http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/mick-malthouse-suggests-fixes-for-aussie-rules-as-hes-concerned-for-state-of-afl-football/news-story/bcf59be6c5c3809c5138313a6282aee0

comments are blaming the messenger lol

Mick Malthouse suggests fixes for Aussie Rules as he’s concerned for state of AFL football

Mick Malthouse, Herald SunSeptember 3, 2016 4:30pmSubscriber onlyI HAVE have been shocked by some disturbing numbers that I came across recently.In at least three elite Victorian colleges, more students are playing soccer than Aussie Rules football.If that’s not alarming for the AFL, then I don’t know what is.I was eight when I played my first game of footy in Ballarat. We didn’t have enough money at home for a leather football or real boots, but those things meant little to me in the grand scheme of things because I was still able to play the game.That was the start of my journey, the day my passion for football was eternally ignited.But here we are decades later and, suddenly, soccer is a genuine threat to football.Soccer is an international sport with some very promotable role models in Australia — think Tim Cahill.Victoria’s population is increasing by 100,000 people a year and many of them are either from overseas or have a strong connection to a country where soccer is the main sport. The Socceroos can play in the World Cup and at the Olympics, and Australians litter the English Premier League and Champions League.Already Cricket Australia has addressed the concern of dwindling junior participation rates by introducing the Big Bash — Twenty20 state cricket aimed at families — and this year is rolling out more resources than ever in schools to encourage kids to pick up the bat and ball.I strongly believe the AFL needs to do the same thing. The problem might only be minor now, but if nothing is done to address the current state of football very soon, then a small problem may very well become a major issue. I would hate to see that happen to our great game.

DOLLARS & ZONESFOR too long the AFL has taken for granted that there will be a constant supply of footballers coming up through the ranks to become available for draft selection. This is no longer a given.All you have to do is look at the current standard of our game. In my eyes it has plateaued in recent years. The difference between the top teams and the bottom teams is evident in the percentage held by the teams playing finals this season. Big percentages mean a lot of thrashings. A lot of thrashings mean that footy talent is being spread too thin.Next season the AFL will begin the first of a six-year broadcast rights deal that was negotiated for more than $2.5 billion. That’s $418 million a year. I’m not privy to knowing where every cent of that money goes, but I do wonder whether enough of it is going into grassroots footy.We need to be making every effort, including AFL dollars, to encourage and maintain greater participation at the junior and middle levels. We need to make the game as accessible as possible for all families. And we need to regain community support for a sport that once held the heart of a city.Perhaps the states can be zoned again, with each AFL club investing time and resources towards nurturing football growth in their area. The pay-off for the clubs — the choice of drafting one player from that zone each year.Cricket Australia’s foresight should also give the AFL a push to get more involved in schools, primary and senior, to entice as many kids as possible to join Auskick and their local footy clubs.Soccer is a danger; don’t let it become a monster.

MRP DISGRACETHE inconsistency of the AFL’s Match Review Panel this year has been a disgrace and it is a source of public frustration and disappointment.That Rory Sloane could receive a two-game ban for an awkward attempt to spoil Brad Ebert’s mark, when Josh Gibson was cleared for a roundhouse to Levi Greenwood’s head is beyond me.I’m only isolating these incidents because they occurred recently, but to me they show the gross inadequacy of the decisions made by the MRP.Similar in action and intent, the only difference was a bit of blood and yet Gibson’s was considered a genuine attempt to spoil, while Sloane’s was deemed careless. His two-game ban was reduced to one after the Crows accepted the early plea on the eve of the finals.So was Sloane suspended due to the result of the contest — a scratch — or for the action itself? Ebert returned to field and completed the game unaffected by the contact.Players are becoming increasingly agitated by the lack of consistency and common sense shown by the MRP, so too are the coaches and clubs. The supporters are infuriated and confused.I have said time and time again, where precedence is an accepted argument in legal terms, it should also be used in the AFL’s tribunal system. Set precedence for reportable offences and sanctions and get rid of the grey area by adhering to it every time.

GAMES GO TOO LONGA FOOTY match runs for 112 minutes without time on. With time on, it can easily blow out to more than 150 minutes. With busy lives for many people, especially families with young children, this is too long.Soccer and rugby league crowds enjoy watching a match and leaving the ground within two hours. They can stroll the city for a bite or further entertainment before or after the game.The extra half an hour or more of an Aussie Rules match can mean the difference between attending a game or missing out all together.The broadcast rights deal dictates that the clock stops for a 30 second commercial after every goal. OK, fair enough. Does it really need to stop for every point scored and each boundary throw in?I assume the AFL owns enough footballs that there can be plenty of pumped up spares on the sidelines to bring straight back into the contest without having to search for the game ball, allowing the clock to tick on.And here’s a radical suggestion: why not reduce the quarters to 15 minutes, plus normal time on. Five minutes less a term will do wonders for the quality of a game, restricting those last quarter blowouts that generally occur when players run out of steam.A shorter game will mean less wear and tear on the players and umpires bodies, too, prolonging the twilight of their careers.

