AFL to be faster, stronger and more entertaining than ever

Football in the coronavirus era could be faster, stronger and more entertaining than ever before due to some tinkering in rules for the 2020 season.

Dustin Martin is expected to excel in tweaked AFL conditions. Picture: Michael Klein

Football in the coronavirus era could be faster, stronger and more entertaining than ever before due to some tinkering in rules for the 2020 season.

That is a view of at least some AFL coaches, who also believe the shortened quarters will lead to the game’s biggest names spending more time on the field than in recent years.

Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin believes the style played will be fast and furious. Kangaroos coach Rhyce Shaw is expecting a great spectacle on Sunday against the GWS Giants.

Although he would have preferred the AFL to maintain the usual length of matches this season, Shaw is pleased the interchange bench has not been expanded to six players.

With the majority of fans set to watch games from their living rooms in the short-term, the first-year coach feels the rules favour stars staying on the ground for longer periods.

“I think that is what the public wants. I think that is what the AFL wants. That is what we want,” he said. “If we can get our best players on the ground for longer periods of time, it only works to our advantage.”

Exactly what unfolds over the remaining 16 rounds of the abridged season will be intriguing as coaches and players adapt to the unique nature of this year.

But as has proven the case in the NRL since its resumption, even a minor change in the rules can lead to a major change in tempo. A rule tweak in the NRL, under which attacking teams receive another six tackles for a ruck infringement rather than a penalty, has made the game faster, more fluent and cleaner.

In the two rounds since the NRL returned, players have spent up to six minutes more per game with the ball in hand. The number of line breaks are up and penalties are significantly down, as are penalty goals.

Premiership captain Trent Cotchin noted ahead of the Tigers clash against Collingwood on Thursday night that there are suspicions players with powerful bursts will come to the fore in coming weeks.

Collingwood’s Jordan de Goey, centre, fights through his teammates during a training session at the Holden Centre on Tuesday

The Richmond skipper could find himself sharing the centre square at the MCG with a player boasting those attributes in Collingwood’s Jordan de Goey.

Then again, Cotchin has been playing alongside a masterful exponent of the craft in Dustin Martin for years. Similarly to most, Cotchin is not certain who will be best suited to games that are about 20 per cent shorter than usual this year.

“All these conversations across the media platforms about shortened games suiting players like (de Goey), I don’t know how true that is,” Cotchin said.

“I am sure proof will be in the pudding, but he has incredible speed and can really change a game in a matter of minutes.”

Selection for this weekend’s round will also provide an indication as to whether there will be change in tactical thinking in regards to the rucking role.

Ruckman Nic Naitanui may be required to carry the rucking duties for the Eagles on his own.

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The possibility remains Marlion Pickett, who made a fairytale debut in last year’s grand final, will be called on to pinch hit in the ruck in support of the Tigers’ No 1 ruckman. It is a role Shaun Grigg, whose retirement last year enabled Richmond to select Pickett in the mid-season draft, performed admirably in the latter stages of his career.

“We’re bringing back the Shaun Grigg model, are we? I’m not too sure how we will structure up,” Cotchin said.

“The thing we encourage about our ruckman is just their follow-up and if they can impact the game on the ground, then clearly they provide a lot of value, not just in the contest where the ball has been hit.”

Collingwood are planning to field two ruckmen against Richmond despite the injury-forced absence of Mason Cox.

With the American on the sidelines, former Swans player Darcy Cameron is set to debut in support of champion ruckman Brodie Grundy, who has reportedly benefited from his presence in training.

“We love the way that he’s gone about it and the boys are pumped that he’s going to get his chance,” Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said.

“Darcy’s major attribute is his aerial strength. His ruck work is definitely something that’s clear to see, and coming along into our program and seeing Brodie and Darcy go head-to-head in the ruck has really lifted Brodie’s standards.”