the bench is in form

I would like to congratulate the AFL on the new interchange rule.

For several reasons really.

One, no one likes it, and I like seeing coaches so angry a vein might pop.

Two, it is humorous to watch stewards try and hold back charging young stallions.

Three, for finding a way to stop so many interchanges whilst pretending this is about the 19 man saga.

It’s genius, the AFL have managed to slow down interchanges, all the while pretending to make sure the basic fundamentals of 18 vs 18 is maintained.

Personally I am not sure why interchanges needed to be slowed down.

It will eventually reach a plateau, and we will get used to it.

Some people are worried that the marquee match ups are lost in football because of interchanges.

I can’t speak for more than one other person when I say that the marquee match ups I see are the key position ones, and they are still there.

I grew up on Langford V Sticks, Carey V Jakovich, Silvagni V Lockett etc…

I can’t remember Shaw V Williams, Harvey v Crawford, Riccutio V Voss.

Mid field match ups are almost impossible to keep an eye on.

And they are almost never one on one.

Shaw played on Williams a lot, but they were both under the pack, how am I supposed to pick up the subtle nature of that match up from the top of the Olympic stand.

Perhaps for people in the comfort of press box with binoculars on you could see underneath those packs, but for the rest of us we were watching the contest, and wondering how many sticks would kick on gayfer.

I love lots of interchanges, because it means I get to see Rhyce Shaw coming off the ground two and three times a quarter, and that can’t be bad.