Redesigning Ground markings

[Billy ray]

Howdy all
I couldnt find a thread, but have been thinking about some changes I would make to the ground markings to assist with some rules and take guesswork out for umpires/players.

i'll start with 2

the first and major one is the centre circle. I personally like it when rucks run and jump at the bouncedown (which i think needs to become a ball up also). One way to make sure this happens as opposed to most contests nowadays where the rucks just stand in middle either side of the line and wrestle, would be to add two smaller circles as shown below. When the game resumes, each ruck must start in these circles such that they will be more likely to run and jump rather than run and stop and wrestle.



the second one is a straight line across each goal end equal to the 9m goal square so its clear exactly how far back a player on the mark needs to go back whenever a mark or free kick is paid on defensive goal line (and if they dont get back right away, pay 50m penalty as no excuses)



there are probably more but i'll start with these 2.
anyone else have any ideas? thoughts?

 

[Quivorir]

Personally I think the ground is messay af as it is with all the sponsors on it now so would prefer no new markings.

On the 9m line - isn't there a painted dot where the man on the mark is meant to stand for kick outs? I'm sure the ump can just reference that across the field.

 

[Billy ray]

Personally I think the ground is messay af as it is with all the sponsors on it now so would prefer no new markings.

On the 9m line - isn't there a painted dot where the man on the mark is meant to stand for kick outs? I'm sure the ump can just reference that across the field.

fair enough
what about the concept of two smaller circles for rucks to go back to running?

 

[Jim Cricket]

Howdy all
I couldnt find a thread, but have been thinking about some changes I would make to the ground markings to assist with some rules and take guesswork out for umpires/players.

i'll start with 2

the first and major one is the centre circle. I personally like it when rucks run and jump at the bouncedown (which i think needs to become a ball up also). One way to make sure this happens as opposed to most contests nowadays where the rucks just stand in middle either side of the line and wrestle, would be to add two smaller circles as shown below. When the game resumes, each ruck must start in these circles such that they will be more likely to run and jump rather than run and stop and wrestle.

View attachment 2386713

the second one is a straight line across each goal end equal to the 9m goal square so its clear exactly how far back a player on the mark needs to go back whenever a mark or free kick is paid on defensive goal line (and if they dont get back right away, pay 50m penalty as no excuses)

View attachment 2386714

there are probably more but i'll start with these 2.
anyone else have any ideas? thoughts?

The centre circles are the way they are currently to stop ruckmen running into each other at speed with their knees colliding. Rucks were getting a lot of knee injuries from this and the AFL wanted to put a stop to it. Having them run from those circles would just cause more knee injuries.

I agree with the goal line idea and have thought of this myself. Do away with the goal square altogether, it's pretty much redundant. This will also get rid of the stupid 'take a mark anywhere in the goal square and kick it from straight in front' rule'.