Plugger’s mind boggles at distance covered

AFL legend Tony Lockett says he would struggle in today’s football because of the tactics employed by modern-day coaches.

Weighing 120kg at his heaviest when playing — he now weighs 93kg — Lockett ( pictured) said the demands of running up and down the field would have been too much for him.

”The coaches obviously do it for a reason, but I’m not sure what it is,’’ Lockett said.

“Quite often when I watch, you see 36 players up one end, it goes around and around and around and there’s a turnover, and all of sudden there’s a mass race back to the other end.

“I don’t think I could do that. I was looking for the visa out at the 50m line, you know what I mean. Once I got that far out there, I was pretty much useless.

“My theory was if I get it and I can’t reach the goals, I’m not much good for the team. I need to be getting the ball where I can score. That’s plain, simple mathematics.

“It can’t be complex for me. As time has gone on, when I see the miles Buddy does, it’s incredible.’’

The “death of the full-forward’’ is a topic of discussion in football circles and it’s possible the AFL will trial rules in next year’s pre-season competition, such as starting forward 50m positions at all stoppages, to ease congestion and aid key forwards. Lockett, who is being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame on October 12 and was elevated to AFL Legend status in 2015, returned to footy this year as goalkicking coach with the Swans.

He said he was amazed by Lance Franklin’s ability and the crowd’s reaction to him.

He met Franklin for the first time at Sydney’s best and fairest count last year.

“He’s quite an amazing individual, I just love watching him play,’’ Lockett said. “Going to the footy this year, and you don’t see it on the telly, but when you’re there, you just see the people, the anticipation when he’s in the area.

“When the ball is in his area, the whole crowd get on the end of their seat.

“Dangerfield is the same, Martin is the same. They are incredible players, worth their weight in gold to their clubs and to the game. They do the special things.’’

Lockett kicked 1360 goals in 281 games and holds the record for most goals kicked in the AFL.