Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your big football questions
Mark Robinson has witnessed every Grand Final since 1997. So which one stands out when picking his favourites? Plus, see what other big topics were covered in this week’s Ask Robbo.
Mark Robinson
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We may still be in the AFL shutdown but that doesn’t mean the footy news hasn’t continued to pile up.
In the past seven days we’ve seen:
ROBBO ANSWERS THE BEST READER QUESTIONS BELOW
– Lachie Hunter involved in an alleged drink driving incident
– The AFL taking another step in setting a return date
– Serious debate over the correct draft age
– The Bombers biting back at criticism from a club great
And that is just the start!
With so much going on, Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your big questions.
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Andrew: Will a shorter, condensed season suit the more mature, seasoned teams, or could a younger team which hasn’t contended lately handle the oddities of 2020 better and be premiers?
Robbo: I’m not trying to avoid the question, but I think no one has an answer right now. If it is an outlier premier, like a North Melbourne, or Port Adelaide or an Essendon, won’t that be an exciting competition. Most intriguing for me is what the coaches devise. Will tactics be essential when playing three games in 10 days or will it be helter skelter football from siren to siren? Looking forward to how it plays out.
Michael: Kevin Sheedy suggested 28-game seasons. This is an idea that has merit. To not overload the players, how about limiting the games each player can play to 22-25 in the regular season. This would then test the depth of each clubs list without burning out the players. It also then becomes more strategic, when to rest stars etc. It could possibly even up games, as an example if Gold Coast went in full strength against Richmond who rested stars.
Robbo: Sheedy’s idea was shot down in flames by Gillon McLachlan a day after it was suggested. I also thought it had merit. Your idea of testing a club’s depth is in danger because the popular theory right now is club lists will be cut from 2020.
Paul: Why isn’t Peter Daicos mentioned when you talk about the greatest players of all time? He had just as much if not more talent than either of the Abletts. He pioneered and perfected a lot of stuff players are doing today. He is easily the best and most electric player I have ever seen.
Robbo: Fair comment. “Daics” was a spellbinding footballer. His highlight reel was as good as any player I had Nathan Buckley in my top 20, but I assume you rank Daicos above Buckley? One was majestic (Daicos), the other, with St Kilda’s Robert Harvey, was the most consistent elite player I have seen.
Gerard: Do you think Eddie is still good to be president of Collingwood? I ask this because the guy cannot ever admit any wrongs and yet still expects supporters to keep buying in with financial support. I am mainly referring to his solid defence of the club bringing back Beamsy and before that was the Gubby Allen fiasco. He seems to be sentimental to the expense of the club.
Robbo: Yes, I do. However, a couple of years back when Nathan Buckley was under pressure, I suggested it might be time to introduce a clean sheet at the club. The following year, Collingwood made the Grand Final and last year the preliminary final. Agree with you about Beams. Circumstances were beyond Collingwood’s control and it is a terrible situation for Beams, but in trade terms it has been a failure. But what do you expect Eddie to say, that it was a massive flop? He has to be sensitive to the situation. That all said, tell me the name of any club president who admits he or the club made a mistake, outside of Essendon’s drugs debacle?
John: What is the best Grand Final in the AFL era that you have witnessed?
Robbo: I have attended every Grand Final since 1997 and rate ‘02 between Brisbane and Collingwood as one of my faves because of its intensity, closeness and theatre. Fox Footy replayed it last week and it was better than I remembered.
Ben: Do you feel that hubs in WA will provide a significant advantage for the WA teams and by inference a disadvantage to the Vic/Syd/Bri teams that may be quarantined there? Same applies for the 2 SA teams. The only neutral situation would seem to be TAS however if this “hub” includes North or Hawks then this can only be advantageous for those teams. Would a more equitable option be all teams need to move to a non-home hub?
Robbo: Interesting. You’re right, wherever the hubs are set up will an advantage for the home state teams. Does that mean we send the WA teams to SA and vice versa, for example. Actually, I like the idea. In what would be an unprecedented situation, teams moving interstate would make it a level-playing field.
Andre: Who has the better combined player and coaching record — Ron Barassi or Leigh Matthews?
Robbo: RDB won six premierships as a player and Matthews four. RDB won two best and fairest and Matthews eight. RDB kicked 254 goals from 330 games, mainly as ruck-rover. Matthews kicked 915 goals from 332 games, as a rover/forward. RDB coached 515 games and won four premierships. Matthews coached 465 games and won four premierships. Matthews had the combined better record, but note both are official legends of the Australian rules Hall of Fame.
Laurice: Now that the AFL has found out that the fans matter, it’s time to consider them. First off it should announce that the AFL Grand Final will be held at 2.30pm for the duration of the contract with the MCG. The AFL has taken too much notice of the players who have shown they are only interested in themselves. Other things the fans are unhappy with: (1) Free agency – abolish it; (2) The bye before the finals – hated; (3) All the play in a quarter of the ground for all the game. Solution – only 2 on the interchange. Players would have to rest on the field like they used to. Coaches, of course, would strongly oppose a reduction of the interchange. Stiff luck. If announced soon they would have time to plan for next season.
Robbo: Getting a bit off the liver there, Laurice. The GF will be move to a twilight/night game in the future so prepare yourself. I wasn’t a fan of free agency either, but have got my head around it because players should be able to move jobs just like the rest of the employed. I have no issues with the bye before the finals, although many fans agree with you. And the AFL is working on spreading the ground and reducing the ‘bubble’ which I strongly agree with.
John: Don’t you think the AFL needs to be careful on its advice to clubs on the new world post coronavirus and what constitutes appropriate club staffing and resourcing? There seems to be a groundswell of views that we have seen the last of entourage that helps the players develop and grow, pushing everyone to go back to yesteryear coaching and development programs. With social media, mental health, drugs, alcohol and gambling, any cut backs on player welfare will be fraught with disaster.
Robbo: There won’t be cuts to the welfare at clubs, that is a guarantee, because more bodied are needed in that space. Gil McLachlan said on Fox Footy Live on Saturday the AFL won’t be instructing clubs how to resource their clubs. The AFL looks likely to cut footy department spend, but it will be the clubs to decide how that money is spent.
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Originally published as Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your big football questions