15 metres

[lock33]

The AFL should change both to 20m, in my opinion.

I personally think Lewis Jetta bounced the ball enough times during his run to goal last Friday night. If the 15m rule is strictly enforced, it becomes too easy for the chaser to run down the player who takes a bounce. Why is that good for the game? We love it when players run with the ball. Let's encourage it, not penalise them.

I also think the game would be better if players had to kick the ball 20m for a mark to be paid. I don't think a 15m footpass warrants a "free kick". Players can handball that distance. Allowing marks to be awarded from these short, chip passes just encourages a boring, low-skill style of possession footy. Make them kick the ball at least 5 metres further if they want to be awarded a mark and slow the play down.

These rule changes would hardly change the game. They'd just make it slightly better, IMO.

I like this idea too, the game is much faster these days. Most people believe that the Jetta goal was one of the highlights of the finals series so what do the AFL do about it?? Highlight it and crack down on it! WTF is wrong with them? FFS they have let it go for so long, I love watching Buddy in full flight he goes over 15m EVERY time..So over their shit. They do it with many aspects of OUR game that the fans love why not start embracing what people enjoy. Why the **** did they have to bring it up one game from the Grand Final??

 

[Spanish_Fly]

2 points, Gieshan is a complete buffoon, every time I have seen the charade(review) he undertakes at the end of each round he just blatantly makes stuff up or ignores what everyone can obviously see to try and justify some ridiculous decision.

Secondly, great idea to change to 20m for both, makes sense. Too many marks paid for 8-10m kicks for my liking

 

[Maddhew]

It's all about protecting the dynamics of the game.

 

[lock33]

can you run 10m forward, 10m back, 10m sideways without gaining 15m without bouncing?

 

[BFVirgin]

can you run 10m forward, 10m back, 10m sideways without gaining 15m without bouncing?

Leo Barry did it all the time.

BTW, why do we have to bounce? It's harder to run with the ball than without - it slows you down already. Having written that, a bounce at top pace is a great skill. Guess it'd make the game more rugby-like; we already have scrums kreeping in....

 

[Chris who]

Agreed on both points.

Too often little chips into the forwardline that are borderline 10m, let alone 15m, are awarded as marks because the umpires are too scared to challenge. 20m is a far clearer distinction, especially when as you said most players can easily handpass 15m and it would keep play flowing.

The faster players often run over the 15m mark between bounces, especially when being chased and IMO you would be robbing the game of a lot of its excitement if we became sticklers for the 15m rule. The players are taller and more athletic than they have ever been, that extra 5m buffer would accommodate this factor.

Go with something like nba. If you are passing 2 steps, if you are doing a 360 dunk 3 steps.

 

[smoovy]

Grass strips in a square pattern. 5x5 all over the ground..

Except when it is kicked diagonally

 

[8732watitdo]

Yeah they should have a good idea of far 15m is. I've seen a few instances when the player has kicked the ball really high, and the umps automatically call play on, but when you see where the ball actually lands it's easily covered more than 20 metres.

 

[Ed_Gein]

The worst is when an umpire calls 'play on not 15' just as the player has kicked the ball and they are just guessing that the ball won't go the distance. Then the ball actually travels 25m but they have already made their call and play is forced to continue. Noticed it a lot this season, more than any other, it makes no sense to make the call so early.

Usually it will be against a team slightly in front in their defensive half, the line ball decisions will be called 'play on'. Umpires are instructed to control the flow the game to ensure a close result if they can.

 

[Big Kahuna Boot]

..a lot of 'grey area' umpire calls could be sharpened up if they were actually fully professional, and not part-timers.. ..the AFL is strangely cheap on this.. ..making them 100% professional will make them better at their work, and the better cash may potentially be an incentive to attract more ppl into the career, as well as hopefully be another tool to combat corruption..

 

[zetz]

Except when it is kicked diagonally

Circle patches, 15m in diameter

 

[flyinghi64]

You're right. The game is not treated technically enough.

