Change for better or leave AFL, says Blight

HALL of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight says congestion is turning football into a “tainted product”, urging coaches resistant to change to resign.

Blight, a former Gold Coast Suns board member and coaching director, said football was “choking” and he was adamant it was time for the introduction of starting points.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley yesterday said the starting points requiring three pairs inside 50 at a stoppage would be a “blight” on football.

It put him in direction opposition with AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield and dual Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge, who have strongly backed starting points.

But premiership player and coach Blight said the AFL’s lawmakers had continually made positive changes to the game, believing AFL football is on the nose. He forecast a dramatic drop in the AFL’s TV rights value if the malaise continued which would see players taking pay cuts and rival sports flourishing.

“The game has got to change. It is a tainted product right now,” said Blight, who sits on the AFL’s new Look of the Game committee.

“Change is coming and it must come. The game is being choked. When people like Nathan Jones say they can’t watch the game, I thought that was honest and open.

“Millions of TV viewers are turning off. When the next TV rights comes out, coaches and players earn a living from it

“If they want to accept 25 to 50 per cent reductions in their salaries because the game can’t be sold, then that’s fine.

“And for those who don’t like it, resign and go and join the unemployment queue.

“Have the debate, but if you don’t like footy this way go and do something else in your life.”

The AFL has been criticised for the small sample size of trial games, which will run to four 20-minute AFL trials and one or more state-league games. VFL football operations manager John Hook said yesterday Coburg had already volunteered to trial starting points this season.