News Inside the big issues facing the AFL for 2022 and how the game will look after two Covid impacted seasons

[tora tora tora]

DISCLAIMER: I never really liked KB after his dispute with the club after his sacking. Crossed him off my Christmas list, and he never makes my team of the century.
Now he wants to cherry pick rules he wants changed or repealed. The stand rule, interchange numbers? Interchange numbers dropped this year and it had negative effect on scoring. He is happy for that interchange number to drop some random number on the fallacious logic that tired players equates to high scoring. Maybe we saw tired players just cluttering up defence, no goal scoring at all. And thus no opportunity for a centre bounce.

Bartlett said in the in HERALD SUN fact that this year’s Coleman Medallist Harry McKay

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Harry Mckay

Age

26

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200cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.9

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

2.4

2star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.4

5star

D

6.6

1star

K

4.6

2star

HB

2.0

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

G

1.4

5star

D

8.8

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

2.0

2star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.8

3star

G

2.0

5star

kicked only 58 goals was further evidence the AFL rule changes had failed.
The mastermind of the ‘stand’ rule, former AFL footy boss Steve Hocking, declared in March that he envisaged the return of the 100-goal full forward during his time in charge.
“Give me another couple of years. I’m quietly confident,” Hocking said. Trialing AFL rule changes always sounded a good idea to me. But AFL house are happy to jump in and back themselves.

Kevin's changes that would've suited good old, durable Kevin the player. Can't he see that interchanges reductions have had no changes to scoring. He's happy to get rid of the stand rule.
How about we give the rules committee a 5 year holiday? No way. Arguing football is oxygen in the media. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. Which is where the AFLs draft system is such a winner. In NRL a player just moves, often mid season there is media but nothing like media around the AFL DRAFT sponsored by Continetal tyres.
I8 clubs faced the new stand rule, it seemed like it was kryptonite to Richmond. I'll wait until 2022 when have had a year to adjust to it before I start bitching and complaining

 

[tora tora tora]

And I laughed at the start of this year, in response to a question leaving the 15 minute quarters, Caro responded all along the lines of the AFL would want to return to a tradition. Traditional 20 minute quarters. A long tradition starting in 1988. I remember games having 25 minute quarters. 3 field umpires is one too many.
Personally I reckon 15 minute quarters is enough. And night grand finals are a winner.

 

[HTT]

And I laughed at the start of this year, in response to a question leaving the 15 minute quarters, Caro responded all along the lines of the AFL would want to return to a tradition. Traditional 20 minute quarters. A long tradition starting in the 1970s. I remember games having 25 minute quarters. 3 field umpires is one too many.
Personally I reckon 15 minute quarters is enough. And night grand finals are a winner.

Quarters didn't really get shortened though, since they started adding time on for all stoppages. Some quarters would go for less time under the old rules, other quarters would go for more time.

 

[tora tora tora]

Quarters didn't really get shortened though, since they started adding time on for all stoppages. Some quarters would go for less time under the old rules, other quarters would go for more time.

My point was that the so called sacred 'tradition' being referred to is a tradition dating back to 1988.

 

[HTT]

My point was that the so called sacred 'tradition' being referred to is a tradition dating back to 1988.

Shortening quarters is a pretty seismic shift, not at all the same as adjusting the way the game is timed with the intent of keeping approximately the same length.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

My point was that the so called sacred 'tradition' being referred to is a tradition dating back to 1988.

My tradition is better than your tradition...

 

[tora tora tora]

My tradition is better than your tradition...

Mine's longer than yours !!

 

[tora tora tora]

Shortening quarters is a pretty seismic shift, not at all the same as adjusting the way the game is timed with the intent of keeping approximately the same length.

why is a change to game length more seismic than any other rule change?

 

[Infamy]

why is a change to game length more seismic than any other rule change?

Really? I would have thought that the length of quarters is one of the foundations of the game along with scoring and how to dispose of the ball
Most of the other rules are just just tinkering with minor details

 

[Masotiger]

Quarters didn't really get shortened though, since they started adding time on for all stoppages. Some quarters would go for less time under the old rules, other quarters would go for more time.

