For the love of footy: Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight’s top 10 reasons to keep watching AFL

OUR great game of Aussie rules has copped its fair share of knockers this season. But Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight is here to remind us there are still far more reasons to keep watching AFL than not, with a list of his 10 favourite things.

Paddy Ryder with fans and the Port mascot Thunder after the Power’s win in Showdown 44. Picture: Sarah Reed

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IT seems a good time, on the back of Port Adelaide conquering Shanghai, to quote a Chinese proverb.

“Faults and virtues are but two sides of the same coin.”

And it is the same with Australian football. On the same day that the game can seem so troubled in a low-scoring affair in perfect conditions at the Etihad Stadium, it becomes exhilarating with a Showdown at Adelaide Oval.

So — with all apologies to former American television talk show host David Letterman — there are two top-10 lists in Australian football today.

One has its faults … the other, the grand virtues that make the game so great — and worthy to make the rest of the world take note, as Port Adelaide and the AFL are trying to do with an international agenda.

Let’s work with how the game still commands our love. Here’s the top-10 list of the best things in Australian football today:

North Melbourne Tasmanian export Ben Brown celebrates a goal against GWS in Hobart. Picture: Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images

10. BEN BROWN

Thank heavens someone still appreciates that practice makes perfect — and that routine (or system) is so critical to being an effective goalkicker. Brown, according to his coach Brad Scott, is taking 100 shots a session at Arden Street. The result? Brown is leading the AFL goalkicking list (31.10) — and his career count shows more goals than behinds (185.84 in 86 games). He is a pretty good mark, as well.

Fremantle's Nat Fyfe takes a strong grab against Sydney. Picture: Phil Hillyard

9. NAT FYFE

Fremantle’s captain — and Brownlow Medallist — is fit again and playing awesome football. The burning question is: Where to play him? It is best to keep him around the ball — and make him work in the forward half of the field to have the greatest influence on the scoreboard.

West Coast's Jack Darling celebrates kicking a goal with fellow Eagles forward Josh Kennedy. Picture: Phil Hillyard

8. TWIN TOWERS

West Coast has an imposing forward partnership with Jack Darling and Josh Kennedy. Their working relationship in the Eagles’ attack is more than impressive. There is one for the highlight reel in the top-of-the-table clash with AFL premier Richmond at Perth Stadium on Sunday — Darling tapping a high ball to Kennedy who roved the hit to score a goal. Classic stuff.

7. YOUNG BLOOD

Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow at Carlton, a pairing that allows the Blues to build a promising future … once they fill in the gaps. Clayton Oliver at Melbourne, more so when he adds kicking to his handball game. Esava Ratugolea at Geelong — where is power in this Fijian recruit going to take him?

And Ben Ronke? Kicking seven goals in his third game with the Swans is like two sides of a coin. It is a great way to start a career, but it also dramatically changes expectations. He — and Sydney — have to manage this very carefully.

Port defender Tom Jonas breaks away from Richard Douglas during Showdown 44. Picture: Sarah Reed

Daniel Talia makes a desperate attempt to prise the ball from Bulldog Josh Dunkley in the wet at Adelaide Ova on Friday. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes

6. DEFENCE

Key defenders are critical in building premiership teams. The best three in the game today are All-Australian and Richmond full back Alex Rance, Adelaide full back Daniel Talia and Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas. Power coach Ken Hinkley rates Jonas as equal to any key defender in the AFL today.

Geelong skipper Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

5. TRIPLE TREAT

Romance in football lives on at Geelong with that triple treat of midfielders, Joel Selwood and Brownlow Medallists Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Ablett. The best of this powerful trio is still unfolding as Ablett builds his form after an injury break.

4. SURPRISES

It is not the English Premier League where the top four as so often easy to pick (depending on the spending on millionaire players). Who had West Coast and North Melbourne in the top eight? Players win matches, but coaches have to give them confidence to perform — and this is where Adam Simpson (Eagles) and Brad Scott (Kangaroos) have excelled in their coaching this year.

Port Adelaide dynamo Robbie Gray. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

3. ROBBIE GRAY

Here is a football proverb: “Form can waver, but class remains.” The Port Adelaide midfielder-forward is pure class … as we know from his six-goal effort that decided Showdown 44.

Rory Laird latches on to former Adelaide teammate now Carlton forward Matthew Wright. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

2. RORY LAIRD

And another one: “We still go to games to watch the good players play good football.” Crows defender Rory Laird, like Gray, brings you through the gates knowing you are to see a classy player deliver week in, week out and make the ticket price worth every cent. Laird and Gray are becoming beacons for their clubs.

Adelaide Oval lights up before the start of the Crows v Bulldogs match on Friday. Picture: Sarah Reed

The crowd at the northern end of Adelaide Oval for Showdown 44. Picture: Sarah Reed

1. ADELAIDE OVAL

Having entertained some visitors and friends from the Gold Coast and Melbourne in recent weeks, there is one standout comment they offer at the Oval: “This is different”. Different by the noise generated, the stunning setting as old (scoreboard, the northern hill and Moreton Bay figs) meets the new grandstands.

Architect David Johnston did a great job of making Adelaide Oval live on with its pavilions rather than a concrete bowl.

And the other side of the coin? Well, if we must.

10. Queensland football; 9. Hamstring injuries; 8. Umpires who get too close to the action; 7. Coaches under pressure when perhaps the list managers have more to answer for; 6. Blocking in marking contests; 5. Incorrect tackling; 4. Goalkicking misses; 3. Hot-and-cold Essendon; 2. Match review officer and tribunal being out of synch; 1. Congestion.

There is more to love than not in Australia’s game.

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