Plenty to look out for in the final round of the AFL pre-season

The AFL wanted to bring a radical change to the game, but the move has backfired big time as a footy legend savaged the idea.

The second week of the AFL’s JLT Community Series kicks off on Thursday night and it’s the last real look fans will get of their squads ahead of the home and away season.

Geelong and Essendon will get things started before Collingwood and Carlton wrap up proceedings on Monday.

Here are the major talking points to look out for in the footy this weekend.

‘WORST THING EVER SEEN IN FOOTBALL’

There was plenty of confusion surrounding the AFL’s new 6-6-6 rule, but it hasn’t copped the same hiding as another inclusion.

Last season runners were brought into the spotlight for spending far too long on the field — so the AFL stepped in to make a change.

Enter LED boards, similar to those used in soccer games, to help out with interchanges. The idea was to reduce the role of runners because the number of the player who needed to come off the ground could be displayed, meaning a trainer didn’t need to run onto the field to tell them.

But the boards have already been scrapped, according to The Age’s Sam McClure, after feedback from clubs and players who reportedly had difficulty reading the numbers.

The AFL confirmed clubs would be allowed to use their own boards this weekend — rather than the LED ones the league introduced — but footy legend Malcolm Blight has blasted their inclusion.

The electronic boards haven’t been well received.

“Those LED boards, worst thing I’ve ever seen in football, get rid of them. They’re an absolute waste of time,” Blight told Gerard Whateley on Melbourne radio station SEN.

“You’re a back pocket player, the ball’s within 45 metres of you, you’re watching your opponent, you’re watching the ball. Someone on the bench is holding up a sign, you’re not even giving it a thought.

“It’s doomed to fail.

“Whoever thought of it, really? Did they trial it? Did they test it? Now people can’t even see it because of the glare!

“Of all the committees I was on, I didn’t hear this one. What a waste of time, money and effort.”

YOUNG GUNS LEADING THE WAY

Walsh didn’t look like a rookie during his first game.

Sam Walsh was by far and away the biggest shining light to come out of the opening round of JLT action with the No. 1 draft pick leaving everyone awe-struck.

After collecting 28 disposals in his first official outing for Carlton, AFL greats were glowing in their praise of the young gun. Even his own teammate Kade Simpson labelled him a “freak”.

In November Kangaroos legend David King labelled the 18-year-old the “best ball-winning junior that’s ever been recorded” and he doubled down on that stance following Walsh’s most recent hit-out.

“I put in the Herald Sun magazine that he’s a lock for the Rising Star,” King told SEN’s Whateley.

“What he’s done in his first two practice games, he has done right throughout his junior career. That’s not going to stop because he’s going to compete against the same players he’s playing against now, or last year, in his age range for the next 10 years.”

Fans will get their next look at the Blues star when they take on the Magpies on Monday, but they shouldn’t expect Walsh to turn their team’s fortunes around immediately.

“A lot of talk about Carlton will improve, they’ve got Sam Walsh the No. 1 draft pick, but I would caution people about that,” sports presenter Russell Barwick told Unibet’s At Odds show. “In the last 10 years only one No. 1 draft pick has been part of a grand final winning side, that was Tom Boyd for the Western Bulldogs (in 2016).”

Elsewhere, while Geelong was comprehensively swept aside by the reigning premiers the West Coast Eagles last weekend, young Cats defender Jordan Clark stood out.

Clark ended the contest with 21 disposals, took five marks, rebounded the ball from 50 nine times and drove the ball inside 50 on four occasions.

“(He) was fantastic. I know that the Geelong folk have been waiting for this guy,”

King said.

“Clark was extraordinary. He had 572 metres gained. It was an enormous start.”

Clark was one of Geelong’s best in the JLT opener.

Teammate and fellow defender Tom Stewart backed Clark to continue his efforts thanks to a “good head on his shoulders”, and he’ll get the chance to shine again when Geelong faces Essendon on Thursday night.

“He’s started like a house on fire, the young fella,” Stewart told SEN’s KB and The Doc.

“He’s got a really good head on his shoulders. Obviously with young players their form is going to fluctuate, but I think he has the ideal mental look on the game.

“I think he’s got a long future in the game after only seeing him play once — he’s a special kid.”

GAFF AND BRAYSHAW TO SQUARE OFF

Fremantle midfielder Andrew Brayshaw will line up opposite West Coast’s Andrew Gaff for the first time since round 20 when the Eagles star broke the youngster’s jaw with a king hit.

But despite the horrific scenes from last season, Brayshaw plans on seeking out Gaff and exchanging pleasantries when they cross paths in Sunday’s pre-season clash in Mandurah.

Gaff copped an eight-week ban for his shocking off-the-ball punch that left the Dockers rookie with a mouth full of blood and needing a visit to hospital.

Brayshaw was forced to eat liquid food for a month afterwards, and he has since undergone root canal surgery to fix some of his teeth.

But Brayshaw insists he holds no animosity towards Gaff, and is keen to put on a public show of reconciliation.

The moment Gaff took down Brayshaw in round 20.

“If we line up on each other I’ll definitely shake his hand,” Brayshaw said. “I’m sure he’d probably want to do something similar. If I’m on him in the first line-up, I’ll wish him good luck.

“But if I’m starting off (the ground) or he’s starting off, it might not happen.

“But we’ll definitely get in touch post the game and wish each other good luck for the rest of the year.”

Fremantle players physically targeted Gaff last year after the Eagles midfielder floored Brayshaw.

But the Dockers star is confident his teammates won’t target Gaff on Sunday. Brayshaw, whose brother Hamish plays for West Coast, revealed he bumped into Gaff last month at a party.

“I was at my brother’s 21st recently and a few of the West Coast players were there, including Andrew (Gaff),” Brayshaw said.

“I just said g’day to him, wished him good luck for the year.

“And he pretty much said the same thing to me. I think we’ve definitely both moved on from it.”

— AAP