Rules of the game - How to successfully make the game more open and attacking?

[slashin_velvet]

Pay blocking and holding the man appropriately and you would significantly reduce congestion.

The reason why there are so many bodies blocking up play is that most teams try to block out and scrag the oppositions best players when the ball isnt even in play. all this false bravado tough guy bumping and jumper punching would be completely removed if the umpires properly officiated rules 15.4.5 (c) & 15.4.5 (e).

Under these rules:
"A field Umpire shall award a Free Kick against a Player where they are satisfied that the Player has made Prohibited Contact with an opposition Player. A Player makes Prohibited Contact with an opposition Player if the Player:
(c) holds an opposition Player who is not in possession of the football;
(e) pushes, bumps, holds or blocks an opposition Player when the football is further than 5 metres away from the opposition Player or is out of play"

There are other rules in 15.4.5 which also apply in terms of striking, kicking, tripping, rough conduct, but the above two are the most common and the ones leading to congestion.

Imagine if at every stoppage, players weren't grabbing on to each other and stopping opposition from actually trying to get the ball and have an effective disposal. Would diminish the effect of taggers and instead force a more offensive brand of football.

We don't need new rules - just adequate interpretations and applications of the ones already in place.

 

[Satchel]

to make it a better spectacle we have to make it less complicated NOT more complicated

any changes need to not rely on the umpires so lets go to 16 on the field (takes the worst 2 players off straight away) as they cant stuff that up + get rid of the stupid ruck nomination & 3rd man up rule. who cares if 7 go up for the tap that means the other team have 6 down to get the ball. Get rid of the goal reviews as they just waste time & they still get it wrong.

reduce the onfield umps to 2 so there is a better spread of superior umps rather than increasing less competent umpires (one ump used to get the job done many moons ago wtf do we need 4)

if we get better umps on the field then the rules should be interpreted better surely