A low pressure system is sweeping across the AFL landscape, caused by a contentious new rule in conjunction with tighter interchange restrictions and longer games.
Steve Hocking’s attempt at opening kicking lanes, speeding up play and increasing scoring is already having a marked effect. Whether it’s positive or negative remains a topic for debate.
According to a triple-premiership coach, it’s unlike anything the competition has seen before.
“What I will say is it’s a different game,” Damien Hardwick said after Richmond’s six-point win over Collingwood in Friday night’s pre-season fixture.
“We took 120 uncontested marks. That’s normally a two-game total for us.
“It’s a different look and we’ll do a little bit of work on that and see whether it’s something we have to work our way through.”
So far, from what Hardwick noted is a small sample size, pre-season matches have featured some high inside-50 counts and extremely low numbers on teams’ pressure indicators.
(Photo by Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Many experts have pointed at the new stand rule, which prohibits players on the mark from moving in any direction, as the major reason for less-inhibited ball movement by teams in possession.
But Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley believes the reduced cap on interchange rotations – down from 90 to 75 – is an even greater factor, with its effects on player fatigue amplified by a return to standard-length quarters this season.
“Richmond would see themselves as one of the better pressure sides in the competition and our numbers are generally pretty good in that area, but they were as low as anything that you would’ve seen (on Friday night),” Buckley said.
“It was a very open game… but it’s going to take a good five or six weeks before we know exactly where the game is going to settle.
“We’re all talking about the man on the mark, but 75 rotations with an extra 20 minutes of footy is going to be the biggest test, given that all of us that are playing haven’t played a normal-length game for nearly 18 months.”
Buckley said fans can expect a season of “real flux and change” in the way the game is played as clubs, footy departments and players adjust to a range of circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
“2020 was a real difficult year and we got through and we’ve had a shorter preparation (for this season),” Buckley said.
“The soft cap for footy programmes has been cut by 40 per cent, so the ratios of staff to players is very different to what it was.
“The games are now back to full length and we’re going with less rotations, so there’s a lot of change in the game.
“There’s a few rule changes that are designed to speed it up and to make it more open and offensive, so there’s a lot of different factors.
“The coaching and playing groups that get it right are going to get a kick-start early.”
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
just leave the game alone i say. For hots off the ball, you cant argue or for players health and safety, you cant complain but to keep changing the rules to try and change the way the game is played, is ridiculous in my view. Like when they brought in the primus rule, biggest load of bs.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
its unbelievable, I still swear the only reason they change and tweak rules all the time is to justify why they have a job, I've never quite understood why you need a whole comittee for the rules, i would of thought somebody over there would of had enough brains and common sense you wouldn't need a whole comittee to make these decisions, unless your stuffing with the actual fabric of the game. Does my head in every year.lol.
Vicboy
Roar Rookie
To be frank, that’s still an improvement - players have been cribbing the mark for years. Pick the best rule change a) no 3rd man up; b) ruckman nominate ; c) full forward stand 15 metres out on the mark for kick outs - or REDUCE INTERCHANGE ( 40 will be a good number)
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Hope it’s not a fixture ADT.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Not sure, but it drove me mad. Gave them three to five metres all day. The opposite to Richmond who steel it the other way. But it was a definite ploy. Overall, a relatively low scoring practice game for this year. I think Scott was experimenting with his defensive setup. Ahhhh, it’s pre season.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I think they need to look at reducing 50m penalties for minor infringements like stepping off the mark. In so many situations, 50m brings the kick within scoring range, and 6 points is a harsh penalty for moving your foot. Reduce it 20m maybe.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
Rugby league is the same Adam. A raft of new rule changes this year, half of which no one called for or wants, on top of several last year. Agree, it must be a nightmare for list managers.
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Aussie Rules at the AFL level has been changed & different for years. Some say for the good, some say for the bad. State leagues & country footy are still somewhat like Aussie Rules.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
As above did it work.lol.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I didn't see the game, did it work?
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Pretty much what the Cats did last name night.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Ditto, take a big step back and tell the ump that you're not standing the mark, there would be nothing they could do
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Can't see the 4 rotations a quarter doing much of anything really when these guys are as fit as they are.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
So stupid question but when the umpire marks the spot where the mark is, what's stopping somebody from standing a metre or so back off of the mark, so technically your not actually standing on the mark, so you can move cant you.? It won't take long before coaches come up with a way to exploit the rule/rules, i really wish they'd stop messing with the rules every year, no other sport changes rules like we do and your suppose to be able to build a list over a number of years, which i think would be bloody hard considering they keep changing rules so it changes what you do and don't need, if that makes sense.
Papa Joe
Roar Rookie
There is much criticism of the new man on the mark rule, but I am hopeful that it is a positive once it settles down. Players taking a mark or getting a free have always had to withdraw back from the mark spot to take their kick, which arguably advantaged the defence. This new rule rebalances that advantage to some extent back to the attacking side, by giving them more options. So I'm happy to give it some latitude before rejecting it as a bad innovation.
sven
Roar Rookie
be interesting to see whats going on by the time we get to the pointy end of the year, pretty sure come finals pressure & the ability to win contested ball will still be a major factor
Mark
Roar Rookie
The article seemed to be more about Buckley than Hardwick.
Chanon
Guest
Buckley suggestion that rotation down from 90 to 75 will have take a heavy toll on players is spot on, especially for teams that have a more traditional midfield core will suffer the most. Teams like the dogs are ahead of the curve & should relish the new rules!