Skill levels and depth of talent are to blame for football’s congestion, says Magpie legend

THE AFL has tried to fix the game but has in turn made it more complex and unattractive, writes Chris McDermott. Bone has quizzed five legends from different eras on the state of the game and how it can be improved. Today he speaks to Russell Ebert.

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THE AFL has tried to fix the game but has in turn made it more complex and unattractive.

The question being asked is, is football better today or have we slowly destroyed it?

Have we messed with the fabric of the game once too often?

In an effort to find out why it changed, where it changed and a how to fix it before it is too late, Chris McDermott quizzed five Aussie rules champions from different eras on the state of the game.

Today he speaks to Port Adelaide champion and four-time Magarey Medallist Russell Ebert.

Port Adelaide champion Russell Ebert, left, and North's Barrie Robran with their Magarey Medals in 1987.

1. What on-field tactic or trend defined the decade of the 1970s?

It was the era of fitness.

At Port Adelaide, John Cahill bought in Kerry O’Brien, ex-3000 steeplechase world champion as fitness coach for the 1974 season and we all took on board his ruthless training schedule.

This allowed us to play the hard-running, quick-movement style using handball to attack, rather than just get out of tackle pressure. We became very confident of our fitness particularly towards end of games.

Basic skills also were worked on relentlessly to improve all areas of each players game and an extra night was added to the training week for skills only.

There was no interference from Sports Scientists saying, “you cannot overload players”….. because we didn’t have any.

Every player became better.

The interchange rule was introduced and had a huge impact on the game.allowing what was the 19th and 20th man to have much greater game time and allowing hurt players a genuine rest before returning to the field.

2. How did it change the game? Was it for the better or the worse?

The increase in fitness was definitely better for the game as we kicked higher scores, played faster and allowed for more one on one contests as the ball moved so quick the opposition could not get behind the ball to block space!

Hello, there’s an idea.

Greg Phillips took handball to another level with thumping 30m handballs wide to a running player to attack while we defended the other side.

The game changed once again.

Russell Ebert breaks the tackle of Darryl Rady to pounce on a loose ball at Football Park in 1978.

Ebert flies over Central’s Dean Mobbs in 1971.

3. How was it received by the football community (players, clubs, public)? Any specific examples of unrest, outcry, calls for the rules to be changed to combat the trend?

All clubs had to improve just to keep up and the footy public flocked to the games as attendances show because they knew they were going to be “entertained” and still see footy as they knew it should be played and not eliminate the physical side of the game either.

This era had it all. Pace fitness, skill, high scoring and aggression

All other clubs soon copied.

Mark Coombe was at Glenelg and new levels of fitness never seen before were reached.

Run and carry became the norm on field.

Big players had to get fitter to cover the ground.

4. How did the game react to or overcome the trend so that the integrity of football remained?

The game rose another level and another field umpire had to be introduced so they could get in the best position possible to make decisions they were starting to miss.

Players that had previously got away with throwing the ball out in front of them when tackled to “milk” a free kick were denied that luxury.

The holding the ball rule tightened up and maintaining possession became a priority.

We never handballed to a player in a bad spot.

In todays game that’s all they do. If in trouble they give it to someone else regardless of the trouble he is in.

Ebert snaps for goal ahead of of North Adelaide's Stephen Riley in 1985.

5. What is the biggest challenge facing football in 2018? What is the solution?

To pay the first free and keep the game moving.

Umpires are umpiring to almost different interpretations each week They do not reward the tackler enough.

I am all for the ball getter having time but a good tackle has to be rewarded.

They seem to be more concerned with working out who is going for ruck contests, making sure they are heard on microphones, making sure they have a safe path to retreat from contests?

The ruck rule is a contest between one player from each team, who cares who they are. Let the players work that out and if two go from one team free kick.

Too much time is wasted here and congestion builds quickly.

It is not unusual to see over 20 players at a stoppage. Just throw it up and the game will move quickly.

Another big challenge I see is skill level and depth of quality.

We have far too many players on lists that are not consistently up to top level performance each week and that is affecting not only quality of games at AFL level but ALL grades underneath.

In my opinion, there are too many teams. There are too many players and as a result far too many mistakes.

The competition is no longer “elite”.

TOMORROW

Michael Taylor on the 1980’s in the VFL and the SANFL