TOPIC:

I thought I would have a look at the 1990 footy register to see the top and bottom teams' scores after 16 rounds in 1990 compared to what the top and bottom teams' score after 16 games in 2021.

In 1990 Swans were on top with 1816 point for and 1428 points against.  Claremont were second with 1861/1245 South Freo (3rd) 1502/1353.  Bottom, second and third bottom were West Perth, Perth and Subiaco; their scores were 1367/2003 ,1374/1745 and 1479/1662 respectively.

In 2021 Subiaco (16 games) with 1270/960, South Freo (15 games) 1297/988, Claremont (16 gmes) 1408/1179 the top 3.  Peel (15 games) 1151/1271, Perth (16 games) 967/1298, WCE (15 games) 979/1442.

The figures certainly should not surprise anyone of the difference in tactics between 1990 and now.

Agree Swan but need to remember than the game is shorter now than then, back then 25 + time on, now 20 + time on, thats on average 20 minutes of game time. Makes some difference but not the whole difference. The biggest change for me is the number of interchanges, cant remember how many were allowed on the bench back then, but with 90+ interchanges per game, players dont get as tired so the games take much longer to open up and thats when more scoring happens. Fresher players on the ground for longer periods allows more flooding and hence lower scores.

Senior Seagull wrote:

Agree Swan but need to remember than the game is shorter now than then, back then 25 + time on, now 20 + time on, thats on average 20 minutes of game time. Makes some difference but not the whole difference. The biggest change for me is the number of interchanges, cant remember how many were allowed on the bench back then, but with 90+ interchanges per game, players dont get as tired so the games take much longer to open up and thats when more scoring happens. Fresher players on the ground for longer periods allows more flooding and hence lower scores.

I am not sure that there would be much difference in playing times between then and now given we have had 35+ minute (elapsed time) quarters this year.  Apart from my hobby horse of no forward lines one other notable difference is the attitude by the umpires with respect to packs.  In 1990 the umpires would not be yelling out "knock the ball out" as more and more players congregated around the ball.  Instead they would have blown the whistle, picked up the ball and bounced it before a "cast of thousands" could get there.  So there was less congestion and more chance of clearing the ball out of the area rather than the need for a 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc. intervention by the umpire to throw the ball up again.

Swan in relation to your points, it's the umpires advisors and the rules committees, not the umpires, they do what they are directed to do. The thing with umpires is a lack of consistency.

Senior Seagull wrote:

Swan in relation to your points, it's the umpires advisors and the rules committees, not the umpires, they do what they are directed to do. The thing with umpires is a lack of consistency.

SS I understand that but that doesn't absolve them completely.  Presumably they speak to the umpires' advisors.

On the time difference of 20 minutes now compared to 25 minutes in the past, I too agree that this is not much difference, as back then they didn't stop the time for boundary throw ins, or ball up as and I also believe  they didn't stop it when a behind was scored as well. (I stand corrected on that last one) These days they stop the time so often over just about every stoppage.
 

It is more the game style tactics of todays footy rather than the time played per game for the lower scoring.

I have been watching a fair bit of old 1980s WAFL games on youtube and the pace was frenetic and all moving the ball forward as quickly as possible rather than the backwards, sideways style of today that all teams love to play backward of centre.

Imagine having Full Forwards the quality of Warren Ralph, Simon Beasley, Austin Robertson, Mick Rea, Mark Olsen, Archie Duda, Murray Couper, Ray Bauskis etc and you are more intent on going backwards and sideways rather than fast, long and direct in your movement of the footy?!?!?!

Sadly there aren't many out and out full forwards now - and the names you mentioned would be at centre half back still on their leads and still waiting for someone to hit them on the chest mate