“The modern player today would just run rings around even the best teams of 20 years ago, and I suspect the same will be in 10 years’ time as well.”
“For example, young Sam De Koning, our fullback, is 19 years of age is 204cm. It’s just unheard of that that would happen in 2001.”
That is an answer to a hypothetical question from Chris Scott in the Herald Sun – who was better – Brisbane from 01-04 or Richmond from 17-20?
Scott is definitive, I’m not so sure.
The 2020 version of Liam Baker, 30-year-old Trent Cotchin, Kamdyn Mcintosh, Marlion Pickett, Kane Lambert, Jason Castagna, Ivan Soldo, Jack Graham, Jake Aarts, they would not even get a game in that Lions team.
Brisbane stars were better too. Brown, Black, Akermanis, Lappin and Voss.
In a thought-provoking column, journalist Sam Landsberger has analysed different sets of data, game trends, and how the body shape of AFL players has changed in the last 20 years.
The average height of AFL players has increased from 185.8cm in 1999 to 188.2cm today. There were just 25 players over 200cm back then, and there are 76 now.
The Brisbane dynasty in the early 2000s had Jonathon Brown and Alastair Lynch measuring in at 195cm and 194cm respectively and Justin Leppitsch and Mal Michael patrolling defence at 190cm and 191cm.
The 2022 version of the Lions has Eric Hipwood and Joe Daniher at one end and Harris Andrews up the other end; all are 200 plus. The midfielders are giants now too.
Simon Black’s playing weight was 81 kilograms, and Nigel Lappin and Jason Akermanis were around 84-85.
Patrick Cripps weighs 93, and Christian Petracca and Ollie Wines would be closer to 100 than 80.
There is truth in what Scott is saying; the footy is much faster than it was 20 years ago. The coaching advancements have also been significant.
Yesterday’s player did not have to deal with the relentless press on the ball carrier, which takes away time and space and forces quicker decisions. There was little zoning back then, either.
Forwards played on backs, mostly one on one. Now defenders guard space, not opponents, and when they are caught in a rare 1 on 1 contest, they have confidence that a teammate with come over the top for aerial support.
The best midfielders had to fight for their possessions as well, usually because they had someone from the opposition assigned to at least limit their influence. Accumulating 30 disposals was an achievement; today, it’s the standard.
In 2001 Simon Black led the league in disposals with 622; 17 years later, in 2018 Hawthorns Tom Mitchell amassed 848!
These extraordinary midfield numbers haven’t improved the game. Give me Black’s 24 with 8 clearances over Mitchell’s 39, including 22 handballs every time.
Until this year, at least you could rely on the ruckman to go head-to-head. Still, after what Mark Blicavs did in the finals series, where he starts as a midfielder, which allows the ruckman to drop behind the ball and play as an extra defender and he assumes the stoppage work, I think even those big man match-ups will become a thing of the past.
So, while Landsberger is correct with his analysis of how the speed, tactics, and athletes have evolved over the past 20 years, I’m not sure it’s created a better product and I’m not sure yesterday’s teams wouldn’t compete with today’s.
I love footy today, and I admire the finely tuned and powerful players it produces, but I also loved it yesterday. And I, for one, really miss the one-on-one match-ups that have become extinct. Is footy better today and do I need to suck it up and accept it?