The biggest impact is the 50 second commercial break after a goal. If 6 goals are scored in a quarter there's 5 minutes gone.

25 minute quarters plus time on generally lasted around 30 minutes in the old days because the ball would be back in the centre and bounced within 10-15 seconds of all clear.

If they're serious about scoring, just pay every free kick that's there (like in the F'kn back!!), and throw the ball up immediately instead of calling for a meeting and minute taker before bouncing the f'kn thing!!

 

[Livonski]

DISCLAIMER: I never really liked KB after his dispute with the club after his sacking. Crossed him off my Christmas list, and he never makes my team of the century.
Now he wants to cherry pick rules he wants changed or repealed. The stand rule, interchange numbers? Interchange numbers dropped this year and it had negative effect on scoring. He is happy for that interchange number to drop some random number on the fallacious logic that tired players equates to high scoring. Maybe we saw tired players just cluttering up defence, no goal scoring at all. And thus no opportunity for a centre bounce.

Bartlett said in the in HERALD SUN fact that this year’s Coleman Medallist Harry McKay kicked only 58 goals was further evidence the AFL rule changes had failed.
The mastermind of the ‘stand’ rule, former AFL footy boss Steve Hocking, declared in March that he envisaged the return of the 100-goal full forward during his time in charge.
“Give me another couple of years. I’m quietly confident,” Hocking said. Trialing AFL rule changes always sounded a good idea to me. But AFL house are happy to jump in and back themselves.

Kevin's changes that would've suited good old, durable Kevin the player. Can't he see that interchanges reductions have had no changes to scoring. He's happy to get rid of the stand rule.
How about we give the rules committee a 5 year holiday? No way. Arguing football is oxygen in the media. The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about. Which is where the AFLs draft system is such a winner. In NRL a player just moves, often mid season there is media but nothing like media around the AFL DRAFT sponsored by Continetal tyres.
I8 clubs faced the new stand rule, it seemed like it was kryptonite to Richmond. I'll wait until 2022 when have had a year to adjust to it before I start bitching and complaining

Stand rule is not footy. Simple.
Kicking in from full back. FFS the goal square is there for a reason...and has been there for a freakin long time. Not footy.

Push in the back. Pay it FFS.
Holding the ball, dropping the ball. Pay it.

Interchange numbers. I have NFI if it helps or hurts going up or down, but must surely have promoted athleticism/big tank over footy smarts. Couple of obvious examples in our side, but I won't go there.

 

[JAKLAUGHING]

One 360 degree turn circle while holding the ball without dishing it orff...one free kick...
Two 360 degree turn circle while holding the ball without dishing it orff...two free kicks...

 

[Hoos]

If they're serious about scoring, just pay every free kick that's there (like in the F'kn back!!), and throw the ball up immediately instead of calling for a meeting and minute taker before bouncing the f'kn thing!!

And how about going back to paying holding the ball when the guy being tackled just drops it!

 

[tora tora tora]

Really? I would have thought that the length of quarters is one of the foundations of the game along with scoring and how to dispose of the ball
Most of the other rules are just just tinkering with minor details

Foundation? A principle, a basis, a starting point? It'd be unchangeable, yet in 1874 footy was a game of 2 halves. As a new traditionist I was never happy when it went to 4 quarters.
Anyhow been non stop rule changes ever since. Never stop.

 

[Hoos]

Stand rule is not footy. Simple.
Kicking in from full back. FFS the goal square is there for a reason...and has been there for a freakin long time. Not footy.

Push in the back. Pay it FFS.
Holding the ball, dropping the ball. Pay it.

 

[Masotiger]

And how about going back to paying holding the ball when the guy being tackled just drops it!

It's really not hard is it?

The AFL has become a typical bureaucracy complicating matters for the sake of it.

