It’s the eve of a brand new season.
A time of year when everyone’s moods are getting lifted with the feeling that footy is returning to our lives and for the next 25 weeks or so, we ride the emotional roller coaster based on our teams’ performances on the weekend.
Somewhere in AFL House in Docklands, Gillon McLachlan is taking a deep breath and taking it all in before Thursday night.
He knows that it is an important year for the code.
The lingering ‘state of the game’ debate, inconsistencies with the match review panel, crowd violence problems and other issues that should have been rectified many a year ago have all left a stain on this season in some way.
When all is said and done, the AFL be looking at season 2018 – grand final aside – and realise that they will want it back pretty quickly.
The head honchos at the AFL should be nervous.
Season 2019 signals a year of change.
A year where new rules and interpretations will be at the forefront of the discussion from week to week as we continue to wrap our heads around the new ways that the game is played.
They’ve been unpacked, dissected and analysed within an inch of their lives, and that is only off the back of 18 JLT Series games.
While we’re all salivating at the idea of seeing Patrick Cripps or Dustin Martin or Nat Fyfe bursting out of the centre with so much space around them they can go for a little dance with the ball, there are causes for concern and reasons to be nervous for the AFL as the jury is out as to whether or not the adjustments will be beneficial to the overall product.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
The most contentious thing about these new rules – or game adjustments as head office likes to call them – is that most of the new rules are interpretation-based.
One officiating umpire can deem something marginally different to another officiating umpire on the day and something such as that can result in a momentum swing or even cost a team a game.
A 50-metre or 100-metre penalty can decide a game, or a season.
A step out a starting position can mean a ball being in dispute to suddenly deep in your attacking or defensive half.
There is wiggle room for good teams and clever players to exploit these holes, which is something that the AFL would certainly be mindful of as we head into the year.
Aside from the rules come some of the uncontrollables that the AFL cannot manage from head office.
There are teams that are still struggling.
There are clubs that are still in mountains of debt and cannot afford another year in the red.
There are teams that the AFL have helped prop up and given hand-outs to in recent years.
The AFL will be looking to see those clubs improve and not let the gap widen. If they say equalisation is the key, then this is one of the factors that the AFL will be most worried about.
The rule changes and starting positions at centre bounces have the ability to create some really exciting tussles with momentum swings.
On the flip side, it also creates room for there to be blow-outs in games. And big ones.
While it might not be the main goal of the Commission to even-up every contest, there will be some games this year that get ugly. Really ugly.
Once a part-time competition, the AFL has become this powerful juggernaut of industry all over Australia.
It’s the juggernaut that has seen the AFL steamroll many other mainstream sports and other footballing codes. The AFL virtually has a monopoly over the entire winter months of the sporting calendar.
It is a true sporting leader, which has created many different new opportunities to connect people far and wide with the game.
However, it would seem that the AFL has an obsession with appeasing themselves before their players and fans.
The competition HQ has become obsessed with change.
Lifetime free agency, rules of the game on the field, restricting the use and ability of support staff, supplementary player rules and too many others to list have seen this league grow to the point where they are becoming something that isn’t themselves.
Stop trying to Americanize our game. Stop trying to ensure that teams post cricket scores each round because players and coaches are much smarter than that.
Gillon McLachlan, Steve Hocking, James Podsiadly and David Rath have done a mountain of work in trying to create the best possible version of the game.
On the eve of the season there would no doubt be sleepless nights ahead because we know as well as anyone, this league never admits to making a blue and fronting up to their mistakes.
Season 2018 was a year that the AFL will probably want back and would be hoping to God that 2019 is one for the ages from start to finish.
DP
Guest
I think AFL’s biggest problem is that it is too easy to score; as a result the stronger team can simply pull away throughout the game. Far too many games effectively all over by half time. Make it harder to turn superiority into a match winning lead and we will get more drama, like soccer.
