AFLX revealed: Who your club plays and when

[bornadog]

I don't know of too many people who want their players even in the comp.

I'd rather see a couple of practice games or even intra club games than AFL X

A poor idea from the start just got worse

Also undermines AFLW and takes away budget dollars.

[Rocket Science]

I'm trying to think of a more pointless concoction.

I can't.

Wait until a club loses a prime mover to a knee or some such fate playing this vapid, 'all-star' lite shit.

[mjp]

I like AFL-X.

I have to admit to not really understanding the hate.

The game needs to change at junior level...something DRASTIC needs to be done. This is a great step in the right direction towards a game that still needs all of the skills BUT has lower level of contact and is less physically demanding.

Junior sport is over-run by creeping excellence with coaches starting training ever earlier, doing dedicated running sessions with 12 year olds...it is out of control. As for 15-17 year olds who are not on the talent pathway - they are just quitting 'cos it is TOO HARD. 2 nights a week training plus half of Saturday/Sunday? All of this in an environment when part time jobs are all 7-days per week and Fortnite is 24x hours per day. I have made this suggestion before - junior footy looks like this:

Night 1: Training
Night 2: AFL-X night
Weekend: 18/side game.

Some players will do 'both' AFL-X and 18/side...some might just choose to rock up on Thursday to play AFL-X.

Making the entry point lower and allowing participation to continue for players for whom 'playing footy' - be it AFL level, state level or even local level - is a good thing.

(I would also split the Ammos into 18/side comps and 9/side comps to allow clubs who don't want to battle it out for premierships in September (and meet the associated player payments) to chill out a bit, play 9-side (with the associated reduction in training requirements) and keep their clubs alive. Top 3-4 divisions is 'footy'. After that, it becomes a more relaxed AFL-X environment with lower commitment, less stress for umpires (they could easily do 2-3 games per day) and greater used of shared playing facilities.

The AFL has actually paid attention to what is happening in our communities and have tried to create a product to suit...it is a pretty good game. I understand that the silver footies and fireworks has everyone upset but you have to look past that and understand that a game with a higher possession rate (think futsal) will not only be an 'inclusive' game for juniors it will also assist in skill development.

Rant rant rant.

[GVGjr]

I see no redeeming feature with AFL X. I gave it a chance last year and it fell well short of the mark and within a year the AFL has seen the need to reinvent it again.
I don't see it as anything other than a justification for some overseas jaunts but if it does resonate with the fans good luck to it.

As a competition to prepare for the season ahead I don't think it helps in the slightest.

[bornadog]

Fine to have an AFLX type of series but not with elite AFL players, risks are high and the game is no preparation for the real stuff.

[Twodogs]

I like AFL-X.

I have to admit to not really understanding the hate.

The game needs to change at junior level...something DRASTIC needs to be done. This is a great step in the right direction towards a game that still needs all of the skills BUT has lower level of contact and is less physically demanding.

Junior sport is over-run by creeping excellence with coaches starting training ever earlier, doing dedicated running sessions with 12 year olds...it is out of control. As for 15-17 year olds who are not on the talent pathway - they are just quitting 'cos it is TOO HARD. 2 nights a week training plus half of Saturday/Sunday? All of this in an environment when part time jobs are all 7-days per week and Fortnite is 24x hours per day. I have made this suggestion before - junior footy looks like this:

Night 1: Training
Night 2: AFL-X night
Weekend: 18/side game.

Some players will do 'both' AFL-X and 18/side...some might just choose to rock up on Thursday to play AFL-X.

Making the entry point lower and allowing participation to continue for players for whom 'playing footy' - be it AFL level, state level or even local level - is a good thing.

(I would also split the Ammos into 18/side comps and 9/side comps to allow clubs who don't want to battle it out for premierships in September (and meet the associated player payments) to chill out a bit, play 9-side (with the associated reduction in training requirements) and keep their clubs alive. Top 3-4 divisions is 'footy'. After that, it becomes a more relaxed AFL-X environment with lower commitment, less stress for umpires (they could easily do 2-3 games per day) and greater used of shared playing facilities.

The AFL has actually paid attention to what is happening in our communities and have tried to create a product to suit...it is a pretty good game. I understand that the silver footies and fireworks has everyone upset but you have to look past that and understand that a game with a higher possession rate (think futsal) will not only be an 'inclusive' game for juniors it will also assist in skill development.

Rant rant rant.