If we eradicate the bounce altogether, this will get rid of the "illegal running" problem. Let's stop ruckmen jumping for the ball - no injuries, no fouls. If contesting a ball in the 50 is disallowed, then there won't be all this negative carry-on about hands in the back, eyes on the ball etc.

But, you're right. Yarran and Jetta flouted the rules blatantly - making a mockery of the game, taking away all credibility. Probably too late to punish them, but the MRP should review this.

The game should be all about ensuring umpires have an easy time. This rubbish about entertainment and the fans needs to be knocked on the head immediately.

Sarcasm much

 

[The Goon]

It has to be asked. How many people wanting the 15m changed to 20m complain about constant rule changes?

 

[Wallaby]

The running/bouncing rule used to be 10 metres (probably 10 yards before metrics) - it's the one I grew up with. It was changed to 15 metres long time ago - '80s perhaps? It was a good change because it let the players build up a bit more of their full speed - and anyway, the umps were letting players run 15 metres/yards anyway.

But now we've gone to 15 metres - the umps are letting it stretch to 20-25. I am of the opinion we need to draw a line and enforce 15 - if we extend to 20, then players will run 25-30 before the umps whistle, and then we will have this argument again. I also like 15 metres because the game is not about running with the ball as the primary method of movement - that's rugby. The bounce is a skill, and is good to watch.

 

[qman]

How about 15 steps, or 10 steps?

I like this , should take out a lot of the confusion .

 

[Hoops]

I've always assumed the 15m rule meant 15 steps. just expressed as 15m

I know 15m does not necessarily equal 15 steps

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

**** yeah, also have the ball coated in millions of tiny LED's, if the kick goes more than 15m it flashes green once and if not it remains red or yellow and is called play on

Would have to be a ball with a transparent outer, with lights on the inside.

Could also have sensors in the goalposts, so that lights flash when the ball touches the post.

 

[Smokeyr67]

Would have to be a ball with a transparent outer, with lights on the inside.

Could also have sensors in the goalposts, so that lights flash when the ball touches the post.

And instead bouncing the ball to start play, we bould use a big spring loaded metal rod to shoot the ball onto the field.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

And instead bouncing the ball to start play, we bould use a big spring loaded metal rod to shoot the ball onto the field.

Midfielder could be mounted on dirtbikes.

 

[Smokeyr67]

Midfielder could be mounted on dirtbikes.

I like the cut of your jib.

How about 6 inch spikes on the boundary fence.

 

[Righteo]

This thread has taken a turn for the good.

 

[The Swert]

I thought this thread was going to be about the return of the 15m penalty. That is something that should return as well for minor discretions (eg not return the ball quick enough or playing on after the whistle).

In regards to bouncing. I would like to see more bouncing rather than less. Somebody said bouncing is hard and slows you down compared to the chaser. Isn't that a good thing? The only thing better than a player dashing out of a pack with a bounce is him being run down by a good chase. Keeps it at 15 metres and enforce it better.

 

[East coast eagle]

I can understand why they do it. It keeps the game flowing. It gives the player in possession a chance of doing something with the ball. He can play on quickly or try to shrug the tackle. It's an example of how the umpires act like they're conductors to an orchestra, rather than simply adjudicating on decisions after they happen. (There are pro and cons)

I have no problems with the umpires estimating the ball won't travel 15m. You don't need to see where the ball lands to judge where it will drop. Normally it works okay. But you're right, when the umpire guesses incorrectly, it creates an injustice. They should just realise their error, whistle the play back and award the mark. The umpires are allergic to doing something like that because it gives the impression they've lost control of the game and the crowd will boo them. They figure it's better to wave play on and hope everyone forgets about their error and moves on.

It's also another way umpires can directly influence the result of games, not shown by the free kick tally. (Same with calling 'play on' quickly after a player had marked or taken half a step off his line, but cutting extra slack to another player.)

This is really good idea.. Love it