TOPIC:

Fair point Ark.

But let's consider a difference angle - tactics.

Would the modern zoning and flooding have negated the natural talent, before the fitness issue took over?

thanks jack: on tactics I still think the side with the most talent wins football matches.

Gerry Neesham introduced new tactics years ago, but the main reason his cl side won, was, again, because it had good players.

In relation to the AFL, I can think of Clarkson's very first premiership and Roos' only premiership -- stress only premiership--- where tactics, and particularly defensive tactics won the flag. Clarkson, on the other hand won flags because he had luke hodge, a good full forward, and the best CHF in the last twenty years.

What do you think?

I can't think of any particular, out of left field tactics by Roos in 2005 - other than playing Barry Hall of course, when he should have been in the stands.

Clarkson on the other hand, in 2008, changed the game with his tactic of strategic, unforced rushed behinds. It was ugly on the day, but brilliantly executed.

In theory, talent should always win the day, but as we have seen over many years, particularly in WAFL grand finals, it is not always the case.

gtrxuone wrote:

Beasley Hutton wrote: As an outsider having seen both the 1986 and the 2000s Subi sides you would have to be kidding yourself if you think the 2000s would get within 10 goals of the 86 side!
The 1986 side contained- Featherby, D.Lamb, Dean, O'Loughlin, Scott, Sells, MacNish, Georgiades, Breman, Crutchfield, Langdon, Keene, Zanotti, Dargie etc who had or would go on to play in a stronger afl than the current incumbent whilst others the likes of N.Taylor, C.Brown, B.Taylor, Lee, Carpenter, Mort, P.Lamb, Wilkinson were very good WAFL players in an era a mile stronger than this century!

Totally agree BH.Tier2 v Tier1.

Spot on GTR....although it could even be argued that Subi's current Tier 2 side's opposition are Tier 3 level when held in comparison to the Tier 1 pre Eagles WAFL and its sides!

Freezin wrote: Bit harsh on Bomber and Muzza there Oobi.....Pretty sure Wrensted had an outstanding 85 GF, just couldn't back it up in 86...as for Bomber....he had outstanding GF games in 74 and 79...can't expect one player to dominate in all their GF games...full credit to Subi for bouncing back big time after that 2nd Semi hammering....

I went back to Moss St post GF, most of the guys I talked to that night, seemed more keen to talk about where they were going to be playing in 87.....it seemed like the game was quickly forgotten....strange old night irrespective of the loss....sensed an eerie unspoken feeling that the WAFL as we knew it, was finished.....with WCE coming on the scene....I guess time has shown that feeling was on the money.....obviously the Subi boys rightly were living in the moment and enjoying their well deserved win....

Bushell actually was pretty quiet off the park from memory.... but yeah some of his on field antics were very ordinary...regardless of the white line fever excuse....thought Harding acquitted himself well v Subi dynamic duo in Scott and Keene....other then than that EF struggled all over the park.....Budgie, Neesham and Peake sadly looked very slow and old defensively.....

If only Big Ron could have called on the likes of Glen Durnthaler up forward, Mark Norsworthy roving/forward pocket & Nifty Nev in the guts and they held on for a couple more years at Old Easts it could have been a different story in 86 hey Freeze?!!

Considering Norsworthy kicked 33 goals as a rover BH playing in a crap EF side, reckon 50 plus for sure in the 86 side mate....easily!....pity he didn't play in the 84 GF for EF BH.....MN would of easily kicked 6 that day....

jack: thanks for that reminder on Clarkson's tactics, they were a bloody disaster for the game.

Freezin wrote: Considering Norsworthy kicked 33 goals as a rover BH playing in a crap EF side, reckon 50 plus for sure in the 86 side mate....easily!....pity he didn't play in the 84 GF for EF BH.....MN would of easily kicked 6 that day....

Who would Norsworthy have replaced in those GF's mate- K.Taylor, Turco, Kerr or Buhagiar?!?!

If you add 35 years of modern sports science to the current Subi sides.That gives them an edge in strength +conditioning over the 86 side. But to balance it out you play the rules and footy like it was in 1986.
Anyone who tries to run through Laurie Keene will get a knee,boot or elbow in the stomach.Langdon+Zanotti will hand out backhanders behind the play.Lee,Dargie+Sparks will shirt front players 20m off the ball and go straight through them.It's a lot different game too today's game.

Beasley Hutton wrote:

Freezin wrote: Considering Norsworthy kicked 33 goals as a rover BH playing in a crap EF side, reckon 50 plus for sure in the 86 side mate....easily!....pity he didn't play in the 84 GF for EF BH.....MN would of easily kicked 6 that day....

Who would Norsworthy have replaced in those GF's mate- K.Taylor, Turco, Kerr or Buhagiar?!?!

Easily Kerr in 84 and Bushell 86....from memory Kerr did fark all in 84, whilst Bushell did fark all v Subi...especially after Keene took him out early on.....

BH, Norsworthy played 190 plus games of SAFL and WAFL footy(when both comps were very strong) ...more than what Kerr and Bushell played combined me thinks...