No Oppo Supporters General AFL discussion and other club’s news - Part 10

[cryptor]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1447460

New/changed rules for the 2026 season.

I don’t really understand the point of the shrugging a tackle being prior opportunity. The rule was already that if you had time to attempt evading a tackle then that’s your prior. Sounds like they’re just making it official that if you try to make it harder for the opposition to lay a legal tackle and they get you in the head then you’ll be penalized for it.

And the stand rule sounds like it will be a mess. Many free kicks are going to be paid when there are multiple players within 5m. I forsee a lot of frustrating 50m penalties being paid early in the season as players get confused about who needs to stand and who can run off.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I thought this Greg Swan was meant to be coming in and fixing things, not making things worse

 

[kazzooka]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1447460

New/changed rules for the 2026 season.

I don’t really understand the point of the shrugging a tackle being prior opportunity. The rule was already that if you had time to attempt evading a tackle then that’s your prior. Sounds like they’re just making it official that if you try to make it harder for the opposition to lay a legal tackle and they get you in the head then you’ll be penalized for it.

And the stand rule sounds like it will be a mess. Many free kicks are going to be paid when there are multiple players within 5m. I forsee a lot of frustrating 50m penalties being paid early in the season as players get confused about who needs to stand and who can run off.

Stand rule is already a nightmare and will be worse.

Player in goalsquare I don't care about.

But I think last disposal out of bounds and the ruck changes could make a big difference.


I think Meek and Reeves will play together a bit, the throw up will help Reeves use his height more as will the non line crossing so big guys cant push him off the line, but athletic rucks lie TDK and Jackson will leap over him. 5 on the bench opens up for 2 rucks, and the not waiting for nominations means getting someone there quicker will be vital.

On the flip side, less boundary throw ins with the last disposal rule, but probably not a huge amount less.

 

[Whats a Battle]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1447460

New/changed rules for the 2026 season.

I don’t really understand the point of the shrugging a tackle being prior opportunity. The rule was already that if you had time to attempt evading a tackle then that’s your prior. Sounds like they’re just making it official that if you try to make it harder for the opposition to lay a legal tackle and they get you in the head then you’ll be penalized for it.

And the stand rule sounds like it will be a mess. Many free kicks are going to be paid when there are multiple players within 5m. I forsee a lot of frustrating 50m penalties being paid early in the season as players get confused about who needs to stand and who can run off.

Last disposal rule is an awesome change. Well done.

Edit: does it still mean that the rubbish deliberate rule still applies within the 50m arcs?

 

[cryptor]

Stand rule is already a nightmare and will be worse.

Player in goalsquare I don't care about.

But I think last disposal out of bounds and the ruck changes could make a big difference.


I think Meek and Reeves will play together a bit, the throw up will help Reeves use his height more as will the non line crossing so big guys cant push him off the line, but athletic rucks lie TDK and Jackson will leap over him. 5 on the bench opens up for 2 rucks, and the not waiting for nominations means getting someone there quicker will be vital.

On the flip side, less boundary throw ins with the last disposal rule, but probably not a huge amount less.

I’m not as sure we’ll see Meek and Reeves in the same team too often.

I know Sam has expressed previously that he would play both if there was an extra spot on the bench (that there now is due to the sub rule getting the flick). But I think that view might have been before we had Chol performing so well in the ruck.

I think we’ll see the athletic Chol go against the likes of Jackson and TDK while Meek and Reeves battle it out for the primary ruck spot still.

 

[Howe Amazing]

With ruck rule for centre bounces does Mabs be the guy in there to get the tap (or sometimes grab it out like he does), and then swap with Meek right away for around the ground duties where he can wrestle

 

[H00t]

https://www.afl.com.au/news/1447460

New/changed rules for the 2026 season.

I don’t really understand the point of the shrugging a tackle being prior opportunity. The rule was already that if you had time to attempt evading a tackle then that’s your prior. Sounds like they’re just making it official that if you try to make it harder for the opposition to lay a legal tackle and they get you in the head then you’ll be penalized for it.

And the stand rule sounds like it will be a mess. Many free kicks are going to be paid when there are multiple players within 5m. I forsee a lot of frustrating 50m penalties being paid early in the season as players get confused about who needs to stand and who can run off.

It’s strange how the AFL hates dead time in games yet won’t shorten the time off between goals.

Also the shrugging rule is silly. Pretty much any attempt to take on the tackle and move the ball on will be a free against. Yet farcical acts like holding the ball to your body with your free arm is a ball up. Blicavs had a blatant one in the grand final.

It punishes players for trying to take the game on while rewarding players who win the ball to get a ball up.

 

[eldorado]

Meet the new boss...

Same as the old boss...

 

[TazHawk15]

The AFL could give the McLaren formula 1 team a run for its money in the **** up stakes.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I thought this Greg Swan was meant to be coming in and fixing things, not making things worse

This is literally a list of what Gerard Healy complains about in broadcasts.

 

[cryptor]

It’s strange how the AFL hates dead time in games yet won’t shorten the time off between goals.

Whenever the AFL does something contrary to what you’d expect would be in the interest of the game, just ask yourself “where’s money involved?”

This one is easy. Ad revenue.

 

[Cheersquad71]

Whenever the AFL does something contrary to what you’d expect would be in the interest of the game, just ask yourself “where’s money involved?”

This one is easy. Ad revenue.

