Crazy NRL/AFL game idea

[RUNVS]

This is a crazy idea but hear me out (and yes it isnt quite to scale)

- Field dimensions are 174m x 148m (like the MCG)

- Red squares are 50m horizontally and 63m verically

In ths AFL vs NRL game

- Rugby League ball shape using Aussie Rules ball materials
- Each team has 14 on field players and 5 on the bench
- Each team can make 5 interchanges per quarter

Now the rules

- In the light blue area the game is played using AFL rules.
- The objective is to get the ball into either the red or dark blue area's by kicking the ball from the light blue zone.
- When the ball is entering the red or dark blue area's it must be caught on the full (must not hit the ground). If it hits the ground then the defensive team get a free kick on the 50 metre arc.
- Once the ball has been caught on the full in either the red or dark blue zones all 14 players from both teams have 30 seconds and must line up at the begining on the red rectangle in two lines (just like a Rugby League game).
- Now when in the red square the game will proceed using Rugby League rules. 4 tackles will be allowed and then the attacking team must kick either kick or if they are tackled they will turn over the ball.
- Aim is to get to the try zone (yellow area) and ground the ball. This will award 6 points.
- Then the person who scored the try will go back to the 50 metre arc and attempt to kick the ball through 2 AFL posts (not the usual 4). Scoring this goal will award your team 2 additional points.
- If the attacking team does not reach the try line before the 4 tackles and 1 kick then the ball will be turned over and the opposition team will have a free kick on their defensive 50 line going back into AFL rules.

Basically the general idea is that in in order to score you need to have Rugby League skills but in order to get the ball to the Rugby League zone you must have Aussie Rules football skills.

So what do yu all think?
Am i crazy?
Do these rules favor one code over another?

 

[gostk86]

how did i miss this?

interesting, set up i must say...

dont think it favors anyone in particular but for league side of things backs and halves would be only players that get a chance..perhaps mobile locks..

the games could have merged as we know, but its something id like to see happen..a true battle of the codes

 

[RUNVS]

how did i miss this?

Im actually surprised to see this thread again as no one responded to it the first time around.

interesting, set up i must say...

dont think it favors anyone in particular but for league side of things backs and halves would be only players that get a chance..perhaps mobile locks..

I tried to think of a way to make this theoretical game as even as possible (50% League, 50% Aussie Rules). The NRL would have to use their smaller players (like you said) but on the flip side the AFL would have to use their bigger players.

It would certainly be interesting to see what would happen and you could guarantee that a game like this would get ratings of 4 million plus.

 

[gostk86]

its like the kangaroos vs wallabies match, it would fill any stadium and everyone would watch

id love to see thse exhibtion games played..its easy revenue

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

Sean Fagan has an article on 'Australeague' on his site... http://www.rl1908.com/articles/australeague.htm

The merged rules he outlines also includes the areas where the off-side rules change over.

I can't quite visualise how the game would work and flow. I could see it either ending up in a midfield scramble most of the time or a game of long punts into the respective end-zones.

I would suggest that instead of specific areas where the rules apply you modify the off-side rule to allow certain players (attackers and defenders) to move and be passed / kicked to ahead of the ruck. A bit like American / Canadian Football.

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

its like the kangaroos vs wallabies match, it would fill any stadium and everyone would watch

Those cross-code matches are always a farce. The Union side wins their bit and the League side wins their bit... nothing is proven and if you want to come up with merged rules you would end up with a game that is basically Rugby league anyway - just with line outs and perhaps a more contested ruck.

 

[gostk86]

Those cross-code matches are always a farce. The Union side wins their bit and the League side wins their bit... nothing is proven and if you want to come up with merged rules you would end up with a game that is basically Rugby league anyway - just with line outs and perhaps a more contested ruck.

but it gives the possiblilty of a merged game..not saying it will or should happen, but people want to know

 

[RUNVS]

its like the kangaroos vs wallabies match, it would fill any stadium and everyone would watch

id love to see thse exhibtion games played..its easy revenue

Plus it would be great to see the best players from each code against each other. Id watch the game in a hearbeat.

The merged rules he outlines also includes the areas where the off-side rules change over.

I can't quite visualise how the game would work and flow. I could see it either ending up in a midfield scramble most of the time or a game of long punts into the respective end-zones.

I couldnt think of any other way for it to work and be fair on both codes (remember that to kick into the zone one of your team mates has to catch it on the full so that would discourage just bombing it).