 

[Karp3_dm]

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Footy legend Kevin Bartlett has urged the AFL to scrap the contentious ‘stand’ rule, declaring it an “embarrassing” blight on the game.
The Tigers great said a raft of recent rule changes aimed at reversing plummeting scoring rates had failed miserably, and should all be binned.

Bartlett also believes interchange rotations should be slashed from 75 to 25 if the AFL wants to have a more appealing game for the fans in 2022.

“We have made a lot of changes to the game in the last few years … and I can’t think of one of them that has made any significant difference to scoring,” Bartlett told News Corp.

Kevin Bartlett chats with Damien Hardwick at Richmond training. Picture: Michael Klein

Bartlett’s biggest bug bear is the ‘stand’ rule, which he says is contrary to the spirit of the game.

“The ‘stand’ rule is an embarrassment to the game because it pits 18 against 17 and the game was never designed to leave a team a player short,” Bartlett said.

“If a player can’t guard the mark, they are made to look foolish when a player runs off alongside them and the umpire isn’t quick enough to call play on.

“Guarding the mark was always a strong point of the top sides. It was almost an art form. Now the man on the mark is like a statue, sometimes it is like he is stuck in concrete.”

Bartlett said the fact that this year’s Coleman Medallist Harry McKay kicked only 58 goals was further evidence the AFL rule changes had failed.

“This year we bring in the ‘stand’ rule and the leading goalkicker kicks 58 goals for the season, which was the lowest tally since 1965 – apart from last year when we only played 17 games and 16 minute quarters,” he said.

The mastermind of the ‘stand’ rule, former AFL footy boss Steve Hocking, declared in March that he envisaged the return of the 100-goal full forward during his time in charge.

“Give me another couple of years. I’m quietly confident,” Hocking said.

Harry McKay won the Coleman Medal with a total of 58 goals. Picture: Getty Images

Bartlett, an AFL Hall of Fame Legend and former Laws of the Game committee member, has also called for the end of the “time-wasting” ruck nomination rule, saying it reminded him of “under 10s”.

“I don’t know why we always need to change things; there was nothing wrong with the third-man up rule,” he said. “It was a great part of the game.”

“All this putting your hand up to say who is going up in the ruck is under 10s stuff.”

Bartlett said the AFL’s decision to cut the interchange cap rotation from 90 to 75 for this year was a step in the right direction, but stressed it was nowhere near enough.

“It was the first time the AFL has really acknowledged that interchange helps to cause congestion and density around the ball, but unfortunately 90 down to 75 doesn’t make a big enough difference,” he said.

“You’ve still got 150 fresh players coming onto the ground and 150 tired players going off.

“I would bring it back to 25 (rotations per side).

“I have heard people say it is radical to bring it down from 75 to 25. Well, it is not radical because we played 100 years with no interchange.

“What is radical is what we are doing now.”

Bartlett was encouraged to hear the AFL would almost certainly keep game time at 20 minutes plus time-on.

“That’s the perfect time for Australian rules football. It is folly for anyone to suggest otherwise. I have never heard anyone walk out of a ground and say the game is too long.”

Bartlett, 74, played 403 games for Richmond between 1965-83.

The AFL is intent on making minimal changes to the game next year after two seasons of Covid-inflicted turmoil.

Hocking, who quit the AFL in July to take charge at Geelong, has been replaced by long-time league legal chief Andrew Dillon and former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.

Brad Scott has stepped into a football role at the AFL. Picture: Getty Images

Steve Hocking has joined Geelong. Picture: Ian Currie

A final decision on the size of next year’s salary cap has not been made, while the football department soft cap of $6.2m will rise by about $250,000.

League boss Gillon McLachlan has already indicated that the grand final will return to its traditional afternoon time slot next year.

The floating fixture used in 2021 is likely to be scrapped.

First to fourth year AFL players will return to training on November 22.

REVEALED: HOW THE GAME WILL LOOK IN 2022
VACCINATIONS

The AFL will avoid imposing a formal “no jab, no play” policy on the game’s 850 players. Instead, players and industry staff will be strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. But no such leniency will apply to football fans. A “no jab, no entry” rule for sports stadiums across the country is likely to be enforced by governments. A formal position from the AFL and the AFL Players’ Association is imminent.

