new rule

[roly]

i dont think the new interpertation of the push in back rule will effect too many of our blokes maybe lance and to a lesser extent fisher use there hands to hold there position which is fair enough ......matthew lloyd lost 10 goals from posing for free kicks that arent there
any opinions ???
it is going to be a rule that all clubs will have to get right in there preseason as the frees against backs are going to result in a shot for goal

 

[piro*]

The AFL should stop making these stupid rules.

 

[Bluebear]

It will be as bad as the "taking the arms in a marking contest" rule, which seemed to be interpreted differently from quarter to quarter, let alone week to week.

I think the current rule regarding propelling the player forward is fine, and much easier to apply as you can usually judge it from most positions. If two players are wrestling for the ball you would need to be side on to the contest to see what part of his body the player at the back is using to push with.........making umpiring harder again.
Disagree with Malthouse though......I think this will affect forwards more than backs. The bigger guys like Gehrig, Rocca and Brown who constantly hold their defenders under the ball to then launch backwards for the pill will be penalised.
In this regard you're right. Red is probably the main one who'll have to change his ways, and will help our smaller backs in defensive contests.
Rules committee just trying to justify their existence IMO.

 

[AndyWalkersGirl]

I think football is becoming stupid. IT's so hypocritical. I'll never understand how Didak got off for that illegal head bump on Scotland.

It seems it is one rule for one team, another rule for another team. If it's going to be physical, it has to be physical and fair for everyone. If it's going to be no in the back, that has to apply to everyone.

IT is so inconsistent, and it is ruining the sport. Which is a shame.

 

[mediumsizered]

IMO umpires have been too lenient in what they allow players to do in marking contests. For way too long forwards have been allowed to push defenders out of the contest, wrestle with them etc resulting in few contested marks that result from a fair contest. As a result, though, we get a knee jerk reaction from the rules committee. It shouldn't take long for the umpires to start watering down the interpretation of this rule & then a bit of commonsense will prevail. Mininal contact is alright, but what we have been seeing is rubbish & the umpires should have been free-kicking the offenders more often than what they have.

IMO, what made Lockett a far superior forward to Dunstall was that he relied on the push & shove & wrestle in marking contests far less than what Dunstall did. Let's see forwards beat a defender by reading the flight of the ball better & getting the better position in a marking contest instead of blatantly using the hands to gain an advantage.

 

[HBF]

Too me, it is quite obvious when any player pushes another player out of the contest. All you have to do is watch for any double movement of the players arms and hands.

Players should be made to utilise their skills to out position and out body their opponents to take a mark, not illegally push them out with their hands.

 

[btdg]

Anything that leads to more subjective free kicks being paid = bad. This rule will most likely be another source of frustration for players and spectators.

Wrestling marking contests are one aspect of football in which there is no increasing danger of injury as players get faster and stronger (as there is with shirtfronts, for example), so why you would want to reduce those contests is beyond me

 

[Blues_Man]

The AFL should stop making these stupid rules.

It's not a new rule ..it's an existing rule that has not been adhered to by the umpires ...good to see it is going to be enforced ..one of my pet hates is seeing a player get front position in a marking contest , only to have the bloke behind him place both hands in the middle of his back and push him under the ball (see Clement on Hird last year ..3 in a row )

 

[Andyt30]

I liked how they toughen up the grabbing the opponent and driving him to the ground eg what the Brisbane Player did to Murphy, i'd like to see them try that now

 

[Tex Walker]

i wish they would pay holding the ball and fix that rule up and wtf is with 10 players jumping on a man and then it being called holding the ball?