AFL Rule Changes

[josie]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/standing-room-only-the-small-afl-rule-tweak-changing-the-game-20210129-p56xv0.html?btis

Looks like the rule change to standing on the mark may have a significant impact. Will this favour some sides or styles of play?

[bornadog]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/standing-room-only-the-small-afl-rule-tweak-changing-the-game-20210129-p56xv0.html?btis
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/standing-room-only-the-small-afl-rule-tweak-changing-the-game-20210129-p56xv0.html?btis

Looks like the changes to standing on the mark will have a significant impact. Will this favour some sides or styles of play?

Josie, more madness by the AFL. Absolute bloody morons, what the hell do they think this will achieve? This will not enhance the game one little bit and it will confuse players, umpires and supporters.

[mjp]

Josie, more madness by the AFL. Absolute bloody morons, what the hell do they think this will achieve? This will not enhance the game one little bit and it will confuse players, umpires and supporters.

Try coaching it.

[azabob]

Try coaching it.

Do you see the rule change improving the attacking side of the game?

[hujsh]

Can you just not put anyone on the mark or does the umpire make someone do it? Getting to the point where you might be better off giving them a bit of space and then closing them down if they play on.

[Mofra]

Can you just not put anyone on the mark or does the umpire make someone do it? Getting to the point where you might be better off giving them a bit of space and then closing them down if they play on.
There's a bit of chatter that this rule change will completely change the way the game is played, more than almost any other rule change in recent years.

Some coaches won't man the mark when the ball is in their forward line. Other are trialling a 'sweeper' 5m behind the mark to cut off /pressure an angle kick.

The ball is going to move very, very fast this season.

[dog town]

It’s going to be a nightmare to coach and umpire. No doubt it will have an impact on the way teams defend but have to wonder how it will work in practical terms. Seems like lots of gaps and room for interpretation.

Training at pre-season hasn’t been massively different from what I’ve seen just opens the field up a little bit especially on a quick 45 kick. Still plenty of ways to delay and hold teams up, the east/west rule had already cut out players completely closing down angles. Be interesting to see how much impact it has on ball movement versus chaos created by umpiring issues.

[bornadog]

There's a bit of chatter that this rule change will completely change the way the game is played, more than almost any other rule change in recent years.

Some coaches won't man the mark when the ball is in their forward line. Other are trialling a 'sweeper' 5m behind the mark to cut off /pressure an angle kick.

The ball is going to move very, very fast this season.

It will be a farce.

[Axe Man]

I understand why they want to stop the sideways movement but why the hell can't you move backwards from the mark? :confused:

[comrade]

Calling it now:

This will be heavily policed for the first few weeks and then once it becomes farcical with 10+ 50m penalties a game, the tight interpretation will magically be eased.

[Rocket Science]

Fast-forward to pre-season 2024 ...

“Backmen have been taking up more and more real estate and slowing the game down, directing where play could go,” Hocking said.

“The vision we have from pre-season testing of it with clubs, the ball is moving quicker and so teams are taking full advantage of the fact they know the backman must play handcuffed with both legs tied together so it is really disrupting defences."

[Hotdog60]

Crows players are on board. This picture shows them practicing the new way to stand the mark.

https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/76a3d878678792622e81e62d5e30759c

No waving arms or showing movement so not to give away a 50m penalty.

[josie]

I understand why they want to stop the sideways movement but why the hell can't you move backwards from the mark? :confused:

I think I recall M Boyd doing this a few times to great effect in 2016 to put off opponent going for goal - he would step back a pace from mark then step or rather kick one leg forward just as person kicked for goal. Seems unfair player cannot step back then forward as long as they do not go over mark.

That game a few years ago at Marvel where multiple dogs players stood on mark to put off Harry Taylor kicking for goal (and we won - that was an enjoyable win!!) I think would not have been permitted under this new rule either.

Agree it will take a while for this change to be understood by all concerned and that there is danger of it being detrimental (hopefully not in long term). Will it favour teams who have a lot of tall mobile marking players eg Eagles or Lions (not been a forte of ours for last few years but I think we are trying to address it eg JUH and a fit Naughts and perhaps English and Bont roaming around), and who have creative kickers (like Bont or Sidebottom)?

[bornadog]

I think I recall M Boyd doing this a few times to great effect in 2016 to put off opponent going for goal - he would step back a pace from mark then step or rather kick one leg forward just as person kicked for goal. Seems unfair player cannot step back then forward as long as they do not go over mark.

That game a few years ago at Marvel where multiple dogs players stood on mark to put off Harry Taylor kicking for goal (and we won - that was an enjoyable win!!) I think would not have been permitted under this new rule either.