FINANCES

Emergency costs to keep the season alive soared beyond $6m a week at its peak, but club bosses have been told the AFL fared better financially than was forecast in 2021. The net result is tipped to come in well below last year’s operating loss of $22.8m. A $40m bonanza from the Grand Final in Perth was a timely cash injection.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Clubs have been told to brace for cuts to base AFL distributions of about $2m per club next season, but will be given the right to negotiate extra funding based on their financial situation.

SALARY CAP

The exact size of next year’s salary cap remains unknown. Clubs were permitted to spend $13.19m on players this season but negotiations over the 2022 cap are ongoing. Players have taken hefty pay cuts across the two-year Covid crisis. Under the collective bargaining agreement struck prior to Covid, the salary cap was supposed to hit $14.77m in 2022.

Crowds are expected to return to 100 per cent next season. Picture: Michael Klein

SOFT CAP

The $6.2m limit on football department spending will increase by a modest $250,000 next season. Exemptions are in place for some mental health-related expenses. Hawthorn will be the hardest hit, paying $450,000 in the cap as part of its contract settlement with ex-coach Alastair Clarkson.

LIST SIZES

A final decision on list sizes for 2022 has not been made. In 2021, clubs were permitted to have a maximum of 38 primary list players and up to six rookie list players.

MEMBERSHIPS

Massive numbers of club members have stayed loyal across two seasons of disruptions, despite the wipe-out of games at Victorian venues. Melbourne Storm laid down the gauntlet to AFL clubs last week by covering the costs of next year‘s membership fees as a gesture of goodwill.

ATTENDANCES

Crowds are expected to be back to full capacity next season but it remains to be seen whether two years of disruption will have an impact on attendances and spectator habits. Gate takings are crucial to the game’s bottom line.

RULES

AFL football boss Steve Hocking jumped ship in July (to take charge at Geelong), triggering a reshuffle at league headquarters. Former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has taken over some of Hocking’s responsibilities but reports to the new general manager of football, Andrew Dillon, the league’s long-time legal and integrity chief. Hocking’s contentious ‘stand rule’ failed to curb a slump in scoring but AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has indicated it is here to stay.

GAME LENGTH

A return to 20-minute quarters in 2021 was widely applauded by footy fans and broadcasters (who pay the bulk of the bills). Some, including broadcasters Gerard Healy and Eddie McGuire and Geelong coach Chris Scott, want AFL game time reduced. But it seems certain the AFL will stick with tradition.

COMMISSION

The nine-person AFL Commission has been operating in a reduced capacity since the retirements of Kim Williams and Jason Ball in January. Five club presidents have been engaged to help select their replacements with a heavy emphasis on football industry IQ. Commission chairman Richard Goyder continues to resist calls for a sweeping independent review of the AFL’s governance structure almost 30 years since the last.

CEO

2022 is tipped to be McLachlan’s last season as AFL boss. Senior league executives Andrew Dillon and Travis Auld are the leading internal candidates, while highly-respected Richmond boss Brendon Gale is the club land favourite ahead of straight-shooting Greater Western Sydney CEO Dave Matthews.

Gillon McLachlan is tipped to step down as AFL CEO at the end of next season. Picture: Getty Images

TRADE PERIOD

The annual player exchange frenzy runs from Monday, October 4 until Wednesday, October 13.

DRAFT

The 2021 AFL national draft will be held in Melbourne over two nights from November 24-25.

BROADCASTING

AFL TV rights partners Foxtel and Channel 7 are contracted until the end of 2024.

GRAND FINAL

McLachlan has conceded there is a strong supporter sentiment for a return to the traditional 2.30pm bounce when the premiership decider returns to the MCG. Talk of an interstate grand final every four or five years is reasonable in principle but would be in breach of a watertight contract between the AFL, the Melbourne Cricket Club and Victorian Government, which has pumped $225 million of taxpayer funds into the league’s privately-owned Marvel Stadium redevelopment in exchange for the agreement.

