The Hocking effect on the AFL

[Lazzas]

For me personally the rule changes have crippled the AFL competition. The AFL wanted more scoring, are they happy with these constant blow outs? Steve Hocking I'm going to single out for stupid rule changes in particular. Destroying footy.

 

[Bender_]

The stand rule has ruined the game for me. Opponent takes a mark - you have to stand there whilst they think of what to do, meanwhile one of their teammates runs past you to get a handball over the top and you can't turn to chase them and they get the run on. Or you have to stand there whilst the take their "natural arc" and they effectively step around you whilst kicking from 50 and by the time play on is called it's already too late.

Joke of a rule.

666 is annoying too - taking away the tactical decision to not get steamrolled by pushing numbers back is pathetic.

Great now I'm all fired up.

 

[Rowan18]

The comp is ****ed. It's rnd 4 (or 5 - bloody round 0) and already at least 6 teams obviously won't make finals. You can also identify 10 that have no hope of winning a flag. By mid year, it'll be obvious which 2 or 3 can win it and they others might as well pack up.

Each week there are a minimum of two games not worth watching (those with us or North). Add Hawks in as well at the moment. I'm wondering if the TV will even bother paying more for an extra game when Tassie and team 20 come in, given there will be at least three games a week that won't rate.

 

[Avalor]

The stand rule has ruined the game for me. Opponent takes a mark - you have to stand there whilst they think of what to do, meanwhile one of their teammates runs past you to get a handball over the top and you can't turn to chase them and they get the run on. Or you have to stand there whilst the take their "natural arc" and they effectively step around you whilst kicking from 50 and by the time play on is called it's already too late.

Joke of a rule.

666 is annoying too - taking away the tactical decision to not get steamrolled by pushing numbers back is pathetic.

Great now I'm all fired up.

Completely, 100% agree, stuff Hocking! Absolutely hate the 'stand' rule, it's a blight on the game, and the 666 rule also. Despise it!

 

[ziad]

Stand by your man, what a ridiculous anti competition rule with hideous optics (a modern word for looks crap)

 

[KERRPOW]

The comp is ****ed. It's rnd 4 (or 5 - bloody round 0) and already at least 6 teams obviously won't make finals. You can also identify 10 that have no hope of winning a flag. By mid year, it'll be obvious which 2 or 3 can win it and they others might as well pack up.

Each week there are a minimum of two games not worth watching (those with us or North). Add Hawks in as well at the moment. I'm wondering if the TV will even bother paying more for an extra game when Tassie and team 20 come in, given there will be at least three games a week that won't rate.

Its only gonna get worse woth the introduction of a 19th and 20th team. Plus all the strong teams attracting ready made decent talent via free agency and trades.

 

[FKASC]

Yeah stand rule stinks. It looks like a handicap rule for kids

 

[FKASC]

Also it should be 3 points for a behind

 

[KERRPOW]

And how much inside knowledge regarding trends will benefit geelong...in addition to off the books endorcements and free houses for their players

 

[Godfather32]

Also it should be 3 points for a behind

Zooper Points!!

 

[squashface]

Also it should be 3 points for a behind

Bring back Zooper goals too

 

[WCE_phil]

Just **** off the stand rule and tighten up on holding the ball. It's ridiculous. 6,6,6 I really don't mind at all.

 

[Dylan82]

Just * off the stand rule and tighten up on holding the ball. It's ridiculous. 6,6,6 I really don't mind at all.

Agreed.

Stand rule should never have been implemented and just needs to be eliminated.

HTB / incorrect disposal has been allowed to degrade to a lucky dip in the name of keeping the ball moving.


My primary issue with 6-6-6 is that it removes the ability of a coach to arrest opposing momentum, which leads to more blowouts occurring. I'm also suspicious of it being a Trojan Horse for further player unwanted zoning initiatives to "open up" play.

 

[timeforanother22]

Just * off the stand rule and tighten up on holding the ball. It's ridiculous. 6,6,6 I really don't mind at all.

Holding the ball interpretations are the biggest lottery and most frustrating thing to watch during any game. Even in completely neutral games it does my head in.
The 10m exclusion zone that you get a 50m penalty for stepping into is only fun when a Freo player does it.

 

[Jumpoff Joey]

If the stand rule gets ****ed off, then what does that mean with the game projectory.

