The AFL will strongly consider mandating at least three players from each team be stationed inside both 50m arcs at all stoppages in a bid to combat defensive structures.
The rule will be trialled in the new VFL and East Coast second-tier competition next year, with an eye towards introducing it at the elite level for 2022.
The innovation comes as the AFL on Wednesday announced three rule tweaks for the 2021 season designed to facilitate more attacking play and lead to higher scoring.
As expected, there will be a further reduction in interchange rotations to a maximum of 75 per team – down from 90 last season.
Players standing the mark will only be allowed “minimal” lateral movement, and the location of the mark at kick-ins will be set at 15m from the centre of the kick-off line.
It was previously set at 10m.
“The evolution of the game has seen an increase in defensive structures and these changes combined are designed to provide a better balance between attack and defence while encouraging more open ball movement,” AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking said.
“We have some of the most skilful athletes in the world, and the three changes are designed to reduce the defensive capability of teams and open up the game, providing an opportunity for players to have more freedom to play on instinct and show off their natural flair.
“Our game is in good shape but we all want more of what makes our game great and while there are always great moments of brilliance in the AFL, these changes aim to increase those moments and provide more opportunities for players to showcase their talents and ultimately give supporters more of what they love.”
Hocking said the AFL had not considered reducing the number of players on the field to create more space.
He believes the rule being tested in the VFL and East Coast competition will have that effect by spreading players out across the ground.
It is also expected that fewer interchange rotations will lead to more player fatigue and result in fewer players being able to get to stoppages, thus limiting congestion.
The cap on rotations could come down even further in future seasons but was only reduced by 15 for next year so as not to put players under too much stress.
“We felt that was that right level and it’s incremental change, so we’ll remain open as to what the future looks like beyond 2021,” Hocking said.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Ha ha yes, we have different philosophies for sure mate
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I hate Richmond but like their game style. If Grunge was football. But we've crossed swords before but l don't mind doing it again.
Aus in Engerland
Roar Rookie
I actually agree, even if you were joking. Teal is an awful colour, and combined with silver/black and whatever, it looks awful on television. The AFL should tell Eddie to stick it and that Port can wear the prison bars for all games except away to the Pies. It's their real jumper and real colours.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
SANFL has a 25m penalty for minor indiscretions (the 50 is still applied for more serious incursions ) and it works a treat. 50 means a shot at goal for very minor mistakes, which changes/decides games.
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Have you actually pulled on a jumper and had a game yourself, slane ? I think not - no one wants to " go back in time " mate but some of us would like to see the game opened up a bit and appreciate the skills of the champs when the going gets really tough - reducing the number of interchanges to a minimum will achieve this immediately.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
if players are tired doesn't that mean their skill levels would drop, so it would become ugly and dare I say it but congested football.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I like the brand richmond play to me its fast and exciting football and they back themselves and their team mates in, 100% agree with throwing the ball up faster, you’d think that would be simple math, as you said the longer you stand there the more time players have got to get around and congest things up, i think it would make a huge difference if they threw it up faster. I have to disagree though with other drastic changes, im so sick of every year they have to go and change something, the coaches and coaching staff will always find away around it, every single time the last thing we need is zones and fixed positions etc its not netball, soccer or nfl. It’s AFL, let it stay that way. I really don’t know why they’re using this year as an example either, if course scores were going to be lower, quarters were shorter and fitter teams couldn’t get as many run ons and increase the average scoring level. I really wish we could get the rules right that we’ve already got before we start bringing in new ones.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Richmond know they can win, they have that confidence, they have a team built for this modern type of game, they have a good coach, so I think they'd be fine whatever happens, you've still got big bookends, and mature bodies. Imagine what dusty could do with a little more time and space?
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
There's nice passages of footy in most games and there were some great games last year, I just think I'm the whole the average game is a pretty ugly affair at the moment, that's why more drastic rule changes are needed. Throwing the ball up quicker would help, as would removing the ridiculous ruck nomination rules, but I'm not sure that would help enough. Go further, 2 men inside the arc's at all times, that would be easier to officiate as well, 40 rotations would work too.
WCE
Roar Rookie
Give the umps a tape measure so when a player marks the ball from a 6 metre kick they dont say its 15 metres
Alfred
Guest
You clearly don't see the link up handball chains through the middle that the Tigers score a lot from. The only time the Tigers play the extremely messy gamestyle is when it's dumping rain like in the 2020 PF. As for the rule changes, the ball has to be thrown up/in faster before 10 extra players can rush in to the contest. This solves so many congestion issues. It also means that the dumb ruck nomination rule can be scrapped and paying a free kick against a 3rd man up. Teams are now nominating multiple players for the ruck so the ump has to pause and clarify who is the ruckman, just so they can extend time to get more players to the contest.
Slane
Guest
I actually don't mind a bit of teal. Was just trying to point out how banal it is to complain about our own aesthetic preferences because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The AFL want more goals so they get more advertising revenue. I'm not sure that I'd agree with you that Richmond would win whatever style they were playing. Richmond are the shortest team in the competition but probably also the fastest. When Ben Griffiths got injured in 2017 and Richmond had no other legitimate talls to take his spot, their gameplan changed and history was written. If conditions in the competition were such that they favoured precise kicking and high marking, I doubt we would have been half as successful.
BigAl
Roar Rookie
I do check out old games on youtube, a lot, and I sometimes cringe at the game back then. So slow, not a hint of tactics... Other advantages that I see for my proposed changes are that it would bring back some of the classic old time type of players - fullbacks with booming kicks, high marking forwards (and ruckmen) kicking bags of goals... When was the last time we saw a Brownlow medalist who wasn't a scampering, high posession gathering 'mid-fielder'?
sven
Roar Rookie
cant agree with u there big al, personally i like ruckmen & centre bounces, what u propose would totally change the game .... a bit too much hysteria happening here, i recall some of the 25 v 22 goal scoring fests from back in the 70's, sure there were some goals kicked but check out some of the action on youtube & tell me what u think of some of the skills & defensive capability going on ..... the footy is faster, the players are bigger, fitter & stronger now than ever ..... reckon bring back 20 min qrts, maybe limit the interchanges, leave the rest alone .... remember so many people freaking at the start of the year predicting the imminent demise of the game, well the season panned out alright in the end, the better teams found a way past the congestion & we had some ripper footy played (sure panned out well for this tiges supporter anyway)
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
It's not Richmond's fault, they've adapted better than the rest and are the best. I just hate the game style they're being forced to play, they'd win whatever the style.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I just don't like the fact that getting the ball forward at any cost usurps the accurate free flowing footy that I love. Richmond do attack more, but it's messy, due to congestion, stop the congestion, Richmond still wins, but it a better game to watch
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Teal is a beautiful and regal colour of kings
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
No team has a higher press than Port Adelaide. No team! What on earth would Kenny do if confronted with what you are suggesting? Would he prefer teal bibs or bibs with prison bars on them?
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Still sour, Brendan? Hope you get over it . . . until next year!
BigAl
Roar Rookie
I've said it before and I will say it again ! What they should do, is when a goal is scored give the ball to the team scored against to kick in from the 50m arc. More scoring ; closer games; less blowouts; less congestion...