Onions on my belt vs. New Era caps

[JaseC]

The (imo ridiculous) link in another thread, stating that Gallen could be the best forward in 50 years, got me thinking about how different generations perceive past generations in a RL context.

There seems to be a belief that players today, who are fully professional, are more skilful, stronger & all round better players than those of yesteryear.

I'm curious to hear everyones thoughts on this subject & hope we can get a couple of people for & against.

Personally, I believe modern players are faster & stronger due to the simple fact they train fulltime.

That being said from a backs perspective, I think facing a 5 metre defensive line, with a leather ball would prove far more difficult to make line breaks, throw long cutout passes & kick pinpoint long kicks.

From a forwards perspective, having no interchange would definitely test the fitness of some of todays forwards & add in this fatigue with contested rucks (play the balls) & contested scrums & there is no doubt the game would be slower.

Slow, tired forwards would be easier for halves to take advantage of late in games, however those 5 metre lines don't leave much time & room to create gaps.

Your thoughts?

 

[mrslong]

I don't remember the old days too much, but I think that it was certainly a lot tougher back in the day, with a lot more aggression on the field. Players like Hayne and Farah would never have cut getting coat hangered on a regular basis.

 

[Broncoman]

I've got the DVD's of the games from the 80's and 90's and in my opinion the game has become tighter. In those years and before my dad and grandad told me stories of how teams would attack from anywhere no matter what situation they were in. Today teams conservatily work their way out of their half then attack.

I think the game has softened a little (diving and cheating into penalties). I would love to watch someone like Chris Sandow or Robbie Farah run smack into The Chief (Paul Harrogan) and Cement (David Gillespie).

 

[Bucking Beads]

The game has gotten way tougher IMO.

 

[Fozz]

I have no doubt that if players of yesteryear had all the benefits of the modern game (video review, training full time, fully equipped gyms, all the extra coaching and professional trainers) they would match up with any of the modern players in terms of skill and fitness.

 

[OXY-351]

I've often wondered if you took the wooden sponers from the modern game, and played them against the premiers from say the mid-80s (before the game went pro), who would actually win? The premiers from the 80s would probably be more skillful, but I suspect the modern team would be fitter and stronger, and even know they are spooners in the modern era, woudl still beat the top teams from the 80s.

 

[mrslong]

I've often wondered if you took the wooden sponers from the modern game, and played them against the premiers from say the mid-80s (before the game went pro), who would actually win? The premiers from the 80s would probably be more skillful, but I suspect the modern team would be fitter and stronger, and even know they are spooners in the modern era, woudl still beat the top teams from the 80s.

I can't see the Titans beating the 1989 Raiders.

 

[Kaz]

I've often wondered if you took the wooden sponers from the modern game, and played them against the premiers from say the mid-80s (before the game went pro), who would actually win? The premiers from the 80s would probably be more skillful, but I suspect the modern team would be fitter and stronger, and even know they are spooners in the modern era, woudl still beat the top teams from the 80s.

I would go with all the premiers of the 80's

 

[Broncoman]

The 90's as well. The current GC side would get anhilated by any of our premiership teams of the 90's.

 

[simmo77]

The 90's as well. The current GC side would get anhilated by any of our premiership teams of the 90's.

92 broncos v 06 broncos. Now that would be an entertaining game. Mebe 92 by a point.

 

[OXY-351]

The 90's as well. The current GC side would get anhilated by any of our premiership teams of the 90's.

Yeah, I think the 90s would be no contest. At least the 80s was still a time when players would have a smoke at half time and a carton after the game.

 

[Coxy]

Yeah, I think the 90s would be no contest. At least the 80s was still a time when players would have a smoke at half time and a carton after the game.

And only had to get back 5m to be onside...and most of the time that was more like 2 or 3m.

 

[Professor47]

The way they train, eat etc. The players are in better physical condition, no doubt about that.

Old school players will have more of a footy brain and arguably more skill and finesse, but played over 80 minutes, 5m or 10m ... the New Era will win... however if you get into hypotheticals and say if the old school players trained in today's conditions and with today's technology bla bla bla... it just gets a bit too ludicrous. I just think the new era players would physically dominate and win the game that way... it doesn't necessarily mean they are better players though.

 

[OXY-351]

I just think the new era players would physically dominate and win the game that way... it doesn't necessarily mean they are better players though.

My thoughts exactly. i think a team from the 80s migth start well, but I could see them getting run down by a modern team late in the game. The 80s team wouldn't be able to compete for 80 mins against a modern team.

 

[Dexter]

The 5 m rule was the big change IMO. Under the 5 m rule you had to have more deception around the ruck or you got smashed.
Also the centres played together and the forwards had to get to the ruck which made everyone run further off the ball . So if you had a backline move which finished with the outside centre the forwards had to get to the other side of the field where the tackle was and the centres had to get back out to form a backline.

Shoulder charges to the head, being lifted above the horizontal, punched in a scrum, tackled in the air, hit late with the a shoulder all these things happened every game mostly as part of the game.
Also there was nobody running on with water every 5 mins, not to mention how hard the grounds were. (had to laugh at Cleary complain about Parras field the other week ).

Fitness is different because you train to what you know, the players of bygone days would be as big and fit if they were playing today. I wonder how many of todays players could work all day then go to training after work?. Pre season was a bitch if you worked outside then had to train in the heat from November.

I saw so many talented kids drop out of footy because it was too hard to work and train. Fronting up to work after a Sunday game ( most games were ) was hard but if you had a boss who wasn't a footy fan you had to make a choice or find another job and the job was your income and future not football.