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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 25, 2005 21:09:01 GMT -5
Ok, not sure if this is really going to take off, but I'm aiming this at the Aussies of the boards... Maarts, Mellie, I'm thinkin' of you guys mainly! :-) Of course, all comers welcome, but I am not sure who is following AFL other than us three...
Midway through the Season and it's been an interesting affair. Two of the major powerhouses of the competition those being Brisbane and Port Adelaide have struggled through the first half of the season, but are showing signs of improvement... the West Coast Eagles look like the team to beat...
Collingwood and Hawthorn, years ago both having incredible successes.... languish around the bottom...
There's a big clog up around the middle of the ladder which needs to kinda sort itself out...
Any predictions / ideas about where the season might go from here on in??!
Thoughts on who might play in the Grand Final...
let's get this board going... post any articles, points of interest, thoughts predictions, tips, whatever... this sport deserves the attention here! :-) :-) :-)
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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 25, 2005 21:10:23 GMT -5
Oh and I welcome anyone confused about AFL to ask as many questions as possible... it aint an easy game to understand from the outset, so feel free, ask away!
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Post by stratman19 on Jun 25, 2005 21:52:48 GMT -5
Oh and I welcome anyone confused about AFL to ask as many questions as possible... it aint an easy game to understand from the outset, so feel free, ask away! You ain't just whistlin' dixie when you say it isn't an easy game to undertsand Scottsy! I'd like to think that I'm sports savvy; I love the NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA. I watch Aussie Rules Football on occasion (not often), but I have yet to understand, or get a handle on that game! It seems to me to be some sort of combination of soccer, rugby, American football, who knows what. Care to enlighten this American? I might watch it more if I knew what the hell was going on! |
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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 25, 2005 22:07:01 GMT -5
Where to begin... hahahaha!
Basically it's meant to be a free flowing game... probably most closely related to irish gaelic football, but then again quite different as well...
Positions are played very loosely, but basically it consists of the usual midfield, defence and forward areas on the ground. Howver players can roam pretty freely up and down the ground, following (or not) their "tagged" player.
The only acceptable way of passing the ball is by kicking it or by a "handball", basically using the fist to launch the ball from one hand to the next player in your team in the best position to move it forward. Players can run with the ball but for only a 25 metre distance, and can be "tackled" to lose posession... if they hold the ball whilst being tacked they are called as "holding the ball" and have to give up possesion.
Ummmmm, what eles... "marking" catching the ball on the full, no bounces) means you can have a "free kick"... essentially this is a kick of the ball without opposition players bothering you or running you down...
If the free kick is in front of the goal area (four posts) players can have a shot at goal... if you kick it between the two tallets posts... you score a goal (which equals six points). If you score between a long post and a short post or you hit the long post, you score a point, which adds to your total score but not as significantly as a goal...
There are also lots of other little idiosyncratic rules like having to bounce the ball while you are on the run, otherwise you have "overrun" the ball, kicking out of bounds (not to be done deliberately) And striking other players behind play or off the ball, which results in a 50m penalty for the opposing team... basically a free kick and nice walk up the ground by 50 metres...
Don't know if this confuses you more or is enlightening... but i hope to have been helpful!
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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 25, 2005 22:12:25 GMT -5
oh and of course goals and points can be scored "on the run" or if the ball is loose and the player happens to find a way to have a shot at kicking a goal... one of the more spectacular methods of scoring a goal is having a "snap" at goal, where the player finds the ball scrambling in play and just kicks it in the right direction between the poles... very exciting when this occurs!
Also it is a rough, contact sport... no safety equipment except the occasional helmet for players who are advised by doctors... maybe a mouthguard to prevent your teeth getting knocked out...
Players are also encouraged to "fly" for the mark (catch on the full) and often scramble up or jump up other players to gain added height... another spectacular aspect of the game.
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Post by stratman19 on Jun 27, 2005 10:49:11 GMT -5
Thanks Scottsy. You were far more enlightening than confusing, but my head is still spinning, nonetheless! ;D
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Post by RocDoc on Jun 27, 2005 12:28:46 GMT -5
Whenever I could find Aussie Rules on the TV, I absolutely LOVED watching it.
Without a doubt the roughest organized team sport that I've ever seen.
And I watched it enough times that the rules finally became pretty understandable to me...except perhaps what the 'precise' distance that a player can run for, without bouncing the ball off the ground. 25 meters, then?
How the hell do the players themselves gauge this while they're running and people are trying to annihilate them?
10 steps and bounce?
Complex little game that...
We just recently had them install satellite TV (and WITH the 100 hour DVR which was 'free'...and an EXcellent innovation!) at our house so we do have several ESPNs, but I honestly haven't pored over the TV listings for that sport like I used to do...thanks for reminding me!
And I remember Collingwood from when I useta watch...the perennial contender it seems.
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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 28, 2005 1:00:30 GMT -5
Yeah Collingwood are struggling right now, but they have a giant killing ability, they have it in them, i think they are just developing their player list, rebuilding... just as all teams ebb and flow I think they are workin' themselves out presently! They are a determined little side and they'll probably be doing alot better within the next 2 - 3 years!
It's a great to watch, I reckon... I love the spills, the roughness of it all... I think it's one of gutsiest sports around... not quite as rough as ice hockey though... :-)
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Post by maarts on Jun 28, 2005 7:49:02 GMT -5
It's ice hockey without the padding. And the skates....and the goals...no puck either...ok, anyway...
4 times 20 minutes pure playing time. So everyone runs, tackles, shoots, handpasses, attacks and defends. Personally I'd get tired almost halfway through one quarter, let alone four...
Nuffin' but respect.
Still, soccer is my game.
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Post by mellie on Jun 29, 2005 10:19:15 GMT -5
Im just starting to get a really strong grasp on the game myself, with much coaching from Scott and the family. Its so exciting!! Im even to the point now where I can watch teams other than the one that Im supposed to like the most play and find it interesting, getting into the ladder and figuring how that works exactly, how you get to the finals etc etc. I have digital cable, so theres one game on every week, though that is actually behind one week. If you go to afl.com you can buy a season membership online and watch any game played 24 hours afterwards online. Thats how I watch most of the games. GOOD STUFF!!!
GO PORT!!!
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Post by ScottsyII on Jun 29, 2005 18:11:04 GMT -5
GO THE POWER!!!
We're playing Collingwood tomorrow night... team's back up to full playing personnel... should be a cracker, and one they should win! Lets hope for a better finish to the season than our start... :-)
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Post by mellie on Jun 30, 2005 10:23:27 GMT -5
Mmmm... and as if it was a dare, I actually tipped Port to win today for the first time this season. Lets hope that I didnt just jinx it big time!! Really though, its a funny setup as far as games go this time, if you look at it. All the Top teams are playing all the bottom teams and the middle teams have some rough games ahead of them, those would be the ones to watch IMO.
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Post by mellie on Jul 2, 2005 23:56:45 GMT -5
And Id just like to say that I love them, but I do believe that Port are officially done for this season.
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Post by ScottsyII on Jul 3, 2005 0:12:23 GMT -5
I try to live in hope for them.... but after losing to Collingwood this weekend... my hopes aren't too high... to many big name teams to beat, too inconsistent...
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Post by mellie on Jul 3, 2005 0:15:56 GMT -5
inconsistent is a word I would use. I guess I just dont understand how you can come off of a win like they did a few weeks ago and lose to a team thats so far down the ladder??? I mean come on!!
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