 596 metres gained is a fantastic effort in anyone's book - it's just a shame thr forward line didn't fire and he didn't have a lot of help.

Stocks down:

How long have you got? Michael Voss' decision to drop Jack Silvagni was misguided. The team's tackling efforts were incredibly poor. Harry McKay's lack of impact and desire for a hard ball or to kick a drop punt was costly. This was probably Carlton's worst performance of the year, and looking to their run home Brisbane (A), Melbourne (A), Collingwood (H), there's a very real chance they don't win another game this year ... and possibly miss the eight. Sheesh.

Carlton look gone.

As much as I hate to say it, Geelong looks like the flag favourite. One of that team's standout features is that it is undoubtedly the best third-quarter side in the AFL.
On numerous occasions this year, including the weekend just gone, Geelong has been in a bit of bother at half time, and has come out and blown the opposition away in the third quarter. Former great VFL coach David Parkin called it the "premiership quarter" and not without good reason.

As much as I hate to say it, Geelong looks like the flag favourite. One of that team's standout features is that it is undoubtedly the best third-quarter side in the AFL.
On numerous occasions this year, including the weekend just gone, Geelong has been in a bit of bother at half time, and has come out and blown the opposition away in the third quarter. Former great VFL coach David Parkin called it the "premiership quarter" and not without good reason.

Richmond had been good at the last half acceleration, but not so much this year. I think they'll struggle if they get to the finals.

As much as I hate to say it, Geelong looks like the flag favourite. One of that team's standout features is that it is undoubtedly the best third-quarter side in the AFL.
On numerous occasions this year, including the weekend just gone, Geelong has been in a bit of bother at half time, and has come out and blown the opposition away in the third quarter. Former great VFL coach David Parkin called it the "premiership quarter" and not without good reason.

As a Sydneysider, I think the Swans are in with a major crack as well, they have young guns that can match it with anyone on their day, but I do concede that the Swans biggest downfall could be the inconsistencies in the team, but so far they have been pretty good.

As a Sydneysider, I think the Swans are in with a major crack as well, they have young guns that can match it with anyone on their day, but I do concede that the Swans biggest downfall could be the inconsistencies in the team, but so far they have been pretty good.

I feel the Sydney Swans have been the outstanding club from a club management viewpoint.  They have been well administered and have solid following.

I agree that the Swans management is very good, but I wouldn't go as far as saying it's a standout. Geelong is good, so is Melbourne, Collingwood has stabilised after the Eddie years, and the Bulldogs leadership is very stable. I would have added Hawthorn except for the fact that Kennett can't keep his trap shut.

North Melbourne management matches their on field performance.

I saw the Collingwood game last night and he’ll can anyone stop the Collingwood army ?