THE AFL thinks it’s right to stop keeping score and remove best and fairest awards under Australia-wide changes to junior football competitions.
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A former Wodonga AFL coach, John “Shocka” Murray thinks the decision lives up to his own nickname and that it is “darn right stupidity”.
Thousands of junior footballers in leagues across the country, including those here on the Border, will be forced to play with no scoreboard, ladders or match results under changes aimed at promoting participation rather than competition.
The youngsters will also be barred from representative sides and will play on smaller grounds and in smaller teams.
Having no scores is a move that appears to have the potential to upset plenty of children as well as their coaches and parents.
Mr Murray says the competition gives the children involved the incentive to play well and improve and work harder on their skills.
While it might be a hard lesson to learn when your side isn’t the winner, he rightly points out the kids are better to have had that lesson than never to have had the experience at all.