EARLIER STARTSThere are nine games of footy contested each weekend in the home-and-away season. Not every game is going to be a television blockbuster, I get that, but the AFL cannot pander to the TV networks when it comes to game times at the detriment of supporters seeing their teams play.Crowd attendances have been on the decline — in fact, almost 5 per cent on average fewer supporters went to games this season.Beside the cost involved (and in today’s economy that is a big issue in itself) the fixture seems to be putting fans off.The twilight and late afternoon games are a blight on the fixture, especially on a Sunday when it means leaving the stadium after 6 or 7 o’clock at night to get home.It’s not realistic for families, who should be the first ones through the gates each week. Neither are games that start at 7.50pm and don’t end until close to 11.I’d like to see midday games on each weekend day, which means the next match could also be brought forward. And try a 7pm start on a Friday night and 6.30pm Saturday night games.

Fucking lol at the penny dropping for malthouse. Like watching an old grandfather clock in action. " soccer is a genuine threat to football" what now you get it? And then it descends imto " Soccer is a danger; don’t let it become a monster." FMD. Haha

Also Talks about the importance of pumping money into grassroots and re engaging with the community. Looks like hes been spellbound by da farken magik of da cup too mayte.

Hilarious how the article then spirals into panicked state of self deprecation as he starts second-guessing his own sport. Yeah keep changing everythng you egg. Thatll stop socka.

This article fills my heart with joy.

Wow. It's always an interesting read seeing AFL fans tear their own sport apart. And sometimes I can't blame them. Our own league isn't without its problems, but thank Christ FIFA never change the rules.

- Don't let soccer become a monster
This quote can fuck right off. Plus it's an inevitable rise anyway considering the world's state of affairs and globalisation. And he's right when he says how many migrants are coming in. They're not gonna watch AFL.

- Australian littering the English Premier League
Something tells me that's not quite true ;)

Love to know how much the vic govt pumps into the AFL  ? Malthouse has alluded to the challenge of juniors for all codes. In ours , we need to make it more affordable and accessible. ( hence my questions regarding funding )

As for Mick ,  i wonder if he would be one of those pundits that can be swayed into supporting our game, the international game .

Better get more week to week racism then.

-PB

Coming from AFL background I think Mick has nailed it on the head with identifying some of the current issues the afl bigwigs arnt doing anything about. These sediments are certainly shared by the common fan and their are feelings of disengagement with the game.
2016 had to be the worst home and away season from my memory. The final 8 were set in stone about 3 months before the end of the season.

Ofc the media are going to portray the soccer as a threat and all the rest of it. Nothing easier to rile up the old men of Straya on Father's Day than associating the storm of soccer about to hit and their precious games own issues.

What I'd like to see from the FFA and state associations is a social soccer competitions in soccer.
For me personally, I've played afl all my life and so have a lot of our mates.
Once September rolls past you weigh up your options of what you can do...cricket? Nah eff spending your whole Saturday standing around. Basketball...yeah it can be a filler during the week. But what about a Saturday?

I'd love to keep my fitness up in summer and play the round ball game but there isn't the opportunities available. It could be a chance to get people playing in summer and increasing participation numbers.

" AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has used his 10 years in the top job to secure hundreds of millions of dollars from governments for AFL ground upgrades, which has put the code on the top of the heap."

This is from an abc article tsf posted a while back.... to answer your question, 100s of millions. Fuckin ridiculous, freeloading cunce who cry foul when we want our own stadiums.

"As for Mick ,  i wonder if he would be one of those pundits that can be swayed into supporting our game, the international game ."

After an article like this? Fat chance... fuckin snake gets ange in to give motivational speeches to his team and poses for photos with him... and in the next breath, "soccah is a monster that needs to be slayed"...... and people say we have a victim mentality. Thanks malthouse for revealing your postion. Its good to know who (officially and publicly) wants our sport "stopped". 

No wonder i hate that shit sport and everyone involved in it.


 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-27/kennett-correct-on-afl-investment/4983476

I was watching the women's match and couldnt help but notice how quick the game moved because of no time on. part of the game in the old days was minimising the amount of play (the game within the game), if a team was not good enough to overcome that, then its their fault
Meanwhile i'll watch rugby league because that is a game that pretty much has it all right, bring on the captains challenge i'd say, no need to go to the video ref every try

Please move to afl forum

Fair few things in here that the FFA should be trying not to make the same mistakes with as the game grows locally, especially the crowd attendance and grass roots stuff