Scott
Guest
The ruckman rule is a clear “rule for the sake of making a rule”. I wish these guys would see what they are doing, they don’t have to think of something each year, they don’t have to. Less is more. Lroy your spot on that it is already affecting the season. The 10 metre protected zone rule decided a 2016 game between Sydney and hawthorn. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/hawthorn/laws-of-the-game-committee-member-michael-christian-says-hawthorn-50m-penalty-was-a-bad-error/news-story/62769cc87d72adde4919092b84d0eede. The free kick was payed on 3 qtr time and brought the hawks within kicking distance, then they kicked a goal and won by 5 points. So that one little decision changed the entire seasons results. Hawthorn finished 3rd but had that gone the other way they would’ve finished 6th. Every single game of the finals would’ve been a different matchup. Who knows how it would’ve planned out. The AFL even admitted it was an error, but it was somehow swept under the rug without many people noticing.
Scott
Guest
It’s so clear to see the path they are heading
Seymorebutts
Roar Rookie
dude, i was raised in Perth so grew up playing and supporting Australian Rules Football. I moved to Brisbane and discovered the rugby codes, I quite like Union to be honest, that was in 1987. Fast forward to 2015 and I couldnt tell you what the rules are or why a particular penalty was awarded...I stopped following out of pure frustration and havent watched a game since. The AFL need to be careful they dont kill the goose that laid the golden egg , the fastest way to do that is introduce too many confusing laws. Nominating a ruckman was stupid... good players gave away crucial free kicks because of it... who knows how many games were decided by one of these dumb decisions. I know at least one game was decided by one of those dubious frees and the team missed out on finals...not saying that was the only reason..but it sure didnt help their cause. Baffling umpiring decisions will destroy the game faster than anything else IMO.
IAP
Guest
They already have to give the ball straight back if they have possession; you hear the umpires telling them to do it all the time. They don't have to if they don't have possession though. It's always been the same.
IAP
Guest
But why shouldn't the player who's infringed be able to man the mark after the 50 metres has been handed down? The rule was meant to stop players from being hindered whilst they advanced up the ground, but it's already become this. The double whammy is that the defending team will now be short one man in their defence. There's no logic to it at all.
IAP
Guest
Yeah good one; I forgot about that one. They've completely lost sight of what the fundamental purpose of rules and umpiring is - to ensure that there's a fair contest between the teams. Punishing a team with a penalty that quite often results in a goal for something that, as you rightly point out, doesn't actually impede the other team and therefore give one team an unfair advantage, is doing the exact opposite of why rules are there in the first place; they're giving the team that was awarded the 50 metre penalty an unfair advantage. It's pure madness.
Jakarta Fan
Roar Rookie
There are good reasons to be nervous about the 2019 season especially on how the new rules will work and what impact, positive or negative, on our favourite players and teams. Some rules appear destined for success, eg 666, hands in the back, ruckmen taking possession at the bounce and the kick-in. Others are in doubt such as the runners rule and the extra 50 meter rule. Time will tell. Another rule, not a new one, ie giving the ball straight back to the one who gained a free kick, makes me worry that the new rules will not be administered consistently. How often do we see a free awarded, and the opposition player with the ball just puts it on the ground and runs off. This is particularly noticed when the ball is on the boundary. Whatever happened to the 50m penalty for that? If current rules are not consistently enforced, how can we trust the new rules coming in?
Gordon P Smith
Roar Guru
I hope you’re both right. Call five egregious fifties this week and watch the thing die a quick backstage death. Then we can all move on. I agree – the rest of the rules will be fine, or at least innocuous.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Ha, and if that were to occur, I predict a big mid-week pow wow, and that number of five would reduce to zero for the next month!
Scott
Guest
I’m gonna tip 5 in the 1st round. I’ll meet back here next week
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Personally, I'm fine with anything attempting to: - reduce scragging, - make it more difficult to slow down play, - make it more difficult to clog up the play, - expand the space. The biggest concern of all the rule changes appears to be the new 50m rule, but really, it's hardly the end of the world. If all goes well, you might be lucky to see five awarded per season. To my eyes, it looks like a pretty simple penalty to avoid. Let's see how it goes.
