Remember that scene, once upon a time, when holding the ball made sense?
That moment when a player decided to take on the other team? He or she took off with the ball in hand, accelerated, and pushed away those who tried to catch them. It was a state of invincibility.
Then there was that magnificent point in time when the plan was foiled. The ball-carrier was caught. Like a predator, the tackler somehow gripped a loose piece of guernsey. The victim buckled at the knees. The crowd erupted ‘Baaaallll!’ with gladiatorial fervour.
Everyone turned to the figure in white, who paused and then bent forward at the waist, almost as a bow to honour the tackler. The ump’s arms crossed over and extended out slowly, like an act in Swan Lake.
The fallen player looked up to the umpire with a face of despair. The crowd showed their collective appreciation with a booming ‘yeeeesssss’. The ball was handed to the tackler like a trophy, so that he or she could step back for the free kick they had rightfully earned for the team.
It was one of the great elements of the game.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
But now the once glorious scene has been distorted into a confusing mess. These days, the tackler might not receive the final reward because of the modern interpretation: as long as you correctly dispose of the ball within a couple of seconds of the tackle, this is an adequate antidote to the ball-carrier’s predicament.
Despite taking on the world and getting caught, he or she has one or two seconds to consider options for a handball or kick – even just a grubber along the ground, ending the scene as a sad and anticlimactic diminuendo.
The issue, however, is made even more profound by a different situation. A player picks up the ball and motions in readiness to handball or kick the ball. Instead, the ball is knocked out of his or her hand or someone crashes into the player, causing them to spill it.
Despite the lack of a tackle, and its obvious inconsistency with the interpretation described in the previous paragraph, which is much more generous to the ball holder, this is often judged as incorrect disposal: holding the ball.
Likewise, players are given holding the ball when they are at the bottom of a pile-up of other players, and are unlucky enough to have the ball pinned under them.
How could the majesty of holding the ball be reduced to a pitiful decision of convenience to give the ball to someone so the umpire can keep the ball moving?
To add to the confusion, if the ruck catches the ball from a boundary throw-in and is tackled, this is not considered prior opportunity and is a ball up.
Nothing makes sense anymore.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
A chief antagonist in this plot is the incorrect disposal element. Somehow, about five or so years ago, it crept into our great game and took over. How you dispose of the ball, or try to, has become the most important thing. It is much more important than prior opportunity and the tackle.
The rule is now a pitiful, enfeebled version of its former self. It used to be a simple rule, designed to prevent a player from easily traversing the field from one end to another and to reward the tackler, if the ball-carrier truly had prior opportunity.
This traditional form of the rule is the one still seen in state leagues, which have more faithfully preserved it. The AFL believes it needs to artificially pump up the speed of the game despite other adjustments, including the tin-man rule and six-six-six rule, already doing this.
The holding-the-ball rule is like a 1978 Torana that you bought new. Over the years, you made modifications to it. You added spoilers, bonnet scoops and an exhaust system, lowered it and put on pinstripes, thinking it would make the car look faster and cooler.
But over time you realised that it wasn’t really a true Torana anymore. You’d ruined it. So you decided to take off all those bits and get it back to the classic car you remember.
It’s time to have a good look at the holding-the-ball rule, remove all of the modifications, and bring it back to the classic rule we all remember.
Micko
Roar Rookie
One on contests: marking duels, possession duels, screamers (or attempted screamers), fantastic skilfully constructed goals....where has it all gone?!! In fact your mob, Geelong of the late 2000's, is the only club I have genuinely liked watching since the sport rapidly declined from the mid 2000's onwards.
Chris_S
Roar Rookie
In July 2019, when Steve Hocking was talking on breakfast radio about Geelong’s win over St Kilda and the 161 tackles applied, he said: “Certainly we don’t want (tackling) as a skill”. He wanted to “balance out” the tackling but did not explain how he intended to do that. Maybe “balancing out” is code for “don’t reward the tackler”.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I can't help it. I meet a NRL Type and it's game on.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
The main problem with the 'spirit' of it all is that if you get tackled promptly (with effectively no prior)......you're best off letting the ball be "knocked" clear rather than attempting disposal where you might end up throwing it (if the tackler locks an arm). But that's the art and skill of tackling......give the player with the ball "enough rope". My problem is the seemingly arbitrary holding the ball when a guy gets wrapped up, ball locked in - gone to ground with the tackler and perhaps a second tackler joins in.......and the umpire decides to call it holding the ball. The problem is with three umpires across the field that we can get glaring inconsistencies. Some umpires are more willing to call it a draw and throw it up. Others are the 'hanging' judges.