Yes, benefits the gambling companies, which increasingly underwrite the competition.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Yes, benefits the gambling companies, which increasingly underwrite the competition.

Gamble Responsibly

 

[HedgeFund]

The AFLW fixturing is baffling. In the period where North Melbourne have had a ridiculous 27 game win streak, they have not played the Hawks once.

It was designed to help the newer entrants win more games, largely by not playing the strongest clubs (North, Melb, Adel, Bris) as often.

North will extend their streak to 28 this weekend.

We are the fortunate ones - who haven’t had to play them until our 44th match in the competition.

 

[Nick the Pig]

Crossing the centre line and engaging / blocking at centre bounce has been Geelong's go to strategy for ages. Their cheat rucks will have a big problem now. Especially with no Marshall.

 

[bigmaxi]

I don't think they have gone far enough, I call for a cold pie rule. If my pie is purchased cold I should be able to alert the fourteenth umpire and a free kick should be awarded to my team, only if we are playing a home game. If it is an away game then the game is halted and time on is called, while an AFL official temperature checks my pie and if it falls underneath what is acceptable the pie is replaced with free chips and a ball up ensures. That will make more time for the AFL official sponsors to ply the empty space with gambling ad's and the talking heads get to chat about that time they had a cold pie and marvel at how well the game has progressed.

 

[burner1]

Does the ruck change bring it closer to rules 2 years ago?

Meek relies a lot of wrestling so on face value will impact him at centre bounces. And will be some reduction in boundary throw ins.

For those who watch sanfl is the out of bounds rule material? (Although Sandi grounds narrow / not comparable?). Would seem to create more risks trying to go wide. Ie a fumble or miskick and opposition free comes back with interest.

Stand rule sounds a mess. So players going theoretically to be told to stand 4.9m away from mark? (And on angle?).

 

[marklar]

If they really want to shave dead time off the game, get rid of the "hit the post" rule and subsequent score review like every other football code currently functions.

Makes for more exciting play too, if the ball bounces back into the field then play on.

 

[kazzooka]

I’m not as sure we’ll see Meek and Reeves in the same team too often.

I know Sam has expressed previously that he would play both if there was an extra spot on the bench (that there now is due to the sub rule getting the flick). But I think that view might have been before we had Chol performing so well in the ruck.

I think we’ll see the athletic Chol go against the likes of Jackson and TDK while Meek and Reeves battle it out for the primary ruck spot still.

That's true too, but I don't think we will want Nash and Weddle rucking anymore with the ruck stocks we have.

Chol back in the role he was recruited for as a fwd/ruck that can do well as both will be great. Hopefully with Dear and Lewis fit and firing we can have more flexibility there.

Despite Gunston's great 2025, we do need to approach 2026 the same as we did 2025 not expecting that kind of output from him. He struggled for 3 years before last season so could return to that or could play another 2x AA years, time will tell.

 

[kazzooka]

If they really want to shave dead time off the game, get rid of the "hit the post" rule and subsequent score review like every other football code currently functions.

Makes for more exciting play too, if the ball bounces back into the field then play on.

I think if it comes back into play it should still be a behind or OOB on point post. But off the post and in should just be a goal.

Also touched off the boot doesn't need reviewing, next time touch it more so it doesn't fly through the goals.

 

[earthworms]

It’s strange how the AFL hates dead time in games yet won’t shorten the time off between goals.

Also the shrugging rule is silly. Pretty much any attempt to take on the tackle and move the ball on will be a free against. Yet farcical acts like holding the ball to your body with your free arm is a ball up. Blicavs had a blatant one in the grand final.

It punishes players for trying to take the game on while rewarding players who win the ball to get a ball up.

Need that ad money off f2a games
fox would be opposed to this change, too, because it would make f2a games a better product because of less ad time, discouraging viewers to pay for foxtel. the afl have a tv rights deal with foxtel too that they just signed this year;

 

[marklar]

I think if it comes back into play it should still be a behind or OOB on point post

Nah, the whole point (sorry) is to eliminate the "did it hit the post or not?" question.

If the ball is over the line fully then determine which side of the post it crossed, otherwise play on. That's how it's done in I think every other football-type sport.

 

[theiaofseed]

I think if it comes back into play it should still be a behind or OOB on point post. But off the post and in should just be a goal.

Also touched off the boot doesn't need reviewing, next time touch it more so it doesn't fly through the goals.

That makes far too much sense,

 

[daniel23]

Can see why the club were happy to facilitate a trade for cj and let worpel go with the new rules in place. You need to be a quality kick of the footy again with the ball in play more and the game becoming quicker. And It might be the end of the slow contested player altogether if centre clearances become alot less messy with rucks getting a free jump.

 

[Notsoyabby]

There is an interesting take on the new interruption of the stand rule that an article in The Age raises could cause a complete change to the way the game is played if the rule is policed as it is newly written.

Hopefully common sense sees the light of day and the article indicates a tweak to the newly written rule.

I will let others post a link if needed but it certainly raises an issue of concern.

Edit: Bloody AFL they make a change that always results in further changes. Leave the rules alone as they were and new rules won't be required.

Edit 2: why didn't they put a limit on how far the player taking a kick-in can run before disposing of the ball which previously wasn't allowed. They seem to be allowed now days to run 20 or 30 metres without bouncing the ball.

Edit 3: Bloody bloody AFL