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The AFL has a habit of changing its rules, perhaps even an addiction.
In preparation for this season, the rules of the game were tweaked again to open up the play in search of more scoring.
The main changes included the introduction of set starting positions at every centre bounce — six forwards, six in the midfield and six defenders — and the tweaking of the kick-in rules to allow greater freedom for the kicker.
Through eight rounds the adjustments have proven just one thing — the AFL seemingly can't dictate how the game will be played, but rather that honour remains with the coaches.
When coaches were asked, as early as the completion of round one about the low scoring, the response was to wait and see over a longer period of time.
Clearly, one round was never going to provide enough data and so the suggestion was four to six weeks.
Fans now have a reasonable sample size of eight rounds — 72 matches — and it provides compelling evidence of just who decides the game's direction.
In the 2018 season, the average score dipped to 83 points a game, down six points from the previous year and the AFL decided to act.
Thus far this season, the average score is down to 79.7 points, which is the lowest in the VFL/AFL competition since 1967.
At the same time, the average winning margin is at 27.6 points and that represents the closest set of results since the 1962 season.
Perhaps that explains why the average attendance across the first eight rounds is the best it has been since 2010.
Better defence overcomes measures to improve scoring
In any case, the scoring suggests the measures taken to open up the game have proved futile as coaches have reacted by drilling their teams to better defend.
AFL statistics analyst Daniel Hoevenaars on his website Insight Lane has looked into the figures and determined scoring has increased as a result of the reset rule for centre bounces.
Of course, there is a caveat.
"Within the first minute of the game following the restart, this year's scoring ability tends to match the long-term trend, which suggests to me the new rule has temporarily offset the increasing defensive prowess and structures of teams for around 60 seconds," Hoevenaars wrote.
In broad terms then, coaches have reacted to the possibility of conceding more goals by putting a greater emphasis on defensive structures.
It should come as no surprise.
After all, the history of invasion sports shows the best defence is, more often than not, the winner.
The Adelaide Crows are a case in point.
After stumbling to one win and three losses, they've since won four in a row.
"The game wasn't giving us probably the open field that we thought it was going to give us early in the season," explained Adelaide assistant coach Michael Godden of the Crows' modified game plan.
"The games since then have been a bit more dour. If that's what it is then we'll play in that space."
Will coaches find a way through the gridlock?
The Crows are scoring at just 79 points a game — the lowest in the club's history.
However, that figure doesn't seem so bad given they're conceding just 66.9 points — again the lowest in club history.
The next step in the evolution of the game could well be provided by the coach who finds a way to unlock the gridlock that exists between the 50-metre arcs, not to mention the suffocating defensive action inside those arcs.
"I think it'll open up a little bit," Godden said.
"I mean there's still a lot of energy around the footy, a lot of fresh bodies still so the contested numbers are up.
"I think at some point it will open up but if it doesn't we're happy to play that way as well."
The issue for AFL lawmakers is whether they can hold their nerve as coaches try to find attacking solutions, or the players tire across the 22 home and away games.
It is a long time to wait for those who might think they have the answers.
Topics: sport, australian-football-league, australia, adelaide-5000, sa
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