No high frees when player with the ball is responsible for the high contact

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jdz101

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#27
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#28
It's win-win, because we all can laugh at the Geelong supporters at Kardinia Park doing their nut when Joel doesn't receive his usual gimme frees.
Where have we heard this before I wonder. Maybe the last time head high frees were to be tightened.
Odds on him being top 3 for frees in 2017? Less than even money I'd guess.
 

And_ROOS

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#32
Selwood will still shrug tackles successfully. Not being awarded frees for something he used to be is still somewhat of a negative for him though.
Probably will lead to more inside 50s for him that are successful as he can shrug them and play on rather than having to go back behind the mark and slow down play.
 

Crankyhawk

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#33
What happens if your natural running style is low with head down (even before the tackle) is it still incumbent on the tackler to not whack you in the head? Or can it be argued that the running player needs to run with better technique and therefore the tackler can tackle at a "normal" height and take out the running player?
 

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Pedantic

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#39
Fantastic news, I think this is the thing that has irritated me the most at the footy over the last few years.

When you strip things right back, why do we have the high contact rule? Because getting whacked in the head/neck is dangerous and players deserve to be protected from that. However, if the player draws or initiates that high contact against themselves then surely it's common sense that they forfeit that protection and it's play on.
 
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Moderator #40
Playbon? Should be a free kick against you if you're deliberately getting taken high. AFL is doing the right thing overall in mananging concussions and taking them seriously, yet we've got about 5-10% of players across the league who repeatedly and deliberately try and get head high contact.
 

estibador

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#43
Probably will lead to more inside 50s for him that are successful as he can shrug them and play on rather than having to go back behind the mark and slow down play.
Dunno about that. Why doesn't he just play on already then if it's such a disadvantage to go back and take his kick? He doesn't have to go back.
 

jatz14

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#47
Not sure how this is going to go. So many times you see someone picking the ball up get taken high, and then the crowd goes nuts because the cheating dog got a free for high contact. Many seem to see it is cheating if you get a free for any high contact bar a punch in the face. Not sure their going to be happy by with the result. Selwood is still going to get frees for high contact because he goes in low for the ball, and stays low on the way out. the rule isnt a free hit to the head for anyone not standing on tippee toes.
 

Underdog

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#48
This is going to be extremely poorly adjudicated by the umpires. It's going to be an inconsistent farce.

I don't even blame the umpires. It must be tough to develop instinct for the constantly changing rules/interpretations.

Players lower their centre of gravity to change direction, it's simply the body's mechanics. Changing direction occurs frequently in congestion. The line is going to be extremely thin between legal and illegal.

Like the below photo - I have no doubt that a player will move this way in congestion and there will be instances where an arm slips over his shoulder and they won't get a free (when they should).



The AFL are setting the umpires up for a roasting.
 
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random260

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#50
So lets say a footballer is running at full speed and accidentally closelines joel selwood head and joel selwood has his knees bent is that counted as a free? Cos thats what the umpire will see since it at lightning speed.

Honestly this is too hard to umpire.

I'd imagine players lining up to clothes line joel selwood.



Is that counted as a free. Imagine selwood drops knee. Note the black man is running at full speed with the intention of taking the yellows dude head off.
 
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