Has the game gone soft?

[Sir Chadley]

After reading many posts on this forum there seems to be a great number of people who think the toughness has gone out of football.

The banning of the shoulder charge seems to be the most criticised rule change.

However, the lifting or spear tackle I believe is the more dangerous as we saw by Alex McKinnon's horrible injury.

But what are your thoughts? Has the game gone soft? Or is it still as tough as ever?
I've posted a poll to vote on but feel free to leave your comments as well.

 

[Gards]

I don't like your poll options so I am not voting you haven't offered a middle ground answer
IMO the game has gone softer but tough guys still play the game. It's still physical and at times brutal - you gotta be a certain someone to survive and have a career in this game. It ain't touch footy just yet but getting closer every season!

 

[Sir Chadley]

I don't like your poll options so I am not voting you haven't offered a middle ground answer
IMO the game has gone softer but tough guys still play the game. It's still physical and at times brutal - you gotta be a certain someone to survive and have a career in this game. It ain't touch footy just yet but getting closer every season!

Sorry Gards, probably should have put another option but wasn't sure how to word it. No probs on not voting, your comment is fine.

 

[Gards]

All good Chadley, you really are asking the games big questions lately on SF aren't you?

 

[Henchmann]

yes it has, and the chief destroyer of the sport shane mattiske just ups and goes and gets another job, dick weed **** I had the ARLC - worst ****ing thing to happen to this sport,

 

[stormshark]

Still the toughest game around i say.

 

[Sir Chadley]

All good Chadley, you really are asking the games big questions lately on SF aren't you?

Just trying to keep the discussions going!

 

[Sharkii Fr3ak]

Is the game soft? ... Anyone been to watch junior footy lately? since all the new rules im telling you one tackle that looks good now is almost a send off + weeks on the bench....

 

[Henchmann]

there was no need to take the big hits out of the sport, simply penalize and suspend the head highs to a greater extent, they've ruined the attraction of so many long term supporters of the sport.

Rugby Union bosses would be happy as;

 

[sharkyman]

Im with gards on this.
I agree its got softer, some for good reasons, and others not so (eg/ killing the biff completely)

but its still the hardest game around, and a lot of tough bastards out there.

 

[slide rule]

The game probably wont exist in 10 years.

I can't see a "satisfactory" outcome to all these concern about injuries.

The Sharks should join the A League and get in while they can.

 

[Born&bred]

Shoulder charge rulings lately are pathetic - soft as.

 

[deano the p]

It's still a tough game but banning the shoulder charge was stupid, how King can get suspended for his tackle is a ****ing joke.

Between that and the constant flopping to get penalties it's starting to ruin the game for me.

 

[Sharky14]

Compared to the Sorenson brothers era... Absolutely. For the modern game, I think its tough enough to get people to watch and not turn parents away from signing there kids up. Its only going to get more difficult to defend with any menace, Taga's running out of the line is even being watched and that annoys me, because it is spectacular to see a player cut in half by a taga tackle. I couldnt vote with those options, but for the modern era its not soft.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

it hasnt gone soft, but some of the rulings are ruining it. Shoulder charges….harsh penalties for the bad 1's, high lights for the good ones.

the game is being ruined by the video ref system. The refs are relying on it. The whistle happy refs blowing a penalty every second play the ball. The player bouncing around like he is having a fit is making it hard for tacklers to get up….then they get penalised. That penalty really needs to go. I think the best thing for it, is just a restart of tackle count, play the ball. No quick tap, not kick for touch

 

[stevie013]

the do-gooders are slowly ruining this game. i will never stop watching though. better than days of our lives or home and away....

 

[stormshark]

Is the game soft? ... Anyone been to watch junior footy lately? since all the new rules im telling you one tackle that looks good now is almost a send off + weeks on the bench....

Yep Went to a "Heritage" u12 Gala day last week, my son played for the Vic "Aust team", plenty rough play and big boys and hits,only one send off, ha ha we need some of your rules down here!

 

[goodbyepenrithhellosharks]

has the game gone soft......abso****inglutely

 

[Frenzy]

Softer than a soggy profiterole.

 

[slide rule]

I can understand why they are doing it, but the execution has been bad.

The shoulder charge didn't need to be banned and even if it did, they shouldn't have included lame chest bumps in their definition. It has ruined everything, without fixing the problem of danger. Most of the things getting penalised have no malice and are actually softer than a normal tackle. Most of the time the defender just gets wrong footed and can't really engage his arms in the tackle quick enough.

Unfortunately, no one will ever reverse these decisions now because there will be a soft cock media outcry. Probably from people who don't watch or understand the game and are really just trolling to cause damage to the product.