Blocking the player on the mark

[Piledrive]

So have noticed alot of teams doing this now (Started with Hawthorn)

When a player has marked the ball, one of his teammates will come and stand next to the person who is on the mark to Block him from running off (Allowing the player on the mark to play on).

This has become a blight on our game and should actually be a reversal.

The umpires need to start reversing free kicks if this happens.

This will stop players/teams doing this and protect the player who is on the mark.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

It's been happening for ages - I think it started at Collingwood under Malthouse. It's a shit look and could easily be eliminated but for whatever reason the league don't see it as an issue.

 

[Gralin]

Yep started with Malthouse and Collingwood

Bigger issues than someone shepherding the man on the mark after play on has been called, which is what they are doing, not blocking which would be against the rules and result in a free.

AFL would probably rather see the long kick to a contest and the fact that it allows players to take the game on than change the rule

Which would be why we've been talking about this for around 10 years now and nothing has changed

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

No issue with the Hawthorn style (stand behind the mark, wait for play-on call from umpire and then engage/block) - it's just a standard shepherd and a tactical play. So long as they stay out of the protected area there's no issue. (IMO it works against the team as often as for it by congesting the disposal area).

There's considerable evidence it's leading to umpires calling play-on quicker too, which has been to Hawthorn's detriment on a number of occasions when it has led to rushed play when time-saving chips would have been more beneficial.

The original Collingwood method (approaching at speed to bump the unaware man on the mark) was outside the spirit of the game, and could have caused significant injury - no surprise it was nailed quickly with reversed free kicks.

 

[Piledrive]

No issue with the Hawthorn style (stand behind the mark, wait for play-on call from umpire and then engage/block) - it's just a standard shepherd and a tactical play. So long as they stay out of the protected area there's no issue. (IMO it works against the team as often as for it by congesting the disposal area).

There's considerable evidence it's leading to umpires calling play-on quicker too, which has been to Hawthorn's detriment on a number of occasions when it has led to rushed play when time-saving chips would have been more beneficial.

The original Collingwood method (approaching at speed to bump the unaware man on the mark) was outside the spirit of the game, and could have caused significant injury - no surprise it was nailed quickly with reversed free kicks.

If the shepparding player is standing 5-10 meters away then its fine, its when they stand shoulder to shoulder wit hteh player on the mark that causes the issue.

They stand right next to them (Normally around 15 centremetres away) and this is where it gets dicey.

Just reverse the kick and it will stop.

 

[big_e]

No issue with the Hawthorn style (stand behind the mark, wait for play-on call from umpire and then engage/block) - it's just a standard shepherd and a tactical play. So long as they stay out of the protected area there's no issue. (IMO it works against the team as often as for it by congesting the disposal area).

There's considerable evidence it's leading to umpires calling play-on quicker too, which has been to Hawthorn's detriment on a number of occasions when it has led to rushed play when time-saving chips would have been more beneficial.

The original Collingwood method (approaching at speed to bump the unaware man on the mark) was outside the spirit of the game, and could have caused significant injury - no surprise it was nailed quickly with reversed free kicks.

Only catch is when the player on the mark is engaged/blocked and the ball is more than five metres away, which should make it a free kick. Player on the mark should draw the free in those situations by running into the shepherder.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

Only catch is when the player on the mark is engaged/blocked and the ball is more than five metres away, which should make it a free kick. Player on the mark should draw the free in those situations by running into the shepherder.

Agree, when Hawthorn were using this to great effect (early on before everyone else copied the tactic and teams started to plan countermeasures around it), Geelong's tactic manipulated the umpires beautifully - simply by backing off the mark and engaging the player themselves. Every single time, the umpire stopped play, ran in, told the Hawk player off (who was perfectly entitled to be standing 2-3m behind the mark), then reset and allowed play to continue. By which time Geelong had flooded back and shut down every option.

It's what happens when you don't mess with the rules, coaches develop new tactics, then strategies to counter them.

 

[Simon_Nesbit]

If the shepparding player is standing 5-10 meters away then its fine, its when they stand shoulder to shoulder wit hteh player on the mark that causes the issue.

They stand right next to them (Normally around 15 centremetres away) and this is where it gets dicey.

Just reverse the kick and it will stop.

They cannot stand shoulder to shoulder - play will be stopped (as per the Geelong countermeasure above). They must stand behind.

IF they are 5m behind, they are more than likely approaching at speed - leading to the Collingwood issue - and thus penalised for an illegal bump/shepherd.

 

[Piledrive]

They cannot stand shoulder to shoulder - play will be stopped (as per the Geelong countermeasure above). They must stand behind.

IF they are 5m behind, they are more than likely approaching at speed - leading to the Collingwood issue - and thus penalised for an illegal bump/shepherd.

Well i still see players stand next to the player on the mark.

Has happened this year without repercussions.

 

[Gralin]

Well i still see players stand next to the player on the mark.

Has happened this year without repercussions.

If they aren't breaking the rules why would there be repercussions?

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Hawks won 3 premierships with this tactic !!

 

[HairyO]

Hawks won 3 premierships with this tactic !!

So what youre saying is Malthouse did more to help us than he did Carlton.