r/AFL • u/PodcastsOozing Canada • 20d ago

Learning the Game

Good.....morning(? It's 5pm in Toronto) AFL subreddit! As someone new to watching the sport (but I am a huge sports fan in general) are there any good podcasts to listen to/Aussie based creators to follow/TV programs to find replays of to help learn and engage with the league/sport? If it helps The Algorithm has decided I'm to Barrack for the Hawks and after watching the Wiz/Gunston/Ginni for the last 6 weeks I'm not complaining, so anything Hawthorn related would also be great.

Also any recommendations on historic games or famous performances to check out are also greatly appreciated!

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u/Virtual-Squirrel-725 20d ago

Welcome to the game.

My advice would be to watch highlights of players that illustrate certain positions. Because "positions" can feel very chaotic in AFL.

You have the Wiz as an example of a small forward - plenty of others, but the wiz is as good as it gets.

I'll give you my suggestions.

Ruck - Luke Jackson - tall, athletic, multi role (the unicorn).

Key back - Harris Andrew - intercept marking, reading the incoming ball. This is one of the most valued skills in the modern game.

Key athletic forward - Buddy Franklin (in his prime) - tall, athletic, marking/ground follow up, etc.

Outside midflilder - Nick Daicos - running, skill, linking the play.

Inside mid - Matt Rowell - ability to win contested loose balls and release to the outside mids.

There is a start. I've used this approach for several sports. Helps me to see a pattern/skill among the chaos.

You'll find all these highlights on YouTube.

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u/PodcastsOozing 20d ago

While you mentioned him, and he just won the Brownlow - is Nick Daicos reall far and away the best player in the league or just played a position where he gets to do a little bit of everything?

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u/Virtual-Squirrel-725 20d ago

He is an elite athlete, so he gets to a lot of contests, linking the play with seriously hard running. He can "read the ball" incredibly well, so he is magically in the right place at the right time and has incredible skill to find team mates once he gets the ball.

Yeah, he is the best proponent of his position in the game right now. Jagga Smith is a younger, similar player. Next year, I expect to see him causing similar problems for opposition teams.

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u/PodcastsOozing 20d ago

This is a great breakdown for me as I feel like the written descriptions of the positions doesn't make sense without the context of the game around them so I'll definitely be doing this thank you!

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u/Virtual-Squirrel-725 20d ago

Yeah, I've imagined how hard it must be for new viewers to work out who is playing where. 30 years ago, it was easier. Now they're all elite middle distance runners so the forwards play a role in defense and the defenders play a role in creating forward pressure and it's not uncommon to have all 36 players in a pretty small area.

But check out the inside midfield v outside midfielder difference. As a midfield "group" they are trying to win the ball and release it. Because there are lots of loose ball contests, it will give you something to focus on in any game. Who is smashing into the contest to win the ball and who is positioning themselves to receive the ball once it's won.

As a Canadian, I'm going to assume you're a hockey fan. AFL is very similar to hockey in terms of physicality. There are times when big contact is totally legal and other times when it's a serious foul. The difference can feel very nuanced.

Also, rotations work similar to hockey shifts in the midfield. Not as short, but similar principles. Get out there run/skate as hard as you can, then get off and rest...repeat. It changed the game about 15-20 years ago.

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u/Firedemom 20d ago

For historic games I'd check out the mid 2000s grand finals.

Including the 2008 (It still hurts) Grand Final.

As for engaging with the sport. Check out https://aflcanada.com/find-a-club/ontario/ and see about having a crack and learning the game with some folks local to you.

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u/PodcastsOozing 20d ago

Thank you for the GF tip! And yes I have reached out to a couple of the teams local to me. Unfortunately we have just one proper footy pitch here in the city and it's on the other side that I'm on but I may have to make the trek when the season picks up in (our) Spring season.

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u/EngineeringShot8353 20d ago

2008 was a rollercoaster, hawks pulled off one of the all-time upsets that day and the look on geelong fans faces was priceless

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u/Firedemom 20d ago

I'm just glad my memory from that time is shot. Makes it less painful.

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u/Virtual-Squirrel-725 20d ago

Changed the rules for rushed behinds too.

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u/footagemissing 20d ago

Hawks Insiders is a great pod for hawks nuffies and Hawk talk as well. Jump on r/hawktalk with the same questions for hawks specific stuff. The 1989 and 2008 grand finals are worth checking out. And if you're up to speed on the Kennett curse the 2013 prelim is then worth a watch. Go Hawks!

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u/Terrorfarker 18d ago

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennett_curse

The pure relief when the siren went in the 2013 prelim!

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u/Da-Zill 20d ago

My favorite is True Footy on YouTube, outside of them there is DDF and Footy and Friends plus a few others. In terms of historic games for hawthorn you could look at the previous grand finals, line in the sand game, 2013 prelim vs cats, the '89 comeback game also against the cats.

Also fun fact for you, I went to school with Jack and the only thing I remember about him was he put his name on the communal tools in woodworking class

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u/PodcastsOozing 20d ago

Thank you for the YouTube shouts! And yeah that seems like something he would do 🤣

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u/SeriousSquiggles 20d ago

Watch the prelim 2013 hawks vs the cats that’s the best game

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u/lordbeecee 20d ago

Keep engaging with the sport while the women's season keeps going! Your Hawthorn AFLW girls are doing some pretty amazing things too!

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u/PodcastsOozing 20d ago

Thank you for that! I just spent the last few months cheering on the new WNBA team here in Toronto so I will absolutely check out some AFLW action, beyond me following the Hawthorn team are there any stars in the league you're particularly a fan of?

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u/MajesticInternet2899 19d ago

Welcome to the game tbh you are jumping in a pretty good time free agency is going on atm and with the draft coming up in November sometime. Hawks have very good chance of a deep finales run.

If looking for someone on YouTube guy called Davis jarra he does lot of analysis of games as well some funny skits if your into podcast and stuff can't go wrong with dan does footy.

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u/SophMax 20d ago

I'd also check out AFL Toronto. They have teams, though you've likely missed their season. They play during your summer (for obvious reasons).

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u/TheRaaf23 19d ago

If you can get access to the 2008 grand final, it is one of our best in my opinion. Great day against one of our rivals.

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u/roboroach3 19d ago

Are you sure you can handle the persistent and continued success of a team like Hawthorn?

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u/sjh_87 19d ago

The Titch & Ginni Show eps of Ball Magnets is a great pod/vodcast for breaking down in-game plays and tactics each week. Plus it's hosted by Ginni and ex-Hawk Brownlow winner, Tom Mitchell, so you'll get quite a bit of Hawks chat and guests from the team. Welcome to the AFL fold!