Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge quickly made his disapproval clear after the AFL banned the third man up at ruck contests.
Hodge went on Twitter only a few minutes after the AFL officially banned extra players being involved in ruck duels around the ground.
“No 3rd man ???? Ridiculous,” Hodge messaged.
The ban follows an increased use of the tactic, where an extra teammate would jump at a ball up around the ground or a throw in.
The AFL said it decided to ban the tactic after looking at ruck contests over the last two seasons.
“Eliminating the third man up at ruck contests will support the recruitment of tall players and ensure our game continues to be played at the elite level by players of various sizes and differing abilities,” AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said.
Only nominated players can now compete in any ruck duel.
The league also announced a stricter interpretation on deliberate rushed behinds.
It has also moved to simplify the interpretation around high-contact free kicks.
Also, the AFL match review panel will crack down on so-called tummy taps next season, with players more likely to be suspended for punches to the midriff.
Trev
Guest
Afl try and make the game lest congested around the contest. Now they bring in a rule that will lead to larger packs. Teams that face dominate ruck man will have no choice but to bring extra players into the contest to try and help prevent a one sided contest.
Birdman
Guest
you do realise you're yelling into the void on a sports OPINION site? there is no truth here, just opinion.
Birdman
Guest
rarely gets enforced in a centre bounce so no reason it will be any different around the ground without the third man up.
Pete
Guest
Great decision !
paulywalnuts
Guest
"In a lot of games this year teams (like the Hawks) have used the 3rd man up tactic to ‘jump into’ the star ruckman with more intent on hurting them rather than getting the ball" Wow, you go to all the trouble to source data to support your opinion but yet lead with a dimwitted line like this. Any evidence at all to support this bone-headed contention?
Daeyelle
Guest
But it'll be eaiser to look at and enforce now.
Truth bomb
Guest
What? Ahh, I see you're "reading between the lines" again! I made no such absolute claims. The "third man up" undermined the role of the ruckmen to some degree and was messy to umpire. Addressing this is far more plausible and, well, no tin foil hattish, than assuming the motivation is us basketballers of whom not one has made it
Cat
Roar Guru
Which never get enforced.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Yeah that Sandilands suspension was a wee bit farcical given he just step slightly over to protect himself and the contest from Griffiths coming in from behind him to be the third man up.
Vocans
Guest
You can legally block all players but the ruck, so no change, I think, to what Fyfe and co have to deal with. As to the 1 metre rule I think it should be two. The rucks constantly infringe eachother leading to a lower level of skill, and rules should foster skilled plays over lesser ones.
Slane
Guest
Another knee-jerk in a long line of knee-jerks by the AFL.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
They too have a rule covering that early jump in ruck contests.
richo
Guest
im very happy they bought this rule change in, 3rd man up was a terrible tactic to watch and unfair on ruckmen, the players who are complaining are doing it because they use the tactic themselves.
Birdman
Guest
there's nothing in this change that will prevent the opposing ruckman from doing exactly what you accuse the third man up of doing which is to jump early and at the opponent's body. David Hale was the master of it particularly against Nic Nat. If this is a real issue then blame the umpiring not the rule that enabled it.
Birdman
Guest
So ruckmen are an endangered species and this rule will somehow preserve their role in the game? That's a ridiculous proposition.
Batman
Guest
Fantastic. The players and clubs who are complaining were the cause of having to change the rules. They are the clubs who Ruck strength was inadequate so they negated the opposition ruckman. I dont watch footy to see holding/pushing I go to see the stars display their skills. I was convinced about the need to protect the Ruckman when Sandiland was suspended at the beginning of the year for just protecting himself. I enjoy the ruck duels but the unfair tactics of players jumping into them or preventing them competing was threatening their existence. Questioning the need to have a ruckman started when Hird decided to not select a ruckman to compete against WCE/Nic Nat but instead rely on 3rd man up.
Truth Bomb
Guest
"Reading between the lines" Blah blah In other words you are going to project your obsessions on to the afl where there is no actual evidence Perhaps the afl are trying to preserve a role that has existed since the early days of the code?
hooked13
Roar Rookie
Cant wait to see the big ruckmen being able to go at it contest after contest. People say they want to see more 1x1 duels around the ground, but don't get to, due to zones etc. Will be good to see at least one 1x1 contest.
XI
Roar Guru
I am in favour of all these changes. The 3rd man up was a stupid tactic and made ruck contests worse. I'll be glad to see it gone.
Axle and the Guru
Guest
Another stupid rule change, AFLHQ just need to find something to alter, every year it never fails, Birdman has hit the nail on the head IMO, we will 7' yanks or Africans running around that's only skill will be a punch in the ruck.