Random Thoughts AFL

Thanks for your post Bill! I'll try answer a few of your questions........

Is there not any where in Sydney (Australia's largest city) some where more suited to AFL?  After the Olympics?There may be larger grounds in Sydney, but I'd say the SCG is the home of the Sydney Swans, and there are probably contractual reasons why games are played there. Annecdotally, it is a smaller playing surface.
Adelaide are the team to catch this year - but I don't see any match winners, like Judd, Brown, Ablott etc.  Are they just an all round good team?I think it is recognised that Adelaide a very much an all round good team, although Simon Goodwin does rack up consistently the most possessions, and in general the team's midfield and defence has been solid performers. They also tend to share the goal kicking around, rather than rely on one or two forwards.
Setanta coverage rocks over anything we have had in recent history!  Thanks Rob and the AFANA crew. Thank you for your fantastic feedback, and I'm sure the team take it on board.
May Barry Hall go down in history as the whiniest player in AFL history? Personally I think that might be a touch unfair, I know of the odd one or two former players now in the media like to make interesting comments about the game.
Was that a dive in the world cup Aust v Italy? Let's just say that this issue got alot of media attention in Australia.

Thanks again for making a contribution to the site. Great work!

Derrick

 

There is no standard size for footy fields, just as there is no standard size for American baseball fields.  Most stadiums are used for multiple sports (e.g. cricket), and building separate standard sized facilities in each AFL city would be mucho expensive.

The SGC at 149 X 118 meters is the smallest field in the league, and I believe it has been the home field of the Swans since they moved from South Melbourne (the 'Swan Man' would know this for sure).  Although the Swans usually play one or two games each season in Syndey's Telstra Stadium (160 X 118 meters), the SGC remains their home ground.

The 50 meter arc was only introduced at the SGC 2 or 3 years ago.  Before that the arc used to be 45 meters at the SGC.

I wish I could get Setanta.  I don't have Direct TV, so I have to listen to what I can over the AFL's Internet radio broadcasts.  Oh well, it's better than nothing. 

Your facts are correct.  Until after the Olympics, the only Sydney venue for an official AFL game was the SCG.


Actually, I believe the 50 has always been a 50.  The change was that it used to stop at the center square.

There was discussion on the old forum about what that small field meant to the Swans.  The common belief is that the Swans can never develop a proper CHF given the dimensions of the SCG.  Some have even suggested that this played a role in Kelly's short kick to Plugger in the '96 GF that swung momentum to the Kangaroos.

  -- Swannie

Actually, I believe the 50 has always been a 50.  The change was that it used to stop at the center square.

I seem to remember watching some games from the SCG a few years ago when the arc was 45 meters.  But since I can't prove it, I guess I'll have to accept Swan Man's version as the correct one.

I wonder Swannie, since you are a member of the Swans, any chance of verifying this with them?

 

Now that you push the point, it seems to me that maybe they did try a shorter arc one season to avoid cutting it off at the center square.  I had forgotten about that.

  -- Swannie

Now that you push the point, it seems to me that maybe they did try a shorter arc one season to avoid cutting it off at the center square.  I had forgotten about that.

I searched the Internet and couldn't find anything about the Swans using a 45 meter arc, so your info seems like a good compromise.  However, in my searching I discovered that the Australian Amateur Football Council uses a 45 meter arc.  (See section 7.4).

 

This is not meant to imply that the Swans are amateurs.    Unfortunately they lead both the Cats and the Blues again this year.