I would suggest that instead of specific areas where the rules apply you modify the off-side rule to allow certain players (attackers and defenders) to move and be passed / kicked to ahead of the ruck. A bit like American / Canadian Football.

Would you care to elaborate futher?

 

[gostk86]

so specific guys ie: wingers can run ahead of field and a player can kick ball to them for a marking contest etc..

 

[RUNVS]

so specific guys ie: wingers can run ahead of field and a player can kick ball to them for a marking contest etc..

Yes.

When playing in AFL mode the obejctive is to kick the ball from the light blue zone into either the red or dark blue zones and have someone catch the ball on the full. A team can have as many players as they want in the Red or Dark blue zones but if the ball isnt caught on the full then its a free kick to the defensive team.

 

[gostk86]

Yes.

When playing in AFL mode the obejctive is to kick the ball from the light blue zone into either the red or dark blue zones and have someone catch the ball on the full. A team can have as many players as they want in the Red or Dark blue zones but if the ball isnt caught on the full then its a free kick to the defensive team.

it would be something tbh...something new for fans during january

i doubt neither afl nor nrl would let it happen out of the blue lol, would have to be a long time in discussion but it would be a winner for the fans

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

so specific guys ie: wingers can run ahead of field and a player can kick ball to them for a marking contest etc..

Something like that.

I'm thinking a more free-flowing version of American Football. That is, you would have a play-the-ball (a quicker restart) but in certain circumstances (or perhaps all the time with a restricted number) players could rush up field to take (or defend against) a targeted punt or forward pass - perhaps you would always need a certain number of players behind the ball to avoid it becoming a rushing free-for-all up the field. The players in front of the ball could be blocked and contested in the air. I can imagine some really exciting plays coming from a game like that.

It's probably more Rugby than Aussie Rules.

 

[RUNVS]

Something like that.

I'm thinking a more free-flowing version of American Football. That is, you would have a play-the-ball (a quicker restart) but in certain circumstances (or perhaps all the time with a restricted number) players could rush up field to take (or defend against) a targeted punt or forward pass - perhaps you would always need a certain number of players behind the ball to avoid it becoming a rushing free-for-all up the field. The players in front of the ball could be blocked and contested in the air. I can imagine some really exciting plays coming from a game like that.

It's probably more Rugby than Aussie Rules.

It sounds interesting though from my limited understanding of American football you are correct that it sounds like a free-flowing version of American Football. I am trying to imagine the game in my head but for now i cant decide which code (if any) it favours more.

Could people imagine the hype of a NRL vs AFL game. Broadcasters would kill for the rights and it could be great to see how players adapt to new situations (eg Akermanis seemed pretty good at several Rugby League skills sets last night on the NRL footy show).

 

[ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA]

It sounds interesting though from my limited understanding of American football you are correct that it sounds like a free-flowing version of American Football. I am trying to imagine the game in my head but for now i cant decide which code (if any) it favours more.

Could people imagine the hype of a NRL vs AFL game. Broadcasters would kill for the rights and it could be great to see how players adapt to new situations (eg Akermanis seemed pretty good at several Rugby League skills sets last night on the NRL footy show).

Well once the 2 codes came close to forming a hybrid game

MY SOURCE FOR THE FOLLOWING STORY
http://www.rl1908.com/articles/AFL.htm

Breaking The Codes

For Australian footy fans, nothing is more important to them than seeing their club battle towards the Grand Final. Throughout the last 100 years or so Australian Rules (AFL) and Rugby League have dominated weekly sporting attention in their stronghold cities.

The southern states were the domain of the locally devised Victorian Rules game, while NSW and Queensland adopted Rugby League from England. This left Australia in a unique situation amongst the ‘football' playing nations - it was not dominated by one code.

In the two most populated cities, Sydney and Melbourne, the sporting-minded could enjoy summer cricket battles between NSW and Victoria. But during winter, the two biggest states could only look across the border and see a football divide. It seemed the only way this would ever change, would be in the unlikely event of one code taking over the other's territory.

However, in 1933 the administrators of both games thought they had the answer - they resolved to create a new ‘all-Australian football game' incorporating the best features of Australian Rules and Rugby League. In Sydney a secret trial match involving players from both codes was held to test the new game.

