Rules you would like to see implemented

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Because a lot of the time when rucks belt the ball into space it is an attacking option aimed at getting the ball moving quickly.
Are you saying the AFL doesn’t want that or are you saying belting the ball out of bounds is attacking?
 
Are you saying the AFL doesn’t want that or are you saying belting the ball out of bounds is attacking?
I’m saying that a lot of the time when rucks hit the ball clear of the pack in the direction of the boundary line it is to allow a player to run onto it in space. See Rankine’s goal against the Lions as an example of that kind of play being executed.

That kind of play at a stoppage IMO is preferable to a tap at the feet, even if it results in repeat throw ins sometimes.

If any ruck tap that rolled out was a free kick it would make it risky to punch the ball in space from a ruck contest (an attacking option that the AFL would want to encourage), and make it more likely that rucks would keep it in tight.



See the above video, couple extra metres on that hit and it probably rolls out of bounds, if he’s penalised for that, then Jacobs is less likely to attempt this kind of hitout.
 

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I’m saying that a lot of the time when rucks hit the ball clear of the pack in the direction of the boundary line it is to allow a player to run onto it in space. See Rankine’s goal against the Lions as an example of that kind of play being executed.

That kind of play at a stoppage IMO is preferable to a tap at the feet, even if it results in repeat throw ins sometimes.

If any ruck tap that rolled out was a free kick it would make it risky to punch the ball in space from a ruck contest (an attacking option that the AFL would want to encourage), and make it more likely that rucks would keep it in tight.



See the above video, couple extra metres on that hit and it probably rolls out of bounds, if he’s penalised for that, then Jacobs is less likely to attempt this kind of hitout.

Fair enough. It strikes me as an anomaly of our game that a kick that dribbles out can be declared insufficient intent, but a ruckman who punches a throw in out of bounds is not penalised.
 
Back in the mid 1970's when I was playing Colts (U15's / U17's) there was a rule called (simply) dropping the ball.

As far as I can remember, if you didnt dispose of the ball (legally) by hand or foot when tackled, a free was awarded against you. Didnt matter if it was knocked out of your hands etc. No legal disposal, then free kick awarded. It was a plain as that.

Not sure if this would work ? As we know, with everything about umpiring now, something simple as this would turn into a schemozzle.

It seems over the past 2 years, the instances of players not disposing of the ball legally and getting away with it is on the increase.
 
Last touch out is a turnover (no ball ups or throw ins, I get it cuts out the rucks but for more intense footy)
6-man bench (no substitute)
all teams submitted on thursday night (like 2020)
This rule has been used in the SANFL for many years and it actually works well. Also (to a certain degree) cuts out the guesswork with the insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play decisions.
 
Last touch out is a turnover (no ball ups or throw ins, I get it cuts out the rucks but for more intense footy)
6-man bench (no substitute)
all teams submitted on thursday night (like 2020)
I’m a big fan of the last possession (like in the SANFL), last touch not so much. Should still be room for players to spoil over the boundary line, or being tackled over the line, or smothers over the line etc without conceding a free kick.
 
I’m a big fan of the last possession (like in the SANFL), last touch not so much. Should still be room for players to spoil over the boundary line, or being tackled over the line, or smothers over the line etc without conceding a free kick.
Yeah I meant possessions rather than touch.
 
This rule has been used in the SANFL for many years and it actually works well. Also (to a certain degree) cuts out the guesswork with the insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play decisions.
That's what I was going for. Didn't know the SANFL adhered to different rules
 

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This rule has been used in the SANFL for many years and it actually works well. Also (to a certain degree) cuts out the guesswork with the insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play decisions.
Actually I think it'd be an ump's call because if it was for a scoring opp. like Aker and a couple others holding the ball over the line while running out of it would be essentially removed tbh
 
Kicking in Danger is the worst officiated rule in the AFL.

There was one howler today that was missed.

And personally, I hate players kicking off the ground. It is cheap football that punishes the players trying to get their hands on it and play the game properly.

Kicking off the ground should be outlawed.
 
Kicking in Danger is the worst officiated rule in the AFL.

There was one howler today that was missed.

And personally, I hate players kicking off the ground. It is cheap football that punishes the players trying to get their hands on it and play the game properly.

Kicking off the ground should be outlawed.
Kicking off the ground prevents ball ups
 
Two rules I would implement are;


(1) Lack of intent to keep the ball moving

When a player is tackled and little to no effort is made to actually spill the ball to re open the game back up. Instead inviting multiple repeat stoppage which creates an ugly rolling maul. I understand why players do it but geez its frustrating and something that umpires should punish earlier and quickly.



(2) these dang sling/dangerous tackles is fanciful. Sure, the intent to hurt is there etc etc but rubbed out for a week, I think we should be bringing in a 3 minute sin bin where a player must leave the most direct exit to the boundary. If it is north side of the centre square, said player MUST leave to the northern most part of the ground. None of this take there sweet ass time. If said player is in way of play then a free kick will be given at a nominal position.


