Show ponies

As we watched a dribbled attempt to score a goal run pathetically across the vacant goal face, it occurred to AussieRulesBlog that this modern penchant for dribbled goals is nothing more than players showing off.

 

We acknowledge that we are not alone, and certainly not the first, to rail against the recent preference of skilful players for rolling the ball through for a goal rather than kicking it through the air.

 

There are times when it is a logical and effective tactic: shots on the run from the region of the point post benefit from the sort of bend that can be obtained bouncing the ball.

 

There are also too many instances when a dribbled shot is dramatically inappropriate — the most famous being Steve Milne’s shot in the 2009 Grand final.

 

The fact is that our oval-shaped Aussie rules ball has inbuilt uncertainty when rolling or bouncing. Almost all of that uncertainty is removed when the ball flies through he air.

 

AFL players are professional athletes. They are paid substantial sums of money and their primary objective is to win games of football. The primary method of winning games of football is to score more goals than the opposition.

 

Why then, as a highly-paid professional athlete, would you purposely increase the uncertainties in attempting to score a goal?

 

The answer, it seems to us, is nothing more than self-indulgence. These actions are often defended by asserting that players actually practice rolling the ball through from various angles. Great! If there’s no other alternative, the chances of scoring a goal from a compromised opportunity can be increased. In all other circumstances, professional players, whose professional reputations depend to some extent on how many goals they kick and their scoring efficiency, should take the least uncertain method to attempt to score.

 

Anything less marks them as show ponies.