When you CAN bully the AFL
June 20th 2008 06:49
The AFL reckons talk of tanking is 'pathetic' and that the sooner it blows over, the better. The fact is, it will not blow over. Because it is a genuine occurrance.
Why would Carlton even consider winning their Round 22 match against Melbourne last year?
The pros of winning: four points that would bump them from 15th to 14th. If that.
The pros of losing: the chance to pick the best young, 12-year player, in the country, a potential superstar. Be it Kreuzer or anyone else they deem worthy.
When a coach is required to coach in the club's best interests, it doesn't say anything about the particular game he is coaching. Carlton's best interests were genuinely to lose!
I don't believe any club is tanking this year, yet, with 10 weeks to go. But as teams realise that the best they can finish - mathematically or realistically - is in the bottom four, why not go for draft picks? Isn't list management and future planning 'in the club's best interests'?
The AFL refuses to be 'bullied' by the media into changing the draft system on account of the attractiveness that lower placed clubs see in losing towards the season's end.
Suggesting a solution to a real and apparent problem is not bullying.
It hasn't used 'that word' yet, though, to describe the TV networks push for a twilight or night Grand Final, even though it would be far more appropriate here.
So it seems the AFL can be bullied, but only if it's 'in its own best interests'.
Why would Carlton even consider winning their Round 22 match against Melbourne last year?
The pros of winning: four points that would bump them from 15th to 14th. If that.
The pros of losing: the chance to pick the best young, 12-year player, in the country, a potential superstar. Be it Kreuzer or anyone else they deem worthy.
When a coach is required to coach in the club's best interests, it doesn't say anything about the particular game he is coaching. Carlton's best interests were genuinely to lose!
I don't believe any club is tanking this year, yet, with 10 weeks to go. But as teams realise that the best they can finish - mathematically or realistically - is in the bottom four, why not go for draft picks? Isn't list management and future planning 'in the club's best interests'?
The AFL refuses to be 'bullied' by the media into changing the draft system on account of the attractiveness that lower placed clubs see in losing towards the season's end.
Suggesting a solution to a real and apparent problem is not bullying.
It hasn't used 'that word' yet, though, to describe the TV networks push for a twilight or night Grand Final, even though it would be far more appropriate here.
So it seems the AFL can be bullied, but only if it's 'in its own best interests'.
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