The Roughead and Fevola show last Saturday added so much to the excitement of a fantastic afternoon’s entertainment. Coaches prefer a large spread of goalkickers to minimise the unhealthy dependency on one player, but there is something engaging and tantalising for spectators when one player is on song and dominating the scoring.
I can still vividly remember sitting in the Glenferrie Oval grandstand in 1969 and watching the great Peter Hudson destroy Melbourne with an amazing 16-goal performance. A bag of goals is probably seven-plus and Hudson achieved that in an incredible 44 of his 129 games.
On another memorable day at the footy I was there when another great forward, Jason Dunstall, kicked 17 against Richmond at Waverley Park.
These big double-figure tallies are days that stick in our minds forever.
Unfortunately it is currently not a common occurrence.
When Matthew Lloyd kicked his 900th goal at the Gabba on Saturday night, thoughts turned to whether he could join the legendary names of Lockett, Coventry, Dunstall, Wade and Ablett. They are the elite group who have reached the magical 1000-goal mark, but who else is on the radar that could join them?
Perhaps Lloyd, but I’m afraid not anyone else.
In the relentless evolution of the game this is a very difficult time for the traditional full-forward.
As great as the 1000-plus group were, they would not be kicking the same big numbers now as they were in their eras.
The marking interpretation, currently being hotly debated, of not being able to push away the opposition defender would cost each of the great full-forwards a few marks and a few goals per game.
If there was one common denominator of the 1000-goal club it was their ability to win one-on-one contests through superior strength, body use and judgement.
Now the rules say they can’t push to take advantage of that great upper body strength and balance they all possessed.
It was once a big advantage to be born strong. Unfortunately recently being too strong for your opponent will normally be penalised. This is not a trend I agree with.
Also with the advent of full-time players, heavy weight programs have reduced the natural strength advantage anyway and specialist coaching has significantly improved the spoiling techniques of the average defender compared to earlier decades.
Additionally, team defence has improved enormously in recent years.
Greater fitness levels and the large increase in interchange rotations has allowed players to maintain an energetic chasing and tackling effort for the entire game. This means when a midfielder is looking for his key forward target, his time and space to deliver the footy has become very pressured and rushed.
When the now-standard tactic of crowding the opposition’s forward 50 is added to the equation, it results in very few uncontested opportunities, which are also necessary to kick big double-figure tallies.
It is impossible to win 10 or 15 one-on-one marking contests for even the greatest full-forwards.
Now the dominant marking forward will have a direct opponent and usually another opposition player blocking their leading space and jumping third-up whenever possible.
Standing in the space in front of Lockett and Ablett in particular took enormous courage. They would likely run straight over the top of this hapless opponent. Now the more stringent contact rules protect this player’s back and he can confidently stand his ground.
The opportunity to lead up into a vacant centre corridor area is now severely lessened and most of the time the defenders are maintaining body contact much better as well.
The football wheel will continue to turn, but for now the big bag of goals which excite us all will continue to be a rare event.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