PRE-SEASON

First to fourth year players will hit the track on November 22. Fifth-season and beyond players return on December 6. Players will be back on leave from December 19 until January 10.

Two finals were played in Tasmania in 2021. Picture: Getty Images

TASMANIA

The highly-anticipated Carter Report into the future of Tasmanian footy was a fizzer but the 18 AFL clubs could still be given the chance to vote on the establishment of a stand-alone Tassie team sometime next year. A growing number of clubs have already expressed in-principle support.

AFLW

The AFLW seasons kicks off on January 6, the last before all 18 clubs fill a team for the 2022/23 season.

FIXTURE

A flexible floating fixture was put in place this year to cater for the Covid-19 crisis but is likely to be scrapped in favour of a traditional schedule where all games and starting times are locked in prior to the season’s commencement. The extent of Thursday night football will depend on an agreement between the league and the players’ union over exposure to five and six-day breaks.

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Awesome from KB!

He’s spot on with the ridiculous STAND and ruck nomination rule

 

[Infamy]

Foundation? A principle, a basis, a starting point? It'd be unchangeable, yet in 1874 footy was a game of 2 halves. As a new traditionist I was never happy when it went to 4 quarters.
Anyhow been non stop rule changes ever since. Never stop.

I never said that it was one of the original rules of the game, that would still be taking days to finish if it was
You asked why a change of quarter length was more seismic and I simply pointed out that something like the duration is a foundation to the current game, compared to minor changes like interchange caps and being able to run the ball 15m from a behind.

 

[RunningBounce]

I really should stay out of discussions of rule changes. They don't need any more oxygen. Having said that, I'll weigh in now like a real flog.

KB has his point of view. Most supporters do, and every single flog in the medja just love to share their's.

BUT, you never hear anyone talking about the one thing that would "fix" congestion and doesn't involve rule changes. Make the grounds bigger. Done.

(Nothing about congestion needs fixing in my view. I love a physical slog.)

 

[Infamy]

BUT, you never hear anyone talking about the one thing that would "fix" congestion and doesn't involve rule changes. Make the grounds bigger. Done.

(Nothing about congestion needs fixing in my view. I love a physical slog.)

Not really sure how you would do that when stadiums have some pretty expensive stands around the grounds AFL clubs play on

 

[YeOldTiger]

This. You sound just like me, lol.

And personally, the other one that annoys the fu** out of me is as soon as the quarter ends, we get bombarded with ads, music or the brain dead ground announcer telling us all about what we've just seen and trying to build up some bullshit excitement despite the quarter having finished minutes before.

I head for the exit at each break. And I don't even smoke anymore. The thing is, if you want to talk about the game and how the Tigers are going, etc, you have to do it outside otherwise you need to scream at each other because the announcements/ads/music are set to blitzkrieg volume levels. Whether the idea came from the league or the ground, it's certainly helping to ruin what used to be an enjoyable day or night at the footy.

Unless we lose of course, but that's another story.

The idea...comes from America. Where big has to be supersized BIGGER. Noise has to be LOUDER. Excitement generated by the game isn't enough...we need MORE EXCITEMENT!

It drives me bonkers. The bombardment of the senses, not in a good way. I go to the footy to watch the ******* game. Novel concept I know.

 

[YeOldTiger]

My point was that the so called sacred 'tradition' being referred to is a tradition dating back to 1988.

I reckon 33 years is long enough for something to be called a tradition, easy. Richmond v Carlton in the "traditional season opener". How long has that been going ?

There's no set time limit on something becoming a tradition...it's a feel. I built a pizza oven and it didn't take my kids long to build up the "tradition" of coming over to Dad's place on a Sunday arvo for pizzas. Why do you think I built the bloody pizza oven ?

As KB says, 20 mins plus time on is perfect for footy. (It does my head in that the clock keeps running when th Wallabies are a point down and some Frenchman spends two minutes feigning injury or doing up his shoelaces while the clock keeps counting down. Wtf is that ?!)

