AFL 2006 - world's best footy - video highlights

[razorgrade]

Thought I'd start a thread for the AFL, the world's best Aussie Rules action, the game where the big men fly.

This season is living up to expectations of being an fearless, tough, physical, spectacular, fast, exciting and action packed.

So far this year the average crowd has been 35,000 across 7 of Australia's 8 states and territories. The traditional rival Collingwood vs Essendon round 4 game at the recently re-developed Melbourne Cricket Ground has been sold out and a capacity crowd of nearly 94,000 is expected. That's right, for a home and away season match !

By round 4, only last year's Grand Finalists, the Perth team, West Coast Eagles and the pacy western suburbs of Melbourne team, the Bulldogs (who just missed last year's finals) are undefeated. Last year's winners the Sydney Swans and the recently successful Brisbane Lions have been off the boil early with only 1 win each, but Adelaide's Crows are on 3 wins.

But don't take it from me. See for yourself from these video highlights from the AFL site, showing the highlights of rounds 1-3.

Best catches (for a free kick - also called a mark):
Video = Best Catches from Round 1
Video = Best catches from Round 3

Best goals (between the tall posts):
Video = Best Goals from Round 1
Video = Best Goals from Round 3

(make suer you open the links in a new window or they may not work)

More to come ...

 

[razorgrade]

Some highlights from round 4

Video - Round 4 Best Catches
Video - Round 4 Best Goals

The highlight of the round was Collingwood beat Essendon in front of 91,234 people at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. 2 nominations for best catch and one for best goal came out of this game.
http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2006/04/25/1145861347873.html

Photos:

 

[Daz_Hockey]

RE: AFL 2006 - world's be

why has no-one got their finger up someone else's arse?


AND WHERE ARE THE SWANS!!!!......I watch neighbours, surely their a real team.

Do any of them want Clive woodward as manager?, you can have him for free, he also comes with a free chairman, he's a world beater you know!!!!.........knows bugger all about soccer though...

LOWE OUR.....SCW TOO

 

[razorgrade]

Re: RE: AFL 2006 - world's be

why has no-one got their finger up someone else's arse?

I think your thinking of John Hopoate, an Australian rugby league player in the NRL (National Rugby League) who did that. Rugby League is a totally different sport to Aussie Rules. League players are mindless thuggish meatheads that do that sort of stuff all the time. Rules players have more skill, finesse and are generally better behaved.

AND WHERE ARE THE SWANS!!!!......I watch neighbours, surely their a real team.

Maybe you mean the Sydney Swans - last year's premiers ?
http://www.sydneyswans.com.au

 

[razorgrade]

Round 5 produced some big catches, none moreso than this one from Geelong's Brad Ottens

Video of Brad Ottens catch

Also, controversy in a game between St Kilda and Fremantle Tasmania as the final siren sounds, but officials don't hear it, resulting in a draw. But Fremantle believe they won.

Video of full time dispute

More to come ...

 

[razorgrade]

Video -Best Catches from Round 5
Video - Best Goals from Round 5

 

[razorgrade]

Enjoy !

More awesome catches:
Round 6
Round 7

and more awesome goals:
Round 6
Round 7

 

[SlayerJake]

Why do you call it footy? Isn't it Rugby?

 

[Tom Green Fan]

Why did you start a VFL thread on a Canadian Forum!? :?

 

[razorgrade]

Re: RE: AFL 2006 - world's best footy - video highlights

Why do you call it footy? Isn't it Rugby?

NO! it is very different to rugby .... how can I describe it ...
Take out all the bad bits of rugby and add the best bits of other sports and you get aussie rules !

It is like really fast.
There are no scrums or boring stoppages of play. There is no knock on rule, so literally anything goes. It is a high scoring game like basketball - and like soccer anyone can kick a goal, but to do so, you either need to be a giant, have the skills of a wide receiver or the pace and manouverability of a cheetah.

It is played on a giant field, and there is no offside rule, so it just flows - players run at each other from all sides (not head on like rugby) and there is more running and creative play with both hand and foot skills. Unlike soccer it is full contact, players can tackle and are allowed to hit players without the ball like ice hockey!

There are rules though. Best of all is when a player catches the "footy" or lay a great tackle, you are actually rewarded with a free kick! And some of the catches you see these guys make are just out of this world, jumping into the stratosphere ....

I dare you to watch or play a game. I know you'll just love it !

wikipedia has some excellent info on the game and why it is called "footy".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rules_football

 

[Tom Green Fan]

They wish they were rugby!

