THE sanitisation of the AFL is creating a boring game with no personalities, according to former Melbourne star David Schwarz.
He cites recent examples of Joel Selwood's reprimand for pushing his brother Adam, and Jack Ziebell's suspension for bumping Aaron Joseph, as "victims of a cotton-wool approach the AFL is trying to establish around its reputation".
Schwarz says that has created a game devoid of characters of a previous era, such as his former teammate Allen Jakovich and former Cat Mark 'Jacko' Jackson.
"I believe the game was better 10 years ago," Schwarz writes in his Geelong Advertiser column.
"In the last decade it has become too fast, too zoned, too defensive and too scared to have some combative injuries.
"The characters that make our game great aren't allowed to be watched.
"If the AFL keeps sanitising the sport, as it has been this season, then the crowds will dwindle, the spectacle will fade and our great game will be something for the history books."
Schwarz got the backing of a former opponent, ex-Cat Tim McGrath.
But McGrath did add: "Some of it's right, they had to get a lot more professional."
"They're full-time athletes and all that training six days a week, I've got no dramas with that sort of thing, but I think to a degree they've taken people's personalities away," McGrath said.
"Players who were charismatic, that's gone.
"The Selwood thing, pushing his brother - they're thinking about suspending a bloke for that? I understand they've got to protect people and protect players' heads, but they've taken the fun out of it.
"I love watching the footy, but there are some things that happen now that you just look at it and go 'You've got to be kidding me'."
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson this week defended the Selwood decision, and the assertion that fans were unhappy with the way the game was headed.
"We know for a fact that the level of discontent with match review panel and tribunal decisions is nothing like what it was prior to the revamp of the tribunal system," he told SEN.
"It is an emotional, passionate game, (but) we don't think that interfering with an injured player is part of the fabric of the game."
Schwarz and McGrath both bemoaned the loss of traditional one-on-one contests.
"You used to love seeing the one-on-one duels. Blokes playing on Gary Ablett, Jason Dunstall, Wayne Carey, Dermott Brereton," McGrath said.
"You were gauged as a player by how you played on the good players and whether you could beat them one-on-one or not.
"Now, you see the key forwards, Buddy Franklin, Taylor Walker, all these fellas that can kick goals, as soon as their direct opponent's there and the ball goes in the air, there's two blokes coming off their men."
I Found the fans comments even more compelling....
Rob Bradley of Darwin Posted at 1:23pm today.
You are kidding right.??OF COURSE THEY ARE SOFT.This mob the AFL,their poxy MRP, Barlett and his mob on a rules committee that,by the way, are not needed in our game HAVE TURNED OUR GAME INTO A FARCICAL JOKE.The Joel Selwood report is the icing on the cake for the lunacy that surrounds our game.I AM ABSOLUTELY FILTHY THAT THIS RIDICULOUS REPORT WAS MADE AND UPHELD.OUR game is now officially a farce.
Shari Stillman of Drysdale Posted at 12:26pm today
Footy has become such a 'bubble wrap' sport and it's becoming extremely frustrating to watch the umpires make ridiculous calls! It will get to the stage where netballers can get away more... Like come on, considering suspending Joel Selwood for a little shove on his brother is stupid! A kid could push another kid over in the school yard and no one would give a rats about it! I'm only 17 and obviously wasn't around when the game was a lot rougher, but in the past few years it's changed so much.
Fed Up Posted at 11:14am today
Yes I won't be renewing my membership next year out of these frustrations. I'll be playing golf instead. Same frustration I know, similar contact sport these days though.
Ash of Geelong Posted at 11:13am today
Ox we have to have a no turn up to the footy day to get the message across or can someone start a petition or movement to tell the AFL , Rules Comittee and the MRP that we are not happy with the games direction and rulings. Footy was great 10 years ago , skilful , bumps odd shirtfront no head duckers or players pleading for free kicks when the ball goes over the boundary, keep it up Ox.
Mark Posted at 10:36am today
It seems that the AFL is too concerned with upsetting the kiddies watching that the historical gladiatorial foundations of our great game.