Over the last 4 to 5 weeks, the strong AFL teams have emerged in the 2022 season, and each of those teams has lost games of footy during that period. Winning and losing games is an inevitable part of competitive sport. 

 

At a recent AFL coaching session, an enthusiastic and genuine volunteer coach posed a question around game time for players considered to be 'less skilled'. A simple inquiry but it raises alarm bells.  It communicates a hierarchy exists within the team.  A ranking of talent and opportunities where playing time is distributed accordingly.  

 

Far too many junior players aged 9 - 19 are benched for large chunks of time and sometimes entire quarters. Is it an inability for these players to influence games in any way or an overwhelming inclination to win that is leading this to happen? What should be happening is that all players, irrespective of their standing in the team, rotate on and off the ground.  

 

Increase...