I prefer to go to most games, generally watching from above where you can get a good look at the plays as they unfold (or fold up in our case). Having watched the game on TV on the weekend, it become glaringly obvious that two distinct ‘sets’ of players who rate as my best depending on the medium through which the game is viewed.

On Sunday, I marvelled at Kouta’s ability in tight (the one handed pickup a beauty). Before long I was beginning to wonder why he never did that when I went to the game… the fact is he does, but I can never get past the unaccountability and lack of pressure or ‘participation’ in general play. Stevens the same, his work rate is outstanding and duly noted on TV, but you don’t see that he has run 25 meters toward the player with the ball to take the handball instead of sprinting 25 away to create a more dangerous position (and maybe not get it).

Another. On TV you cannot help but notice Waite’s athleticism or ability to bob up and kick a goal. What you don’t see is when he didn’t mark it; he is generally still on the ground, 50 meters from the play as the opposition clear the footy unhindered.

In the reverse there are guys who do a stack of work off the ball, but because they are not in camera, you’d reckon they’ve had a stinker. Blokes who run there arse off to get to and disrupt play after play, apply pressure and create turnovers, but from the comfort of your couch, they’ve done F all. Eddie Betts is a good example of this. Walker is another when it comes to hard work off the ball, covering for his man as well as others.

I empathise with those that cannot get to games. Not only do you miss the atmosphere, but you are watching a completely different game. And to make matters worse, how many journos give there best players based on how often a player appears on the monitor or is mentioned by a commentator?

For a true perspective, give me the nosebleeds any day… and please CH7, give us a (half or full ground) camera that shows the play open up, even if it is stuck in the corner of the screen.

Am I alone?

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Patrick Smith - Just another reason to HATE Essendon*!

not you most definatley are not alone.

thanks for your empathy.

tv only tells half the story.

i wish i lived in melb sometimes

Going to the games, and sitting above is a hell of a lot better. I can't stand sitting on the bottom deck either, as it's hard to see across the ground.

I was contemplating not going to the Pies game and watching on TV, glad I went though as the atmospehere was the best I have experienced for probably a couple of years at the footy. It was on.

Pretty much go to every game live, and it is a vastly different experience.

live, no question about it.

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"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

Live with the sexy squad gang and of course other TCers like Hammer, Bec, Ck95, Mjonc, Danielle, Tyrants, Gez occasionally and others that i have missed.

When fev has a big game, we have no voices for days, the chant goes off.

Fevola chant, copyright © Tommi™ 2004-2006

live, simply because of the atmosphere.

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Last edited by true_blue3 on Mon Sep 26, 1981 5:07 pm; edited 92 times in total

Live!

Nothing on this earth beats live AFL.

And yeah....You can pick up on alot more when at the ground.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger