With the 2018 AFL season behind us and 2019 team lists all but complete, Chris McDermott dishes his Christmas wishlist
With the AFL draft done and players heading for their Christmas break, all eyes are looking ahead to a New Year with new hope. Here’s my 2018 Christmas wishlist for the game and some of the teams we love (or don’t).
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The draft is done and team lists are taking shape.
New rules have been implemented and the pre-season is under way.
Before the countdown begins to the 2019 AFL season, players must get over one last hurdle — the Christmas break.
Every club will have its fingers crossed that nothing and no-one spoils the hard work that has already been done. This is the last break before the long grind of AFL matches begins and even the strongest-looking teams need a touch of luck to succeed.
With all eyes looking ahead to a New Year with new hope, here’s my 2018 Christmas wishlist for the game and some of the teams we love (or don’t).
THE CROWS
THE greatest wish is to remove the 2018 season from all of the club’s history books and never talk of it again.
It was a year to forget for so many reasons, so let’s do just that. None of the issues need rehashing — let’s just hope that this club and, most importantly, the players can move on and not get weighed down by errors of the past.
Fitness and health for Taylor Walker, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia and Sam Jacobs would be nice. These veterans have had a range of challenges in recent times, on field and off it, and a pain-free 2019 would arguably be the greatest gift of all for the Adelaide Football Club as it tries again to reach the greatest game of the season — and this time manage a victory.
THE POWER
CHER had a hit singing “If I could turn back time” and Power coach Ken Hinkley’s wish will be that he can do likewise with his team.
He’d love to revisit the way they were in 2014 — the run-and-gun, exciting, high-scoring, risk-taking style that took the Power to within four points of a grand final.
His men have not been even close to that since, despite some strong recruiting.
It seems 2019 must be Port’s year or a complete rebuild — that could well include some coaching staff — is possible. No, it’s probable. And, most likely, necessary.
THE AFL
CRICKET is living proof that as good as you have it, all can be lost very quickly.
Take your eye off the ball and pay the consequences.
I just hope Australian football’s governing body does not get too obsessed with AFLX, AFL9S, AFL10S or whatever hybrid form of the game captures its attention this summer.
Make sure your core business is as good as it can be and get the product right before gambling on anything that could compromise your loyal supporters.
The men’s game is going well enough. The women’s game has settled after a sensational first year and needs to be carefully managed.
Those two priorities are quite enough to think about.
The game doesn’t need any more. The players cannot handle any more and shouldn’t be asked to.
Any other form of the game should involve retired players, not current ones.
Don’t upset the paying public — it’s harder to get fans back than it is to keep them happy.
THE GAME
SOMEBODY, tell me we are on the right track. Tell me the recent rule changes footy has been through are in the game’s best interests.
We know the game is not the same but will this version be better than 2018?
The changes are big:
NO goal square to kick in from.
SIX forwards, six midfielders and six defenders at every centre bounce.
HANDS in the back is no more.
It feels like a start — a good, slow, careful start.
That’s all we ask for.
Now let’s just hope the umpires can adjudicate the new rules correctly and not confuse us all over again.
THE UMPIRES
IF too many cooks spoil the broth, then certainly too many umps spoil the game!
Can we PLEASE not get too obsessed with the VR, snicko, or whatever third umpire the game wants to use.
Footy must not be compromised like every other sport trying to use technology.
The golden rule is simple here — if it doesn’t make the game better, don’t use it.
Just because other games are using every piece of technology that arises, doesn’t mean AFL needs to follow suit.
Keep it simple. Please.
That’s my only wish.
CHINA
MAKE it a gain, not a pain.
The Suns have gone, the Saints have arrived and the Power remains but can the game thrive?
It all sounded good at the start and it offers many opportunities. But in a boutique stadium of just 10,000 in a country of 1.3 billion just doesn’t feel right. Sure the TV exposure is significant but there must be signs of fruit and they are not obvious at this moment.
We must admire the Power’s commitment but the possible rewards come with a risk. We all need some reassurance to keep believing in this adventure.
THE GOLD COAST
ARE Stuart (Dew) and Josh (Francou) the right two for Jack (Lukosius) and Izak (Rankine)?
Rescuing the Suns is a big job but someone’s got to do it and there are no better candidates than this four South Aussies.
It’s a minimum five-year plan to get Gold Coast into finals contention, maybe longer.
And that’s just to restore some credibility by being in major round contention. Let’s not even speak about premierships yet.
Gold Coast is the laughing stock of the AFL, and the league needs it to get its act together now.
Stewy Dew has a very good right hand man in Josh Francou. Josh will take the bullets and put out the fires as Dew drives the ship.
But how the two develop Jack Lukosius and Izak Rankine will be a key to the rebuild.
The two young guns can help lift team spirit, define what this club stands for.
It must start quickly and footy fans are wishing for at least one win in the first few weeks of the 2019. Surely that’s not too much to ask.
SIMON GOODWIN
WHAT does the Demons coach and Crows legend need in his stocking?
Find him some mongrel — but from a player that can perform and not be distracted by the fire and brimstone.
Get me a fit Jake Lever, Goody might well be saying to Santa.
But a few other things must fall into place. Jay Viney and Nathan Jones must focus on the ball, providing the spark.
Dishing out the aggro is someone else’s role.
Christian Petracca could do a little of that — and Lever must. Back from injury, it’s his time to assume a role as the team’s intimidator.
He is the missing link and is a must in the Demons’ 22.
If that is not managed, Melbourne may be close again, but not close enough.
BRISBANE
THE castle has been rebuilt thanks to Chris Fagan and David Noble.
Now the team must come to play every week — home or away, against the best and the worst.
The Lions are probably not ready for finals, but it is time to continue the climb up the ladder.
They’ve gone 17th, 17th, 18th, 15th the past four years, but there was a sense of something building last season.
Dayne Beams has gone but Lachie Neale has arrived and must immediately assume the mantle as the team’s midfield leader.
Brisbane needs to win at least seven matches next season, and move up a spot or two to 13th or better.
That would put finals in the frame in 2020.
PADDY DANGERFIELD
PATRICK Dangerfield needs the gift of patience — a large serve of it, please.
The Brownlow medallist and new father has acknowledged the clock is ticking for him and some of his Geelong teammates, who are now much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning.
Patty’s passion for an AFL premiership has never been greater.
It’s a big ask and one that does not get granted easily.
The Cats have ignored their recent player exodus … and paid a significant price.
Their depth has never been poorer and their biggest challenge in 2019 will be keeping their best players on the park.
Some help and good fortune in this department is the biggest wish of all.
And patience.
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