This though wasn't the first occasion there had been talk of a merged game. At various times in the late 1800s Sydney's rugby authorities were faced with growing popularity of the ‘Australian game'. To counter it, they toyed with rule changes to eliminate scrums, allow the taking of fair catches (marks) in the air and punt kicks for goal. The Rugby Football Union in England though, who the NSWRU was bound to follow, would not countenance such changes.

When Rugby League kicked off it's inaugural Sydney season in 1908, it became Australia's first professional football code. Entrepreneurs such as J.J. Giltinan provided the money to establish the game, and they were well aware of the huge crowds that patronised Melbourne football and the possibilities it offered. In July of 1908, on behalf of the NSWRL, Giltinan proposed a set of rules for a merged football code to the Victorian Football League.

Giltinan also offered the bait of international fixtures, telling the VFL if agreement on the game could be found, he would encourage the English Rugby League authorities to adopt the new rules while he was away with the Kangaroos. The tour proved to be a financial disaster for Giltinan and the VFL closed the matter - but not for long.

In mid 1914 a Rugby League match was held at the MCG between England and NSW, renewing interest in the possibilities of an Australian-wide professional football code. In November of that year, officials of the NSWRL and the Australian National Football Council held meetings in Melbourne to thrash out rules for a merged game.

It was agreed to trial the rules the following season, incorporate adjustments if needed and then make a final decision. The conference decided the game should be played on oval fields, with dimensions slightly less than used by Australian Rules. Scrums were eliminated, and the re-start of play after a score would be a centre-field bounce. The Rugby League off-side rule would apply, but only when played reached within 35 yards of the goal. The posts were to be rugby style with a cross-bar.

While ‘behinds' were excluded from the new game, taking a mark in the air was to be allowed. Tries could be scored and were worth two points while all goals, whether from the field or conversions after tries, were valued at one point. Full tackling was permitted, provided it was made between the attacker's shoulders and knees. The ball could only be passed backwards and with no need to punch the ball. There would be no knock-on rule provided the same player regained possession.

However, the increasing seriousness of World War One quickly saw the matter put aside and it was soon forgotten - or so it seemed.

The July 1933 touring Kangaroos travelled to Melbourne to connect with the ship sailing for England. The team was entertained by the VFL at a luncheon at the MCG. With officials of both codes present, discussion came round to the possibilities of a combined game. The proposal of 1914 was resurrected, and this time it had serious momentum.

The news quickly broke in Sydney and Melbourne's papers and the officials of both games enthused at the prospects of increased popularity and financial goldmines. Mr Hickey (Victorian Rules) said: "If a NSW team, playing a truly national code, could travel to Perth playing en route in Melbourne and Adelaide, I doubt whether the ovals would be able to accommodate the crowds. The financial possibilities are unlimited. There are excellent features in both codes that could easily be adopted."

Mr. Dargan of the NSWRL agreed with Hickey's view, but pondered "whether the increased interstate competition would compensate us for the loss of international fixtures".

A conference was arranged for early August 1933 as the movement grew in popularity amongst officials. Mr More (VFL) was as enthusiastic as most, calling on all to "search for a game for Australia, and forget about England." So confident had the movement become, they announced the game would be called the ‘Universal Football League'. Mr O'Connor (Qld Australian Rules) was an exuberant supporter of the cause: "If the brilliant, spectacular features of Australian Rules were combined with the hard, solid features of Rugby League we would have a game with which to storm the world."

A trial match was held at the Sydney Showground on August 11, 1933. The rules provided for 14 men a side, but they could only muster 12 each on what was a workday. Mr O'Connor was the referee and described the match "as a cracker". Other observers noted the players struggled with the rules and were constantly pulling out notes from their pockets to read what they should do.

The conference ended with both parties agreeing to go back to their respective bodies with a recommendation to gradually implement the rules into their games and eventually the sports would be combined. It was also proposed to introduce a summer night match competition so players and supporters could familiarise themselves with ‘Universal Football'.

Mr. Flegg, President of the NSWRL, was not so captivated by the concept. He denounced those who supported the fusion as being disloyal to Rugby League and added that the new game would be a competitor: "Even if they retained 90% of League rules, and only 10% of the other rules, it still would not be Rugby League. There is nothing in common between League and any other game." Flegg added: "If they want a new game, get out of our game and form their own."