Scott
Guest
Agreed. I remember FIFA used that excuse when they didn’t want to introduce video ref. They reasoned that people talking about an unfair result garnered more interest in the game. What the? Those 2 rules are a joke. I can’t believe players get done for deliberate when they are trying to keep the ball in. At least re-name the rule from “deliberate”. Still the worst is the 10 metre protected zone rule. I can’t get over how bad it is. It’s a rule where offending players aren’t purposely offending, yet also don’t impede the game in any way when they accidentally do. It is literally a rule for no reason, with the biggest kick in the teeth being that it was brought in to speed the game up. The resulting 50m penalty caused more congestion, so now rather then rescinding that rule, we get the new 100m penalty. I could go on and on but feel ill bore everyone
Scott
Guest
*There was supposed to be thumbs up emoji in my last comment there
Scott
Guest
I can’t like this comment cause I’m not a member but it gets a ???? from me. This really is getting out of control, it’s like watching a slow motion train crash. 12 people are ruining a game that’s been around for over 100 years. I’m trying to think of the best way for us fans to protest, that doesn’t involve boycotting games. Perhaps no one sits in their seat for the bounce down of each game. Starting each game in an empty stadium won’t look good.
Scott
Guest
So they should be nervous. I hope people lose their jobs if this goes bad. They are getting out of control and refusing to admit their mistakes. This new 50/100m penalty rule is clearly a joke. It should’ve been canned before the season started. There is no logical reason why they kept it, it’s arrogant and stubborn and people should be held accountable if it’s a failure. They are trying to chase their own tails each year, making new rules to correct other failed new rules. If they just admitted a mistake and rescinded bad rules more often, then no one would mind, but they don’t. It’s 12 people sitting in a room trying to justify their job. I liken it to a work safety meeting where everyone has to find a work hazard. You end up finding ridiculous things because your looking for anything. At least there’s some merit in safety, but that is what this rules committee is doing. They’re finding things that aren’t there. At this rate there will be 1000 rules within 50 years and the game will be a joke. I personally used to love Rugby union. It’s boring as hell now. Penalties aren’t exciting in any sport worldwide. I want to see quality goals kicked from playing the actual game of football, not a set shot from the goal square. High scores don’t equal exciting if they are all from free kicks. Everyone in the media is basically employed by the AFL so they’re all too scared to speak out as much as they should. I honestly think the only way these knee jerk reactions will stop is with a mass protest from all us fans.
anon
Roar Pro
Guys like Gil live in this fantasy land where they are never accountable for bad decisions, frivolously burn hundreds of millions on ridiculous vanity projects doomed to fail like the Suns/GWS/AFLX/China games. The reality is the AFL runs itself. It's built on the back of the big Melbourne clubs with 120 years of passion and the financial might of West Coast. When these guys are forced to venture out in the real world they get their pants pulled down. Demetriou lost $150 million at Acquire Learning. Mike Fitzpatrick lost his shirt investing in a wave technology company where he was director. These were their first ventures after leaving the safe confines of the AFL and both ventures went t*** up.
IAP
Guest
They could start by holding players to their contracts; that will stop the kids walking out on the crap clubs. Make the minimum contract length for draftees 3 years too.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The AFL community is secretly annoyed that Gomer Pyle is still charge of the AFL. —- I just heard him waffle about Tasmania NOT getting a team ANYTIME SOON. —- Please get rid of him. Get Ian Chappell into run the joint. Or at least Sheeds.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I maintain the biggest driver of inequality between clubs remains free agency, which is the one thing that the AFL can't do anything about, not while players can take less money to go to good clubs. It'd never happen, but it'd be great to see a change to free agency whereby players who are under contract can test the market in the off-season - but the caveat is that they have to take the highest offer made. Or stay with their original club. No changes to uncontracted players, who can sign with whoever they want - but it would force players to take the money on offer at clubs like North, the Saints and the Suns if they want to bolt on their contracts and one of those clubs puts in a big offer - well, either that or stay where they are until they are uncontracted. Bit like barristers in the sense that they have to take what is offered, and can't be choosy. It would force divestment of talent to the fringe clubs and give them a chance to actually accrue a critical mass of decent players and maybe rise up the ladder. Mainly I'd like to see it because it would put the AFLPA in a tough spot, because if they opposed it they'd be essentially admitting their players aren't professionals in every sense, and they're not in it to maximise earning capacity. Not to mention campaigning for the players to receive less money. Right now there aren't enough good players to go around 18 clubs and it really, really shows. As for the other rules - wait and see, but I agree the current 50m penalty rule is way too harsh and will be gamed by players constantly.