Agree it will take a while for this change to be understood by all concerned and that there is danger of it being detrimental (hopefully not in long term). Will it favour teams who have a lot of tall mobile marking players eg Eagles or Lions (not been a forte of ours for last few years but I think we are trying to address it eg JUH and a fit Naughts and perhaps English and Bont roaming around), and who have creative kickers (like Bont or Sidebottom)?

At least it is better than this farce allowed by the AFL


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLNigUF-oYk&ab_channel=Jarooosa

[josie]

Unbelievably farcical footage BAD!! Beasley ought to be given a gold medal for even kicking a point with the mad mileu. Mind you, these constant rule changes are pretty farcical too.

[bornadog]

Unbelievably farcical footage BAD!! Beasley ought to be given a gold medal for even kicking a point with the mad mileu. Mind you, these constant rule changes are pretty farcical too.

Yeah, you know why I get so mad about rules. The game is one of the greatest in the world (my opinion), but one of the worst run in the world as well.

[GVGjr]

Have the rule changes contributed to or likely to contribute to key forwards being more prominent this year?
Darling, Allan and Kennedy were good last week, Walker has had two good outings and now Bruce, Naughton and English look like a dangerous combination.
Obviously you need a good midfield kicking the ball accurately but we might be on the cusp of seeing the return of key forwards after a long absence.

[GVGjr]

Walker 6 goals tonight, Ben King 4. Is it a coincidence that key forwards are amongst the goals?

[GVGjr]

There is some speculation that new rule change could be trialed in the pre-season next year:

Could we see the last touch rule introduced in the AFL?

AFL GM of Football Brad Scott has revealed the league is “looking very closely” at what the SANFL is doing regarding the last touch out of bounds rule.

The SANFL introduced the last possession out of bounds rule in 2016.

The rule allows umpires to award a free kick against the last player to touch the ball before it crosses the boundary line.


“It seems fairly universal that it’s been a positive change,” Scott told 7 News.

“It’s fair to say the AFL are looking very closely at what the SANFL are doing with last disposal.”

Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes believes bringing in the rule would clear up confusion around the insufficient intent interpretation.

“I was really against it when it first came into the SANFL, I thought it was a bit Mickey Mouse,” Cornes told SEN SA Breakfast in May last year.

“But the more I’ve seen it and the more ridiculous the interpretation at AFL level has become, the more I think it has to come in.

“The AFL has been watching it for a while, they’re clearly cracking down on deliberate. Just clear all confusion.

“I’m about making it easier for the umpires and we’ve made it more difficult. This just cuts out all of the confusion, last possession out of bounds.

“I think we’re heading that way.”

The last touch rule was also introduced for the 2018 AFLW season, but only between the 50 metre arcs.

[GVGjr]

https://twitter.com/i/status/1537372132183011328

[bornadog]

Absolute and utter joke.

This change has been planned from a long time ago. Firstly they bring in insufficient intent interpretation, to butter us up and now they want to go the whole hog.

Australian rules is a unique game in the world, but the constant tinkering is ruining a once great game. The throw in from the boundary is just one of the things th​at makes this game unique. The battle of the rucks, and who clears it is something I really enjoy and has been there for over 120 years.

What do these fools in AFL HQ want? The ball to just zing along up and down the ground? What are they trying to achieve.

I really am at a loss with these morons who run our game.

[Grantysghost]

Let's just change the ball to a round one and put hoops at each end.

[bornadog]

Let's just change the ball to a round one and put hoops at each end.

May as well.

[GVGjr]

I was listening to a local umpire on the radio who seemed to think it was a positive move.
Like how it was set-up in the AFLW in the SANFL it applies only between the 50 metre arcs.

[azabob]

I was listening to a local umpire on the radio who seemed to think it was a positive move.
Like how it was set-up in the AFLW in the SANFL it applies only between the 50 metre arcs.

Daniel Harford who coaches Carlton AFLw supports the rule introduction also.

[bornadog]

I was listening to a local umpire on the radio who seemed to think it was a positive move.
Like how it was set-up in the AFLW in the SANFL it applies only between the 50 metre arcs.

I don't know if you watch AFLW, but it is so frustrating watching this rule.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

If it's introduced, then its going to further reduce the impact of or the need for a genuine ruckman.
Bascially it's centre bounce and ball ups only.
Bevo's might like that!

[jeemak]

Is the rule based on a direct disposal out of bounds, or is it last touch?

[Grantysghost]

Daniel Harford who coaches Carlton AFLw supports the rule introduction also.

All the more reason not to have it.

[azabob]

Is the rule based on a direct disposal out of bounds, or is it last touch?

My 30 second understanding is direct disposal not last touch.

Happy to be corrected.

[azabob]

If it's introduced, then its going to further reduce the impact of or the need for a genuine ruckman.
Bascially it's centre bounce and ball ups only.
Bevo's might like that!

And clearance players.