At the next NSWRL meeting the report on the conference was considered and then politely put away

 

[jaysway]

the referees in both codes cant get decisions right, could you imagine the decisions they would stuff up in this situation

 

[RUNVS]

Well once the 2 codes came close to forming a hybrid game

MY SOURCE FOR THE FOLLOWING STORY
http://www.rl1908.com/articles/AFL.htm

Maybe someone at the AFL or NRL should try and find the proposed rules for this game and suggest a one off match.

the referees in both codes cant get decisions right, could you imagine the decisions they would stuff up in this situation

That shouldnt be a problem as the International Rules games are/were usually umpired reasonably well.

 

[gostk86]

It sounds interesting though from my limited understanding of American football you are correct that it sounds like a free-flowing version of American Football. I am trying to imagine the game in my head but for now i cant decide which code (if any) it favours more.

Could people imagine the hype of a NRL vs AFL game. Broadcasters would kill for the rights and it could be great to see how players adapt to new situations (eg Akermanis seemed pretty good at several Rugby League skills sets last night on the NRL footy show).

are you league fan? i know your a former souths fan, but you do spend time in this area and i hear at LU, do you watch the game? you have alot of passion for afl and i admire that..

i think as well we are getting closer to the day where we see afl and nrl switch codes to eachother..so many young guys now will play both to about 15 or 16 and choose one, but no doubt one day some will want to challenge themselves in the other code.

agree about hype, but dont think either body would let it happen though

 

[RUNVS]

are you league fan? i know your a former souths fan, but you do spend time in this area and i hear at LU, do you watch the game? you have alot of passion for afl and i admire that..

Im certainly not a regular watcher but i did watch Wednesday's State of Origin and since i live in Sydney i cant help but know a bit about the game, plus like you said i did watch a reasonable amount of League in my younger days so i am familiar with the rules.

Even though i wouldnt consider myself a Rugby League fan any more i have absolutely no animosity towards the sport.

I just like the idea of one off hybrid games as the entire concept of taking professional athletes out of their comfort zones to see if they have the ability to adapt to new situations really appeals to me. The true sign of a good athlete is someone who can adapt to new sporting situations and skills quickly.

Since the AFL and NRL are the two biggest competitions in Australia at the moment it seems logically that if your going to come up with some rules to a made up hybid game it may as well be a hybid of the two biggest codes in the country.

 

[gostk86]

end of the day its a revenue raiser...for rl side it wouldnt hurt us lol

 

[RUNVS]

end of the day its a revenue raiser...for rl side it wouldnt hurt us lol

Well a AFL/NRL hybid would automatically exclude some of the NRL's bigger players as they wouldnt have the stamina required for the game.

Anyway with the proper tackling coach i wouldnt see a problem for the AFL guys as someone like Preston Campbell is a midget (in size and weight) and he does perfectly fine in the NRL.

Guys like Gary Ablett Jnr, Cyril Rioli, Brendan Fevola, Lance Franklin and Adam Goodes would have made great NRL players if they grew up with the game or they got some rather intensive coaching.

 

[scotty88]

Well a AFL/NRL hybid would automatically exclude some of the NRL's bigger players as they wouldnt have the stamina required for the game.

Anyway with the proper tackling coach i wouldnt see a problem for the AFL guys as someone like Preston Campbell is a midget (in size and weight) and he does perfectly fine in the NRL.

Guys like Gary Ablett Jnr, Cyril Rioli, Brendan Fevola, Lance Franklin and Adam Goodes would have made great NRL players if they grew up with the game or they got some rather intensive coaching.

Well it isn't really rugby league without the bigger blokes and it needs to capture the essence of both sports for it to be a decent hybrid game. Thats a bit hard coz nrl and afl are like apples and oranges nowadays .

It's more of an AFL players vs "NRL players that only play in the backline" game, isnt it?

Id still watch it though. It'd be a pretty exciting concept

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

It sounds interesting though from my limited understanding of American football you are correct that it sounds like a free-flowing version of American Football. I am trying to imagine the game in my head but for now i cant decide which code (if any) it favours more.

You'd have to trial the rules with a real game to see in practice how it would work. It would be interesting to see how often in practice the punt (or a forward spiral pass / handball) would be used to give possession to the "rovers" who are able to run beyond the initial defensive / attacking lines as opposed to running the ball to the line and passing laterally (or kicking and regathering) to break through and progress the ball.

The ball would certainly be able to move up and down the field faster and the defensive line would be more fragmented into defending both the man with the ball in hand while also being ready to run back to help defend (and form a defensive line) against a rover who has "marked" a punt. This would be an expanded version of "turning a defensive line around" with a kick and chase as currently happens in the game.

