by Ethan Phoenix

Created on: May 03, 2009   Last Updated: May 06, 2009

Physical intimidation is a key ingredient in AFL football, if you want to be a top four side. Many people may argue that physical intimidation has been umpired out of the game. This is true to some extent as you very rarely see hip-and-shoulders, shirt-fronts, melees or punches. If you were to watch a game from the 1980s, you would be shocked at the brutality of the game. Players getting knocked out off the ball was a common occurrence. The umpires had very little influence on the game back then and only paid free kicks when significant contact was made. These days free kicks are paid for push-outs and high tackles when only minor contact is made. There is now a large number of holding-the-ball decisions to try and prevent so many ball-ups in packs. It does free the game up but also makes it hard for rovers as they have very little time to dispose of the footy.

Even though the illegal intimidation has been taken out of the game, there are plenty of other ways to impose your physical presence. Tackles, blocks and shepherds are three ways you can physically wear down your opponent. Fending off your opponent with a hand or forearm to the chest is a great way to avoid a tackle and a player like Gary Ablett Jnr is brilliant at doing this. Players who are able to keep their feet while being tackled and dispose of the footy are a great asset to any club.

There is another situation where physical intimidation becomes an issue. This is when two opposing players are charging from opposite directions, head first at the footy. There is always a chance of head clashes or serious injuries in these situations. Many AFL players will take the easy option of allowing their opponent to gather the footy and then tackling them. While this is the safer option it doesn't show courage and determination on their part. If I were to ask David Mackay, "There is one minute left in the game, the ball is in the Power's goal square and both yourself and Burgoyne are charging at the footy from opposite directions at full speed. The Crows are leading by 2 points. What would you do?" His answer would be go for the footy but would he actually do that in real life. I can name other Crows players that when exposed to physical intimidation, go into their shells. Reilly, Mackay and Van Berlo are three that spring to mind.

Another situation where physical intimidation can become an issue is when one of your teammates is brutally knocked out. In these situations it is only fair that you stick up for your

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