It made Simmo's game plan redundant, and players like Gaff exposed.

Bring it back in and then what? Just stop changing the rules....Its the only game i know of, where rules are consistently tweaked every season.

 

[langdon19]

Hate the stand rule, has made footy worse with quick blow outs. Seems to be more relaxed this year with the play on quicker when the opposition runs off the line.
Should have given the 666 rule longer to see what impact it had.
Both stupid rules

 

[Lazzas]

Also get rid of ruck nomination rule, if you don't want a third man up then call an infringement if it happens.

 

[Dylan82]

If the stand rule gets ****ed off, then what does that mean with the game projectory.

It made Simmo's game plan redundant, and players like Gaff exposed.

Bring it back in and then what? Just stop changing the rules....Its the only game i know of, where rules are consistently tweaked every season.

How the game is actually played is inconsequential here.

We're talking about US-style commodification to increase revenue.

The changes made are attempts to facilitate an instruction handed down to get matches having more goals, as that equals more advertising space that can be sold by the broadcasters.


This pursuit has seen the following:

• interchanges halved to generate more fatigue and open up play (I'm surprised this has not created a greater response from the AFLPA on its impact on player injury either)
• holding the ball / incorrect disposal rendered useless as the prerogative given to umpires is to keep the ball moving
• defensive capability deliberately handicapped through a number of rules (stand on mark, kick-ins, 6-6-6 zoning)

I have no doubt that the invocation of the standing rule on the mark was anticipated by those making decisions to have a similar impact on the competition as the removal of handchecking did upon the NBA.

Instead all it did was prioritise legspeed over technical proficiency.

The game looks arguably far worse as a result, whilst scoring remains relatively unchanged.


Further implementation of zoning (or reduced playing number) initiatives will only exacerbate this trend - those who can cover space at pace will increasingly gain selection above technical specialists that lack speed.


With rule changes failing to deliver the desired outcome, it's only a matter of time really until an attempt is made to introduce timeouts into the sport to satisfy the advertising requirement.

Watch out for things like "captain's call" as the Trojan Horse on this front.


The current broadcast agreement goes until 2031, so there remains plenty of time to soften everyone up before it is used as a financial bargaining chip in the next negotiation and implemented thereafter.

Only then will the rule changes stop.

 

[Eaglemaniac]

If you wanna get rid of these stupid rules and rule changes each year, you gotta get rid of the rules committee. It’s in their best interests to keep changing rules to justify their jobs, but it’s not in the best interests of the game.

I agree with what other have said above. I hate the stand rule. It makes us look like we are playing a children’s game.

 

[flamingEMBERS]

Personally I don’t mind the stand rule, players were taking far too many liberties on the mark before. Guarding a make belief “semi circle” as the spot on the mark.

I think there is a happy medium between the old interpretation and what was introduced because some of the 50s are ridiculous.

 

[Brolga]

The extra 30 secs for ads and replays between goals is a crowd-noise killer at the ground. Seems to be counter intuitive given those rule changes designed for players to fatigue more, and it lengthens the game.
Then they start debating shortening the quarters!

 

[Lazzas]

Don't get me wrong Ross Lion throwing players behind the ball and boring footy was horrible viewing back in the day. However!

Is anyone happy with these constant blowouts that results in a lot of games being over by half time?

I like to watch close games that come down to the wire. Who turned the game off a half time? I did eventually the media aren't going to be happy with these results, if other people a jumping off.

 

[wce4premiership]

It's been covered already but the stand rule makes the sport look like a joke.

Especially when players are lining up from a distance that is questionably within their range and the man on the mark can't cover the angle they run out to.

The sport still has a massive amateurish flavour to it and it's so off-putting.

I don't watch as many neutral games as I used to because the game doesn't interest me as much and I spend my time doing other things, whereas before I'd be glued to the TV.

 

[ioppolo]

Don't get me wrong Ross Lion throwing players behind the ball and boring footy was horrible viewing back in the day. However!

Is anyone happy with these constant blowouts that results in a lot of games being over by half time?

I like to watch close games that come down to the wire. Who turned the game off a half time? I did eventually the media aren't going to be happy with these results, if other people a jumping off.

Part and parcel with the diluted talent pool is my two cents. There's always been blowouts anyway.