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Guest
"as long as you correctly dispose of the ball within a couple of seconds of the tackle, this is an adequate antidote to the ball-carrier’s predicament" I would argue that if the player with the ball is still capable of correctly disposing of the ball, then he isn't being tackled at all. Having a handful of jumper should not be enough to constitute a "tackle". The rule should require that the tackler either bring him to ground or, at the very least, wrap him up so he's not able to dispose of it correctly. If all you've done is take hold of his jumper but he's still capable of handballing or kicking it then you haven't done enough to deserve a free kick.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Then it gets more complicated, best I could say is, ban the throw and then put up with it as a unique part of the game. I think it's better than it used to be, remember when you could just lay on the ball to cause a stoppage?
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Fair call, but the footy was free flowing, great match ups, high scoring, good skills. There are always good and bad games both then and now, but that period in time is seen by many as a high watermark for the game. Despite the Grand Finals, your mob played some incredible footy during that period! One of the best to watch for sure. I strongly recommend the podcast, "the greatest season that was: 1993". Some great interviews and discussion. None of the hosts were Essendon supporters by the way - in fact one went for the Crows, and they had a crushing end to that year. The chat with the Geelong faction regarding Malcolm Blight's mid season reversal of game plan was particularly interesting!
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Very interesting and well-written article! You raise a lot of great points and I am sure that a large percentage of footy followers have a problem with holding the ball. The increasing speed of the game has left the AFL behind when it comes to this rule. At the moment the ball winner receives too much latitude, resulting in teams forcing the ball forward taking possession, inviting tackles, then forcing the ball forward beyond the contest. It's ugly footy and the sort of play the rule was designed to prevent. I also agree with Brendon the 1st that "prior opportunity" being open to interpretation is an issue. The rule is difficult both to adjudicate and understand. However, I would like to see a cautious approach taken regarding wholesale changes. It is difficult to predict the effects of rule changes as coaches constantly look to maximise the advantages of the rules. Look at the dramatic effect the stand on the mark has caused for what seemed such a minor change. In short, I agree with the writer that there is a problem, but am wary of knee jerk attempts to fix it. It will need time, and a lot of thought from wise heads, rather than heat of the moment reaction. I just hope the rule does see serious improvement - two games so far this year have already been decided by last moment poor holding the ball non-decisions.
Cat
Roar Guru
Sure ... because all anyone remembers or watches is the best games from that period. Berry picked games are always going to give a false impression of everything being great.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Agree, I follow AFL and NRL and both sports have their merits. Code War is a myth and neither game should be changing in reaction to the other.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Richmond have been even worse
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Disagree, and it's not just me. 90's is generally held up as the "golden age" of skilled yet free-flowing footy. Great entertainment and great spectacle.
sven
Roar Rookie
as most systems of government many aspects of socialism work well (served the scandinavian countries very well for many decades) but communism as practised behind the iron curtain wasnt great for too many
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Yes, Socialism is not a method of life.
sven
Roar Rookie
went to west berlin back in the day before the fall of the wall, was interesting riding the train thru the east german countryside, very povvo looking & yes more than a few very clapped out trabants getting about
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Librans can see beauty in a Trabant. Easily pleased.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I love all fruit except custard apples. A false allegation has put paid to the rest.
sven
Roar Rookie
i like many elements about it
sven
Roar Rookie
will pay the one about the great match ups not as prevalent but its not quite 18 rovers v 18 rovers. the games always evolving, not long ago everyone predicted the demise of the ruckmen, now many sides are going back to 2 of em again, when the tiges won in '17 with just riewoldt as a key forward that was supposed to be the trend, now the tiges have won the last 2 flags with 2 key forwards
Micko
Roar Rookie
I'd think they'd enjoy the more open nature of the sport, which so many of us love. I couldn't care less who got more "possessions" on the field!