I dunno, think the tackle thing is getting out of hand. A week is a heady hand for something that now appears to be common place. Looking at most of the reported incidents, they don't appear to be intentional which suggests a week for an accident is a heavy price to pay. Could even make it a 5 minute penalty.
 
It would be cool of players got suspended for kicking in danger & breaking a players arm. Unintentional & careless acts are suspendable already
 
This rule has been used in the SANFL for many years and it actually works well. Also (to a certain degree) cuts out the guesswork with the insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play decisions.
A better way to take away the guesswork with the insufficient attempt to keep the ball in play decisions is to scrap that crappy rule all together. It would be more workable if the OOB rules were along the following lines...
  • Kick out on the full - Free against
  • Handball out on the full - Free against
  • Ruck tap out on the full - Free against
  • Player steps over the line with ball in possession - Free against (even if being tackled)
  • Ball bounces off any part of a player and goes out on the full - Free against
  • Ball touches, bounces or rolls along the ground inside the line before going OOB - Throw in
 
If a player gives away a free, holds onto the ball and points backwards for his team mates to get back, it should be automatically 50.

Players are given way too long to give the ball back in general.
This used to be the rule. If you even threw the ball back and it went to high and took too long to return to the player getting the free sometimes umps would pay the 50.

A massive problem with the AFL is allowing rules like that one to disappear then coming up with all sorts of other s**t to make up for the problems it causes. All the rules aimed at removing congestion would be less necessary if rules like this were implemented and ball ups etc happened immediately instead of waiting for rucks to nominate and players to set up around the stoppage. You don't need someone to nominate, if one side has two players in a ruck contest penalise them.

The game is already over officiated. Instead of implementing more rules we need to get rid of some.
 
Feel like this just gets rehashed every few years, and like others I think a sensible reversion and removal will do far more good than anything else:

Recent Atrocities that should all be removed
  • Stand Rule - Childish, unnecessary, under-8s level rubbish. If players want to play on let them.
  • Deliberate Out of Bounds - The genuine rule is fine - if the ball is put out of bounds deliberately, then it's a free kick. But what has happening now is insanity. I'd argue 99% of the time players don't want the ball going out, and when you kick it 40 metres towards your scoring end, you're doing what you should be doing. And every supporter who cheers at games when your side gets one of these idiotic free kicks, good on you for being morons.
  • 6-6-6 - Absolutely nothing rule that added zero to the game. The first year it was introduced saw the lowest scoring season since 1968 (and this was before Covid). If teams want to put 18 players in the backline let them. Kick goals from 50 metres out then.
  • Below the Knees - Total overreaction, because one sneaky player (Lindsay Thomas) broke Gary Rohan's leg by sliding in feet first. Which virtually never happens to begin with. What it does do is punish the player who goes in and gets the ball first.
  • Nominating Ruckmen - Same as the stand rule, it isn't junior football. If the players aren't ready tough. Ball it up and get on with it.
  • Playing on after a Point - For more than a century, six year olds learned how to pretty much effortlessly kick the ball to themselves so they could play on after a point was kicked. No more. It's apparently too difficult for top level footballers. And they get a totally unearned stat.
  • Marks taken in the goal square taken to the goal line - Yet another childish simplification. Kicking for goal should be a skill. If you take a mark next to the goal post you should be on a tight angle. You should also be easily good enough to kick it. Automatically moving the mark to the goal line just dumbs the game down.
Older Rules that will still work
  • Holding the Ball - It's so easy. If they have a chance to get rid of it and don't, it's holding the ball. If a player willingly takes on a tackle - any tackle - and flings the ball out with one arm, it's not play on, and it's not a ball up. It's holding the ball. But conversely, if a player is on the bottom of a pack and actually trying to get the ball, he shouldn't be penalised when three opposition players sit on him. Also, the trend now where players are allowed to reach over the shoulder to hold it in - that's over the shoulder and should be a free kick. Also, if a player runs 30 metres, a chasing player lays a fingernail on their jumper, and he scrubs it along the ground........it's still a kick. It's NOT holding the ball no matter what noise the crowd makes. Equally important but vital last point - superstars get judged the same as everyone else.
  • Push in the Back (marking contest) - again, so so easy. If your hands are on the back or above the shoulder, it's a free kick. No ifs, no buts, and I'll never forgive Gerard Healy starting this in the early 90s by arguing players should be allowed to put their hands on the shoulders when flying for marks. They shouldn't. Umpires even admitted much later that they got lazy and let a generation of fans think it's ok. It's not. I hate more than anything that Hawkins in recent years can openly push players in the back and not be penalised. He's good enough to not do that.

The final point is just as difficult, tell the umpires to actually officiate and not to coach, and talk to the players about 99% less. Let them develop an actual feel for the game and not be the stars.
 
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I think there are some infringements where a 25m penalty should be applied. The most obvious one to me is if you are over the mark (25m is still a good short kick advancement up the field).
There are probably others where 50 should drop to 25 but i need my morning coffee first before i think too much.
Make it 25m permanently, its bad enough as it is without giving the umpires two options to choose from.
 

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