SIZE MATTERS!
Does a good big man really beat a good small? Or is it just another footy myth?
NEVER kick the ball across the face of goal and never kick short to a man who can’t play on.
Both of these “golden rules” of football have served the game well for most of its 150 years. They made the game predictable for players and made experts of the most novice of supporters.
But are they still relevant in this modern game?
Certainly if you watched any footy over the weekend you would witness nearly every player break at least one of these rules, probably many times.
It’s fair to say that they have been consigned to the football graveyard, along with lace-up jumpers and, for that matter, tucked in jumpers.
While thinking about changing football folklore, I thought it was about time I tackled possibly the biggest myth in our game: the theory that “a good big man will always beat a good little man”.
At this point it is appropriate but not entirely relevant that I admit my prejudice. Standing a whopping 179cm (180 with screw-ins) I placed squarely in the little man category.
This may lead some to think that my opinions are biased, but I assure you I intend to present a balanced argument.
For decades the argument has raged as to which player, the tall or the short, would win in the ultimate battle of football supremacy.
My earliest recollection of this ancient feud goes back to when I was a tiny tacker and heard the great Jack Dyer and Lou Richards slug it out on TV and radio, both arguing with as much bias as they could muster.
The argument basically went like this… big men are strong and brave… big men are dumb and slow… little men rely on the big men … little guys are skilful and courageous.
An ad break usually punctuated the sterling debate leaving us none the wiser as to the winner.
Here’s my simple take on the one-on-one scenario. Kick the ball in the air so that it does not favour either player and the good big fella will be too good.
However, kick the ball along the ground and the good little fella should run rings around his prehistoric counterpart.








