I'll take the word of an AFL player over any rugby league troll here.
Every AFL club has shot at winn the AFL premiership, writes Josh Jenkins
Josh Jenkins
The Advertiser
April 23, 2015 8:00PM
ON any given Sunday, anyone can beat anyone.
That is the mantra that the NFL has always been desperate to stick to to ensure an even competition.
While there will always be teams going through various issues that will hinder them from competing with the best, for the most part the saying rings true.
Currently – and despite what some people may think – the AFL is the same.
As a current player, I can assure you that fronting up each week and beating any opposition AFL team is an accomplishment in itself.
Upsets are common place in our competition and despite what some critics have been saying, all clubs can compete for glory.
Of course, injuries, form and suspension take place and things can go awry for certain teams but there is no such thing as a given in the AFL.
Our coaches put in hours upon hours of preparation for each opponent, knowing that as soon as they take their foot off the accelerator, things will come crashing down.
Players are the same – skip the recovery session or choose not to do some extra goalkicking and, before you know it, you are on the receiving end of a losing streak.
Players are too talented, coaches drill players too well now for opposition teams to simply roll up and collect the four points unopposed. The focus and drive of today’s AFL player is at an all-time high - and frankly, it has to be.
So much is asked of a player that without full commitment things can nosedive.
As forwards, we prepare as diligently as possible to give us the edge on our direct opponent.
Problem is, the defenders do the exact same thing.
Yes, I concede clubs like the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda haven’t won premierships in decades. But winning a cup is the pinnacle and something most players never achieve.
It’s not that long ago that the Saints were ahead in a grand final – staring premiership glory right in the face.
The Dogs were in the hunt for numerous seasons, competing in preliminary finals at the turn of the last decade.
Everyone has their shot at the title. Juggernauts like Hawthorn and Geelong would be able to clarify just how hard it can be staying at the top.
The Hawks – as good and as talented as they are – don’t just roll out of bed each weekend and win games of footy.
As new Crows recruits and ex-Hawks Luke Lowden and Kyle Cheney told us, the back-to-back reigning premiers condition themselves for finals footy.
They work hard – like all clubs – during the summer and continue to prepare, perform and recover throughout the season.
Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead and Sam Mitchell are as talented as anyone but they also put in the work, not just expecting to be apart of a winning team.
The two new expansion teams – Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney – are here for the fight, too.
As they developed they both took big beatings at the hands of established AFL programs but now they’re big boys, too.
They’re here to be reckoned with as well.
They know they can compete with anyone – as shown by the Suns’ pushing Geelong to the brink down at Simonds Stadium, a place no one wins (unless you are Fremantle).
While equalisation was a hot topic for a few months, it should now be left in the shadows.
Because we have a great competition, we have always had a great competition and at any given AFL venue, any given AFL team can win.
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 7317304523