Then get kids to play it, not elite players. This is more about Gil having a legacy to leave behind than benefitting the competition.

[westdog54]

Then get kids to play it, not elite players. This is more about Gil having a legacy to leave behind than benefitting the competition.

This.

AFL 9's became popular enough without AFL clubs supplying players to it. This is nothing more than a horrendous attempt at marketing the game to the rectangle field states.

I get the need for a lower impact, lower demand form of the game. I absolutely get it. But I don't see the need for what the AFL is trying to serve up to the masses during summer.

Rugby 7s have specialised players and it doesn't put a drain on 15 a side. Occasionally Wallaby players will put their hand up for Comm games or even Olympics, but that's it.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Fine to have an AFLX type of series but not with elite AFL players, risks are high and the game is no preparation for the real stuff.

This is my beef too, but the reality is that they have moved to four “All Star” teams because most clubs played their kids last year and it likely didn’t have the same impact on their target demographic.

I would be much more comfortable supporting this instalment (knowing that it is about whipping up kids interest) if no Bulldogs were picked and if they didn’t make the women’s go head to head with it.

[mjp]

Then get kids to play it, not elite players. This is more about Gil having a legacy to leave behind than benefitting the competition.

That's fine. But without an example set somewhere, kids wont play. They just wont.

Again, I don't get the negativity. Everyone who says it doesn't apply to the game hasn't been to an AFL training session which is 'HEAVY' with small-sided games and has been for years...this just formalises and allows players to compete against opposition and not themselves.

I am interested that West Coast really treated last year's AFL-X as a learning chance for young, developing players and several of those (Ryan, Rioli) went on to play key roles in the premiership. Again, I don't understand the HATE. Playing 18-vs-18 pre-season games seems completely stupid to me - what is the point - but a lower contact version of the game against 'REAL' opposition...that makes sense.

AFL 9's? Sure...but the zone concept has been criticised as not applying to the game hence the AFL-X version being developed...

Why is it bad? Possession rates are high - so skills are challenged. Ball moves from end-to-end - so transition and team defence strategies are challenged. Turnovers are HEAVILY penalised. I would say that success in AFL-X against elite competition would be a better pointer to AFL success for a young player than playing well at state level...

I know I'm on an island with this, but we should be embracing this, not rejecting it.

[chef]

If Bont does his knee how do we feel?

[bornadog]

If Bont does his knee how do we feel?

March to AFL house and burn it down

[GVGjr]

This.

AFL 9's became popular enough without AFL clubs supplying players to it. This is nothing more than a horrendous attempt at marketing the game to the rectangle field states.

I get the need for a lower impact, lower demand form of the game. I absolutely get it. But I don't see the need for what the AFL is trying to serve up to the masses during summer.

Rugby 7s have specialised players and it doesn't put a drain on 15 a side. Occasionally Wallaby players will put their hand up for Comm games or even Olympics, but that's it.

No tackling, no bumping just a exhibition game that they can possibly play overseas.
I don't see what there is to get excited about with it.

[mjp]

If Bont does his knee how do we feel?

And that's fair - but he could (may the lord strike me down) get injured at training tomorrow.

Players play. Coaches coach. The rest of us watch.

Whatever the concerns, surely injury isn't really a major one? Tom Mitchell is out for the season because of an incident at club training...I would think the 'load' of an AFL-X fixture would be balanced out by a reduction in the training load for the week...

[GVGjr]

And that's fair - but he could (may the lord strike me down) get injured at training tomorrow.

Players play. Coaches coach. The rest of us watch.

Whatever the concerns, surely injury isn't really a major one? Tom Mitchell is out for the season because of an incident at club training...I would think the 'load' of an AFL-X fixture would be balanced out by a reduction in the training load for the week...

I'm not too fussed about potential injuries in a non contact non tackling game and think its just an easy excuse to dismiss it.
I just don't understand why we are having a competition to potentially take a non contact game overseas. What is it showcasing?

Surely the Gaelic experiment is a better option.

[chef]

And that's fair - but he could (may the lord strike me down) get injured at training tomorrow.

Players play. Coaches coach. The rest of us watch.

Whatever the concerns, surely injury isn't really a major one? Tom Mitchell is out for the season because of an incident at club training...I would think the 'load' of an AFL-X fixture would be balanced out by a reduction in the training load for the week...

Fair enough, i guess to me it seems like an unnecessary risk and surely it interrupts preseason preparation and planning(even if only slightly).