You know what I'm talking about, basically that when the ball is within 5m you are allowed to lay a shepard on the opposition player. I thought I'd look up the rule book just to get the exact rule:
Dwayne Russell (yeah yeah, I know) said something pretty interesting today whilst commentating the Swans VS Melbourne game. Basically that in regards to the marking contest, the 5m rule is completely redundant as the ball falls too fast so that it's impossible to actually lay a bump on someone/push them away and then take a mark if you are to stay within the 5m rule.
Now, his source for this was some anonymous 'physicists', but when you think about it, it does make sense.
Should the law be amended so that it actually makes sense? Increase it to 10m? Make it so you can make contact after the ball reaches it's highest point in flight
Any thoughts?
AFL Rulebook said:Other than the Prohibited Contact identified under Law 15.4.5, a
Player may make contact with another Player:
(a) by using his or her hip, shoulder, chest, arms or open hands
provided that the football is no more than 5 metres away from
the Player;
(b) by pushing the other Player with an open hand in the chest or
side of the body provided that the football is no more than 5
metres away from the Player;
(c) by executing a Correct Tackle;
(d) by executing a Shepherd provided that the football is no more
than 5 metres away from the Player; or
(e) if such contact is incidental to a marking contest and the Player
is legitimately Marking or attempting to Mark the football.
Dwayne Russell (yeah yeah, I know) said something pretty interesting today whilst commentating the Swans VS Melbourne game. Basically that in regards to the marking contest, the 5m rule is completely redundant as the ball falls too fast so that it's impossible to actually lay a bump on someone/push them away and then take a mark if you are to stay within the 5m rule.
Now, his source for this was some anonymous 'physicists', but when you think about it, it does make sense.
Should the law be amended so that it actually makes sense? Increase it to 10m? Make it so you can make contact after the ball reaches it's highest point in flight
Any thoughts?