AFL Rd 18 2023 Post Game Prognostications Carlton vs Port Adelaide

[DJC]

Game has changed, enforcers have been forced out of the game with all the cameras and media scrutiny.
You can't tackle or bump to the extent you could either and it's really a TV game now that has to look good and be free of the old fashioned physicality.
It's becoming more common to see players pull out of contests and a lot of the heavy contact is more accidental than planned and you don't find players evening up with others anymore as it's too costly in terms of free kicks/ easy goals.
Josh Rachele was highlighted for his aggressive reactive actions but it was all fresh air and bravado but zero contact or impact.
Dinosaurs like Mumford our now extinct ...

Nailed it EB; the consequences of thuggery and/or retaliation are too great nowadays and any decent hits are generally the result of very infrequent brain snaps.  It’s also commonplace for players to have friends and family among the opposition.  That wasn’t the case back in the days of the king hits and all in punch ups - although Big Nick and Polly Farmer used to go to the races together after belting the bejesus out of each other ?

However, there’s still an element of physical intimidation and looking after your mates.  Weitering was incredibly quick to get to Boyd after Byrne-Jones’ flop had a few of Port’s players agitated.