Quality of the game

[Fred]

Is it me, or has the standard of play been particularly poor this year? Monday was a cracker - no doubt - not only because it was close but a good quality game skills wise. I have seen several games though where the standard has been really poor - North v Carlton was one and I think the Port Adelaide game against maybe Carlton or North... not sure - I even texted my son to ask if he was watching - he wasn't. I stated I was and it was terrible standard but like a car crash - hard to look away. The Suns V Melbourne was also poor - particularly the Suns and their skills - with many disposals missing the intended target or at the feet of the receiver. Thoughts?

[leeroy*NRL*]

Is it me, or has the standard of play been particularly poor this year? Monday was a cracker - no doubt - not only because it was close but a good quality game skills wise. I have seen several games though where the standard has been really poor - North v Carlton was one and I think the Port Adelaide game against maybe Carlton or North... not sure - I even texted my son to ask if he was watching - he wasn't. I stated I was and it was terrible standard but like a car crash - hard to look away. The Suns V Melbourne was also poor - particularly the Suns and their skills - with many disposals missing the intended target or at the feet of the receiver. Thoughts?

its spot on>> It has been in the making for 15 years. to many games are of low quality
yes you will get a BANGER hear and there and maybe you may get a ripping contest back to back
but it is too far in between..

i think the NRL would be in the same shape if it were not for the explosion in Players and Grassroots
from Pacific Nations countries ( Kiwi's and English playing in the NRL)
which has helped make the Game the best it has ever been...

this is why the NRL are expanding aggressively into the Pacific and NZ and the PNG is about to explode with Pathways
and also maybe the Purchase of the ENGLISH SUPER LEAGUE Pathways.
for once the NRL is looking to the Future and not 2 to 3 years.

we have one person to thank PVL and his side kick Andrew Abdo

[Fred]

Yeah - AFL has a very limited pool in Australia alone and competes with NRL in QLD and NSW (and Union), Whilst they have done well to grow the game there, especially at grassroots, this likely isn't enough when you keep including teams - despite population growth. They do not have the overseas markets like NRL do to get players from. In saying that, NRL is pretty limited to mainly NSW and QLD when it comes to Australia as well, and I do hear plenty of comment from those in the apparent know, that the talent pool is too low to be increasing teams. NRL does have a lower player count which also helps I guess. I think a 16 a side game would do wonders for AFL - reducing required numbers, lowering costs, and freeing the game up.