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What will the rule changes mean?

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Expert
11th October, 2018
19
1145 Reads

Steve Hocking just couldn’t help himself. In their endless pursuit of the ‘glory days’, the AFL has introduced nine rule changes to come into place next season.

In honour of those who brought in the changes, let’s overreact to each of them.

Rule change No.1: Traditional playing positions at centre bounces

Clubs will have to start each centre bounce with six forwards in their attacking 50, six defenders in their defensive 50, four players in the centre square, and one player on each wing. Each team must have one player in each goal square.

What does it mean?
The league has reduced congestion at the least congested part of the game. The impact on the game will be two-thirds of stuff all. We could, however, be denied teams running an extra midfielder off the back of the square, which is unfortunate.

Where it will be most felt is late in close games where teams with the lead will no longer be able to send most of their players into defence. It’ll only take a couple of seconds for the wingers to get back, but it’ll take a bit longer for the forwards, and that will free up their opponents, so it’s not nothing.

Verdict
Mostly harmless. Loss of attacking players off the back of the square should be offset by a little extra excitement late in close matches.

Rule change No.2: Kick-ins

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Players will no longer have to kick to themselves after a behind to play on from the goalsquare. The man on the mark will need to be ten metres from the top of the square rather than five metres.

What does it mean?
With more space in front of them and no need to kick the footy to themselves, defenders will be able to get the ball moving more quickly and get further from their opponent’s goals more easily.

Look for teams to put the ball in the hands of a speedy defender – think Zac Williams or Jason Johannisen – to take advantage of the extra space if they can’t get the ball back in play quickly.

Jason Johannisen Western Bulldogs AFL 2016

Jason Johannisen. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)

Verdict
It seems headquarters got scared off of their 18m goalsquare idea by the guffaws of the masses and opted for the same outcome without the aesthetics.

It’s going to wreak havoc on stats now that defenders don’t need to kick to themselves before being able to register a statistic. I suspect we’ll adjust to it pretty quickly but I don’t think this change was necessary.

Rule change No.3. Marks and free kicks in defence

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After a defender marks or gets a free within nine metres of their own goal, the man on the mark will be set in line with the top of the goalsquare.

What does it mean?
This is again about creating space and trying to open the game up by giving the player with the ball more time and space to move.

Verdict
This is a good one. It was always stupid that a player in defence had to play through the posts where they were positioned, so this eliminates that nonsense.

Rule change No.4: Runners and water carriers

Runners can only enter the field of play after goals and must be off before play resumes. Water carriers can’t be on the field during play.

What does it mean?
Fewer people on the field.

Verdict
Great. There are too many people on the field who don’t need to be on the field.

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Rule change No.5. Umpire contact

Players aren’t allowed to set up behind umpires at centre bounces.

Eleni Glouftsis AFL umpires 2017

(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

What does it mean?
It’s hard to predict what this one will do. Potentially by limiting players’ starting positions at the centre bounce it also limits where ruck men will hit the ball, but until we see it, it’s hard to say.

Verdict
The league is obviously worried about umpires getting hit from behind as they back out after the ball-up, which is reasonable.

Rule change No.6. 50m penalties

The player with the ball must be allowed to advance the mark by 50m without the infringing player delaying the game; Will be able to play on while the 50m penalty is being measured out.

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What does it mean?
The emphasis here is again on speeding up the game and allowing the team with the ball to get moving before defences can set up. Expect to see players sprinting forward after being awarded a 50m penalty.

Verdict
This one is a bit light on detail – what happens if a player infringes after the 50, another 50? – but otherwise seems like a good change.

Rule change No.7: Kicking for goal after the siren

When taking a shot after the siren, players can now kick around their body providing as long as they kick over the man on the mark.

What does it mean?
Rather than having to run/walk in on a straight line, player will be able to start off the line and kick “around the corner” after the siren.

Verdict
For a league that wants to recapture the past, this change stands out like a sore thumb. It will very rarely come into play, but I’m not a fan. You can’t play on after the siren. This is a fundamental change to the game.

Zach Tuohy

Zach Tuohy’s after-the-siren winner was one of 2018’s best moments – will we see more of this? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Rule change No.8. Marking contests

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Hands in the back has now been repealed and we’re back to the old ‘push in the back’ rule.

What does it mean?
This one is about scoring and trying to make it easier for forwards who play from behind.

Verdict
It’s fine in theory but there’s not doubt they’ve made things murkier and more dificult for umpires. Expect to see more players exaggerating contact (i.e. diving) and probably for forwards to get away with a lot more than defenders.

I’ve got my guard up about how this will be umpired – or, more specifically, how umpires will be instructed to umpire it.

Rule change No.9. Ruck contests: prior opportunity

Ruckmen will no longer be considered to have had prior opportunity if they grab the ball out of the air after a ball-up or throw-in.

What does it mean?
Tired of seeing ruckman too scared to grab the ball out of the air when either unopposed or against a non-ruckman (i.e. Shaun Grigg) the league has decided to give the big men an advantage by letting them grab the ball without fear of giving away a free kick the second they’re tackled.

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Verdict
The rule change itself is fine, but for a league that is so desperate to reduce congestion, this won’t do that. Teams with a late lead and a dominant big man will likely be able to create repeat stoppages by grabbing the ball out of the air.

All in all, these look like changes both fans and players will adapt to pretty quickly.

It’s disappointing how quickly – and with such little testing – they have been rushed in, but while there doesn’t appear to be anything here that will ‘fix’ the game, I don’t think any of these rules will break footy either.

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