In practice the game could end up being overly defensive or be too easy to score so you'd need to tweak the rules to avoid one or the other. For example, you could change some rules around the tackle to allow passes off the ground and a more liberal interpretation of the held rule - reduce or espand trhe number of players who need to be "on-side". You could also allow playing forward where there's no markers - which could in practice change the ruck entirely.

While I don't think any new code would take off it would be interesting to try it out.

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

Well a AFL/NRL hybid would automatically exclude some of the NRL's bigger players as they wouldnt have the stamina required for the game.

Depends on the rules. The hybrid rules I've described would probably only eliminate the larger props.

The reality of Rugby league in the 21st century is that players are mainly built so they can alternate quite easily between different positions - for example, 3/4ers and the backrow or halves and hookers are very similar positions now. You can also have players changing between halves and fullback... all depends on the coaching and game plan. The numbers on their backs are largely meaningless now.

 

[RUNVS]

You'd have to trial the rules with a real game to see in practice how it would work. It would be interesting to see how often in practice the punt (or a forward spiral pass / handball) would be used to give possession to the "rovers" who are able to run beyond the initial defensive / attacking lines as opposed to running the ball to the line and passing laterally (or kicking and regathering) to break through and progress the ball.

The ball would certainly be able to move up and down the field faster and the defensive line would be more fragmented into defending both the man with the ball in hand while also being ready to run back to help defend (and form a defensive line) against a rover who has "marked" a punt. This would be an expanded version of "turning a defensive line around" with a kick and chase as currently happens in the game.

In practice the game could end up being overly defensive or be too easy to score so you'd need to tweak the rules to avoid one or the other. For example, you could change some rules around the tackle to allow passes off the ground and a more liberal interpretation of the held rule - reduce or espand trhe number of players who need to be "on-side". You could also allow playing forward where there's no markers - which could in practice change the ruck entirely.

While I don't think any new code would take off it would be interesting to try it out.

I imagine what they would do is practice with a few VFL and NSWRL teams. That way the rules could be perfected before the AFL and NRL players give it a go.

Depends on the rules. The hybrid rules I've described would probably only eliminate the larger props.

The reality of Rugby league in the 21st century is that players are mainly built so they can alternate quite easily between different positions - for example, 3/4ers and the backrow or halves and hookers are very similar positions now. You can also have players changing between halves and fullback... all depends on the coaching and game plan. The numbers on their backs are largely meaningless now.

Im guessing that any AFL/NRL hybrid (whether it be your idea or my idea) would involve a reasonable amount of running (more than in a NRL game but less than a AFL game). Im also guessing that under hybrid rules you wouldnt want to have any players in your team that are over 105kg (maybe 110kg) as they probably wouldnt have the stamina to run out the game.

For instance a AFL power forward (like Hall, Franklin, Fevola and Roughead) all weigh between 100kg and 105kg. Usually these players would run around 7km to 10km per game (a midfielder would run closer to 16km).

 

[CumberlandsAshes]

I imagine what they would do is practice with a few VFL and NSWRL teams. That way the rules could be perfected before the AFL and NRL players give it a go.

Or any decent amateur teams, really. IMO the idea I came up with it is probably more a modified version of Rugby... but it would be interesting to take the idea and in practice see how other elements of Australian Rules could be included in the basic idea of modifying the off-side rules and knock-on rules (which is something I didn't think of).

Im guessing that any AFL/NRL hybrid (whether it be your idea or my idea) would involve a reasonable amount of running (more than in a NRL game but less than a AFL game). Im also guessing that under hybrid rules you wouldnt want to have any players in your team that are over 105kg (maybe 110kg) as they probably wouldnt have the stamina to run out the game.

For instance a AFL power forward (like Hall, Franklin, Fevola and Roughead) all weigh between 100kg and 105kg. Usually these players would run around 7km to 10km per game (a midfielder would run closer to 16km).

Depends on interchange rules, surely. I'm not a sports scientist so I don't really know how the stamina of relative players in each code ranks and how the respective interchange rules as they currently work affect that stamina or work rates.

In my idea, I imagine the players that would be involved in most of the play "off the ball" (and hence most of the running around for position) would be the attacking / defensive rovers. Though, yes, in my idea the defensive line would be turned around more often than in a current RL game - so you'd need to take that into account (though the current 10m rule is already pretty brutal on defensive lines).