Wolftone
Cancelled
- Joined
- Feb 1, 2012
- Posts
- 6,415
- Reaction score
- 5,732
- AFL Club
- Sydney
Over the past few years the AFL have changed quite a few rules and changed interpretation of others. Some of the changes have been very good, others not so advantageous. This year will see a much stricter interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds rule and a new rule banning third up at a ruck contest. But the AFL has missed the boat on several rules and interpretations that could make the game much better and ensure we are still playing Aussie Rules and not Rugby.
1. The interpretation of the holding the ball holding the man rule. How many times have you seen a player jump on a player's back and hold the ball under him, only to get a free awarded to him for holding the ball? This is, in the true sense of the rules, an incorrect interpretation as any player jumping on a player is either in the back or 'All Over the Man'. There is also another rule that makes holding the ball to a player deliberately, illegal, that is the time wasting rule. Yes there are such rules and they have never been deleted, they just aren't used. If the umpires did umpire these rules the controversy over the holding the ball/holding the man rule would dissipate. The other advantage is play would resume quickly as the free is paid immediately a tackling player commits.
2. The interpretation of 'Incorrect Disposal' is downright turning the game into Rugby Union, in that we end up with players dropping and throwing the ball in a travelling maul. Gillon McLachlan has said this is too hard to police, the man's a fool if he thinks that. But I think the reality is more sinister, he and the AFL like the fact the game moves quicker with lots of throws. If the crowd up in the highest stands and the viewers of 7 & Fox can see blatant throws or drops, then at least one of the three umpires can see them too. McLachlan is either insincere in his comments, incredibly naive or downright dishonest. I'd like to see this blight on our game cleaned up.
3. One of the worst facets of our game is the maul after a throw up/ball up. In SANFL Footy this doesn't happen. The reason is simple, they pay all over the man and they whistle up very quickly not allowing time for a maul to happen. They also penalise players for impeding other players from entering the contest (how often has JPK or Parks been blocked, the game against GWS was a good example of illegal blocking). Then they throw the ball up very quickly not waiting for the rucks to get set and play generally seems to open up. I feel if these simple rules, interpretation of rules and quickly whistling play up when a maul starts to form will make AFL footy better.
4. I am not a fan of the ban on rucks grabbing the ball from a throw in or ball up. I think this used to be one of the more exciting parts of the game. Years ago Polly Farmer was wonderful at it and Shaun Rhenn was pretty good too. Other great ruckmen were sensational at this like Peter Moore, the Collingwood champ, who took the ball out of the ruck and kicked a wonderful goal in a final. I think this has actually helped create the maul.
5. The CEO of the AFL should have nothing to do with the rules. He is there as an administrator not as a person that actually knows anything about football. His main concern should be to keep the AFL and it's clubs solvent. He should get reports from the rules committee and Manager of Football, who should be a football person who preferably played the game at the highest level not Adrian Anderson, and tick off on them. But Gillon McLachlan seems to want to interfere in everyone's portfolio. He seems to want to be very highly hands on and run everything from the top down. His interference in the 'Incorrect Disposal' argument is a disgrace. The majority of the coaches want this fixed. So much for his insistence that he will be a CEO who listens to coaches, players and fans. In fact some of the data from their own research shows fans are angry over this interpretation of the dropping the ball and throwing. So Gillon how about manning up and letting the rules committee examine this problem. How about getting another umpires coach if this bloke won't do anything about the interpretation. I think the coaches should threaten to go on strike over this interpretation and McLachlan's handling of the problem
1. The interpretation of the holding the ball holding the man rule. How many times have you seen a player jump on a player's back and hold the ball under him, only to get a free awarded to him for holding the ball? This is, in the true sense of the rules, an incorrect interpretation as any player jumping on a player is either in the back or 'All Over the Man'. There is also another rule that makes holding the ball to a player deliberately, illegal, that is the time wasting rule. Yes there are such rules and they have never been deleted, they just aren't used. If the umpires did umpire these rules the controversy over the holding the ball/holding the man rule would dissipate. The other advantage is play would resume quickly as the free is paid immediately a tackling player commits.
2. The interpretation of 'Incorrect Disposal' is downright turning the game into Rugby Union, in that we end up with players dropping and throwing the ball in a travelling maul. Gillon McLachlan has said this is too hard to police, the man's a fool if he thinks that. But I think the reality is more sinister, he and the AFL like the fact the game moves quicker with lots of throws. If the crowd up in the highest stands and the viewers of 7 & Fox can see blatant throws or drops, then at least one of the three umpires can see them too. McLachlan is either insincere in his comments, incredibly naive or downright dishonest. I'd like to see this blight on our game cleaned up.
3. One of the worst facets of our game is the maul after a throw up/ball up. In SANFL Footy this doesn't happen. The reason is simple, they pay all over the man and they whistle up very quickly not allowing time for a maul to happen. They also penalise players for impeding other players from entering the contest (how often has JPK or Parks been blocked, the game against GWS was a good example of illegal blocking). Then they throw the ball up very quickly not waiting for the rucks to get set and play generally seems to open up. I feel if these simple rules, interpretation of rules and quickly whistling play up when a maul starts to form will make AFL footy better.
4. I am not a fan of the ban on rucks grabbing the ball from a throw in or ball up. I think this used to be one of the more exciting parts of the game. Years ago Polly Farmer was wonderful at it and Shaun Rhenn was pretty good too. Other great ruckmen were sensational at this like Peter Moore, the Collingwood champ, who took the ball out of the ruck and kicked a wonderful goal in a final. I think this has actually helped create the maul.
5. The CEO of the AFL should have nothing to do with the rules. He is there as an administrator not as a person that actually knows anything about football. His main concern should be to keep the AFL and it's clubs solvent. He should get reports from the rules committee and Manager of Football, who should be a football person who preferably played the game at the highest level not Adrian Anderson, and tick off on them. But Gillon McLachlan seems to want to interfere in everyone's portfolio. He seems to want to be very highly hands on and run everything from the top down. His interference in the 'Incorrect Disposal' argument is a disgrace. The majority of the coaches want this fixed. So much for his insistence that he will be a CEO who listens to coaches, players and fans. In fact some of the data from their own research shows fans are angry over this interpretation of the dropping the ball and throwing. So Gillon how about manning up and letting the rules committee examine this problem. How about getting another umpires coach if this bloke won't do anything about the interpretation. I think the coaches should threaten to go on strike over this interpretation and McLachlan's handling of the problem
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