 

[razorgrade]

Video - Best catches from round 8

Video - Best goals from round 8

 

[DasFX]

Which game should I see?

Mr. Razorgrade, I don't follow Aussie Rules Football, and have only seen bits of a game on tv. However, I'm going to be in Melbourne this August during Round 18 and I want to see a game. There are three matches going on during the weekend I'll be there so my question to you is which game should I go see?

Friday, 4th August

St. Kilda vs. West Coast
Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm

Saturday, 5th August

Carlton vs. Melbourne
Telstra Dome 2:10pm

or

Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs
M.C.G. 2:10pm

I'm leaning towards the Friday night game as it will be the most convenient with my travel plans, but I can be convinced otherwise.

Thanks!

 

[Tom Green Fan]

If you get time, you should also check out the Melbourne Storm vs Wests Tigers Rugby League match at Olympic Park. This game is the current frontrunners vs the defending champions!

 

[razorgrade]

Re: Which game should I see?

Mr. Razorgrade, I don't follow Aussie Rules Football, and have only seen bits of a game on tv. However, I'm going to be in Melbourne this August during Round 18 and I want to see a game. There are three matches going on during the weekend I'll be there so my question to you is which game should I go see?

Friday, 4th August

St. Kilda vs. West Coast
Telstra Dome (Night) 7:40pm

Saturday, 5th August

Carlton vs. Melbourne
Telstra Dome 2:10pm

or

Richmond vs. Western Bulldogs
M.C.G. 2:10pm

I'm leaning towards the Friday night game as it will be the most convenient with my travel plans, but I can be convinced otherwise.

Thanks!

Hey DasFX.

You'd probably be better off asking someone from Melbourne, I haven't been there for many years.

The MCG is a much bigger stadium nowadays. I've never been to the Telstra Dome, but have heard it has good atmosphere and it looks great on TV.

I'd expect around 40,000 people at all three of these Aussie Rules matches.

Gee, thats quite some time away to really predict. Anything could happen between now and then.

On Friday night you won't find too many West Coast fans making the 5 hour flight from Perth, but with both teams travelling well the St Kilda supporters and neutral public should be out in force. Could be a top of the table clash, and both teams are quite skillful and physical.

If you want a real "Melbourne" atmosphere though then the Richmond Tigers game would be the one to see. Richmond fans are apparently the most vocal in the league.

Or as Tom Green Fan says, you could see the rugby league, but both rugby football codes attract very little interest in Melbourne. From what I hear you would be alone amongst around around 8,000 trailer park trash, which is pretty poor for a city of nearly 4 million people. If you wanted to see a real rugby league match with atmosphere, you'd have to go to the provincial city of Newcastle in New South Wales, where you might get a half decent crowd of around 25,000.

Have a great time anyway .... I'm getting jealous !
Australia is a great country and Melbourne is a great sporting city.

Of course, in the meantime, if you want to see a game live here in Ontario, then you can't get past the Ontario Australian Football League, most weekends at Humber College Park in Toronto! You may see get the big crowds or atmosphere (yet), but it is the same game, reasonable standard from those who play for the love of the game.

 

[Tom Green Fan]

razorgrade is right, but has exaggerated extremely. But i don't wanna start a huge argument in this VFL thread so i won't argue with him

 

[razorgrade]

Re: RE: AFL 2006 - world's best footy - video highlights

Video - Best catches from round 9

Video - Best goals from round 9

razorgrade is right, but has exaggerated extremely. But i don't wanna start a huge argument in this VFL thread so i won't argue with him

you're right Tom Green Fan, I am not interested in arguing.
Though it never ceases to amuse me that the biggest critics of Aussie Rules come from Australia itself ...

And yet it has grown to become your most popular sport by its own merits ... go figure ... strange country !

Canadians aren't interested in your interstate politics - let us take the game at its face value - a great, entertaining sport.

 

[Tom Green Fan]

Re: RE: AFL 2006 - world's best footy - video highlights

you're right Tom Green Fan, I am not interested in arguing.
Though it never ceases to amuse me that the biggest critics of Aussie Rules come from Australia itself ... strange country.

Same as Tom Green and Canada...strange country

 

[dekhqonbacha]

razorgrade
what I liked most in all of the games, the thing that keeps on coming: toyota

 

[razorgrade]

Video - Best catches from Round 10

Video -Best goals from Round 10

and some action photos

Meanwhile, back home in Ontario after two rounds, Toronto Downtown, Mississauga and Guelph are all sitting at the top of the ladder undefeated ...