[Grantysghost]

I wonder if teams will be too frightened to push their zones up high. Imagine the out the backs when a team anticipates a free for out of bounds and they all run forward and the guy on the mark can't move!

[bornadog]

I wonder if teams will be too frightened to push their zones up high. Imagine the out the backs when a team anticipates a free for out of bounds and they all run forward and the guy on the mark can't move!

I cannot see one advantage in changing the game. It just becomes a different game, not a better game, just different

[jeemak]

At the elite level it will just mean teams hang onto the footy more or be less aggressive with their full ground press just in case they miss a target long or wide.

Ultimately it will increase the chance of the odd fast break goal out the back or around a zone, but mostly will result in defences sitting back.

[hujsh]

My 30 second understanding is direct disposal not last touch.

Happy to be corrected.

How does this work in practice? Is it a handball that misses the mark and bounces out is a free but if their team mate fumbles it then it's a throw in?

[mjp]

We should be winding BACK the rule changes, not introducing new ones.

What is wrong with these people?

FWIW over here in WA, junior footy plays last touch and 15/side all the way up to y10's now (which is I guess u16's). So the players go straight into the talent programs and the u16 championships (such as they are) having never done a BTI in all of their footy. The stupidity/short sightedness of these decisions staggers me. We have 5x forwards, 5x backs and 5x mids (3x inside + 2 wings) at u16s? Then we wonder why players are unable to execute fundamental skills (picking the ball up for example) under pressure when they get to u18 level? Well, of course they can't. The ground has 11million miles of SPACE and they've never been in a contest.

Oh - Did I mention despite the reduced number game they play on a FULL-SIZE oval? Which in Perth means - in many cases - they are playing on fields > in size than the MCG.

Things are so, so broken.

[G-Mo77]

How could we have a new season without a rule change. C'mon everyone we all want it, we just don't know it.

[Bulldog4life]

Daniel Harford who coaches Carlton AFLw supports the rule introduction also.

Mark Stevens
@StevoMedia
·
Jun 17
Brad Scott leaving door open for last touch rule coming in to AFL on visit to SA yesterday, Interesting.
@HarfSerious
is an all-in last touchman .. happy to give green light ASAP.
@RSNBreakfast

[comrade]

If it's introduced, then its going to further reduce the impact of or the need for a genuine ruckman.
Bascially it's centre bounce and ball ups only.
Bevo's might like that!

This is one that would suit us. Timmy’s major weakness is positioning and body work at throw ins. Bevo playing the long game :D

[comrade]

We should be winding BACK the rule changes, not introducing new ones.

What is wrong with these people?

FWIW over here in WA, junior footy plays last touch and 15/side all the way up to y10's now (which is I guess u16's). So the players go straight into the talent programs and the u16 championships (such as they are) having never done a BTI in all of their footy. The stupidity/short sightedness of these decisions staggers me. We have 5x forwards, 5x backs and 5x mids (3x inside + 2 wings) at u16s? Then we wonder why players are unable to execute fundamental skills (picking the ball up for example) under pressure when they get to u18 level? Well, of course they can't. The ground has 11million miles of SPACE and they've never been in a contest.

Oh - Did I mention despite the reduced number game they play on a FULL-SIZE oval? Which in Perth means - in many cases - they are playing on fields > in size than the MCG.

Things are so, so broken.

I didn’t realise that, they’re almost playing a different sport. Probably an insight into how the brains trust at the top levels see the game eventually developing.

If so, the game is cooked long term.

That said, there is an opportunity for a parent determined to develop a player. Chuck them in the gym early, get them boxing/grappling training as early as possible, just create a physical beast of a kid. Once they get to u/18s and the contested stuff ramps up, he’d tear shreds off the kids used to time and space.

[mjp]

That said, there is an opportunity for a parent determined to develop a player. Chuck them in the gym early, get them boxing/grappling training as early as possible, just create a physical beast of a kid. Once they get to u/18s and the contested stuff ramps up, he’d tear shreds off the kids used to time and space.

Yeah, of course....sorta.

For me who owns 1000m2 of commercial fitness place - half of it dedicated to boxing and the other half to old school s&c - it is a bit of a bonus...we run a teenage S+C program and have 25+ junior footballers in here 4x nights per week. BUT.

If you want to understand how to find space when there isn't any, you can't learn that in the gym, in the boxing ring or (despite the claims of 110000 commentators) on the basketball court. You can only learn it on the field and you need to 'get your reps'. The other factor is kids today simply DO NOT WATCH AFL GAMES. They'll watch 15 mins here, 10 minutes there...sitting down and watching a game? LOL. There's Snapface, InstaTok and every online gaming option available to them...'in the olden days' we ate up everything we could and benefited from the kinaesthetic learning opportunity doing so provided us with...now days? They just don't get those 'reps'.