Put score on board: AFL
Geelong assistant coach Matthew Scarlett is devising a plan to curtail the dangerg of Hawthorn’s forward line ahead of tonight’s clash at GMHBA Stadium. McLachlan ‘begs’ coaches for open play
THE AFL has stopped short of issuing coaches a directive to play more attractive football despite league boss Gillon McLachlan having “begged” them to open up the game.
Footy’s restart comes with the game stuck in the lowestscoring period since the late 1960s but with the AFL and its broadcasters adamant it needs to be a more open, highscoring contest.
It can be revealed the six senior coaches McLachlan consulted in an hour-long
Zoom meeting each Thursday during the shutdown were Alastair Clarkson, Chris Fagan, John Longmire, Luke Beveridge, Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley.
They discussed a return to play, football department soft caps and the talent pathway system, allowing McLachlan and football boss Steve Hocking to draw key insights from some of footy’s shrewdest thinkers.
Simpson and
Longmire made a presentation on the soft cap, Buckley and Fagan made their focus return to play, while Clarkson and Beveridge are on a talent pathway working group.
McLachlan said this week he had “begged the coaches” for more expansive football during meetings over recent years although he understood their imperative to win games.
AFL Coaches’ Association chief Mark Brayshaw said yesterday the coaches were aware of his views but had received no directive to play more attacking footy.
“Over the past few years he has highlighted the importance of expansive, attacking footy based on fan-based research and feedback from broadcasters,” Brayshaw said.
“It’s been a consistent theme and something typically front and square at the yearly dinners at his house and in the off-season when they review the year.
“But it’s not a directive and during their discussions during the lockdown it’s been more helping with a return to play, the talent pathway and state leagues, and helping with the soft cap.
“He met with half a dozen coaches during lockdown and there’s no question it enhanced their relationship with AFL House, and both parties have a deeper understanding of the other’s role in football.”
With shorter quarters and 100-minute games, scoring may be lower than at any time in past decades so broadcasters will need goals to get advertising away during play.
McLachlan told SEN this week he hoped the football would be more “expansive”.
“I’ve begged the coaches for it. I do (think it will be better),” he said. “I think that, even if it’s the fact there’s no way the conditioning of the players can be where it was.
“Hopefully we see a more expansive game, but footy will be good whatever.”