20mins plus time on feels right. Few goals kicked, short quarter. Lots of goals kicked, long quarter, the players get it.

As for KBs other thoughts, he's right about the stand rule, it's an abomination and goes against the spirit of the game. It looks stupid, like the mock scrums they still do in rigby league, it looks rubbish because it's faked.

There's a happy medium regarding interchange somewhere between the current amount and where KB says it should be. I reckon it's about 18 a quarter, so that technically, every single player gets a break if needed. That's 72. A good place to start.

 

[Bojangles17]

I reckon 33 years is long enough for something to be called a tradition, easy. Richmond v Carlton in the "traditional season opener". How long has that been going ?

There's no set time limit on something becoming a tradition...it's a feel. I built a pizza oven and it didn't take my kids long to build up the "tradition" of coming over to Dad's place on a Sunday arvo for pizzas. Why do you think I built the bloody pizza oven ?

As KB says, 20 mins plus time on is perfect for footy. (It does my head in that the clock keeps running when th Wallabies are a point down and some Frenchman spends two minutes feigning injury or doing up his shoelaces while the clock keeps counting down. Wtf is that ?!)

20mins plus time on feels right. Few goals kicked, short quarter. Lots of goals kicked, long quarter, the players get it.

As for KBs other thoughts, he's right about the stand rule, it's an abomination and goes against the spirit of the game. It looks stupid, like the mock scrums they still do in rigby league, it looks rubbish because it's faked.

There's a happy medium regarding interchange somewhere between the current amount and where KB says it should be. I reckon it's about 18 a quarter, so that technically, every single player gets a break if needed. That's 72. A good place to start.

Grand final replays are such an overrated fixture , every new season is a new season and a HA fixture is a HA fixture , so why the carry on. Melb will draw a big crowd for the flag unfurl regardless who they play
RFC v blues is proven to draw a mammoth crowd , but afl know best and will prob cancel it

 

[RunningBounce]

Not really sure how you would do that when stadiums have some pretty expensive stands around the grounds AFL clubs play on

Seeing as we can change three or four rules every year, for years on end, I don't think knocking out a few rows of seating is that big a deal

We tend to forget that the league owned Waverley, a ground bigger than the MCG. How many new stadia have been built since? Docklands. Adelaide. Perth. Sydney. Kardinia renoed on tax-payer money a few times. Gabba reno coming up.

If congestion really was a problem big enough to change the rules incessantly, whacking another 10 or 15 metres on the wings would not have been a problem. But no. Head Office decided to build a smaller ground, and then run an ongoing commentary that the game was "in crisis" and needed saving because the ball didn't have enough grass around it.

* them and the horse they rode in on. Gaslighters.

(As I say, I quite like a physical game and would be happy to see 198 H&A games played on the SCG.)

 

[tora tora tora]

I reckon 33 years is long enough for something to be called a tradition, easy. Richmond v Carlton in the "traditional season opener". How long has that been going ?

There's no set time limit on something becoming a tradition...it's a feel. I built a pizza oven and it didn't take my kids long to build up the "tradition" of coming over to Dad's place on a Sunday arvo for pizzas. Why do you think I built the bloody pizza oven ?

As KB says, 20 mins plus time on is perfect for footy. (It does my head in that the clock keeps running when th Wallabies are a point down and some Frenchman spends two minutes feigning injury or doing up his shoelaces while the clock keeps counting down. Wtf is that ?!)

20mins plus time on feels right. Few goals kicked, short quarter. Lots of goals kicked, long quarter, the players get it.

As for KBs other thoughts, he's right about the stand rule, it's an abomination and goes against the spirit of the game. It looks stupid, like the mock scrums they still do in rigby league, it looks rubbish because it's faked.

There's a happy medium regarding interchange somewhere between the current amount and where KB says it should be. I reckon it's about 18 a quarter, so that technically, every single player gets a break if needed. That's 72. A good place to start.

1980s had some great ideas.