Analysis The Protected Area: How well has it worked and can it be improved?

[GreyCrow]

Good stuff. I think most have covered it. For me the issue is interpretation ( derr) of intent. There is either no intent for the umpires to interpret. ie every entry is a 50m. Or the intent of the player is taken into consideration and the umpires allow some ''unintentional'' breaking of the zone. As poor as Laird was on the weekend you could see the brain clicking into gear after he got pinged and it was ''wut'' , though ?Lynch? was waving him away.

What we are seeing is a mix of this. There has been interpretation where intent is ignored. 50m. We have also seen run-throughs that have been left alone.

I think its a silly rule that doesn't do what it is intended.

 

[Rory Walkerfield]

The rule is fine - someone needs to explain it to laird though. He's infringed a few times this year.

 

[VSTone]

i think the rule is too tight... if the player in the protected area impedes the ball player then 50 metres should be paid.
it's too much of a penalty for simply being in the wrong place.