What changes would you like to see in 2024 and beyond?

[SplintWhisky]

1. If the matrix for fines is going to be kept, for the love of god please add something around intent. I know that we cant know the players intent but we can start to infer it. I would say that that if a bump that was clearly late but doesnt lead to a concussion should be graded far worse than a bump that is appropriate but slipped high and concussed a player. Essentially ask the question "If there was no high contact, would this be a legal bump?" If yes then the punishment should be downgraded and if No then it should be upgraded.

2. Get rid of stand. Don't like the rule and hearing the word stand every few moments is starting to do my head in

3. Umpires to be backed properly. The AFL should be sending their little media goblins out to shit on the media personalities who complain that umpires should "Have Feeling for the game". If a rule is broken then pay the free

4. Demand Professional commitment from the Umpires. By some reports, the AFL Field umpires are making around $150k a year and yet they don't need to provide a full time commitment. Get them there and training and learning. Umpires should be rotating around the clubs and training with them. The benefit is the umpires can train their positioning and also start to educate the players as well.

5. A subtle change to help stop part of the ducking into frees. For me the worst action that is the most obvious is when the player with the ball takes one arm and raises it, which forces the hand of the tackler to go high. I would make an an announcement that if you are tackled and you have one arm off the ball and raised above your head, you will be pinged for HTB. For me I don't see any 'innocent' action that this could inadvertently punish because if you are the ball carrier, why do you need to have one free hand above your head?

6. Get rid of the ruck nomination. Umpire gets in and throws it up and if 2 players from the same team go up, blow the free. The chaos of a team having a breakdown and not going up will also help in the easing of congestion. I also chuckle at the idea of just random chance of a small forward and defender being in the right place at the right time to have to compete.

 

[Not Darryl Moss]

Item 1. Removes a vital part of the game, discourages players defending the kick.

Item 2. Last touch stops players playing to a position, encourages defensive play. They need to go the other way (relaxing the rule), which then returns the game to a semblance of positions.

Item 3. They try to. The issue is the umps are encouraged to guess on when a player has exaggerated contact, which opens up a whole new can of worms.

Agree on point 4. Sliding in isn't overly dangerous, but the hip drop tackle is dirty as hell

1. No - IMO it means the defender has to deflect or stop the ball sufficiently rather than get a fingernail to it, and simplifies both the game and umpiring the game.

2. No, IMO players know earlier what will result and therefore the game should be faster.

3.Yeah, nah, too hard?

4. Yeah, the hip drop too, and pushing aggresssively/leading into an opponent with the head = clearly penalized in rugby.

5. Christmas Wish: Our game could look as 'clean' as NFL i.e. without the cheap shots that cheapen the game.

 

[HairyO]

I think the fantasy would be that the AFL sets up everything properly before the season starts and then doesnt change a thing mid-season, only to then ignore it by the time finals come around.

 

[Not Darryl Moss]

You're actually adding more complication to the rule with this. If you can still touch the ball to make it a point, then how far does the ball have to travel before it counts as touched, and not just touched off the boot?

Or is it any touch at all and its still a goal? Defenders on the goal line have to keep the ball in play?

What happens if a teammate touches it with his hand? What about if the kicks missing but a teammate palms the ball through the goal?

Any touch at all that's not a scoop and it's still a goal/mark. Give it a go

 

[slider95]

Players who collapse there body and charge head first into a contest should be penalised. You guys may think this is silly but imo this will eventually be a rule. The AFL cant afford for this action to remain legal.

 

[Run n Spread]

I'd like to see a lottery to disincentivize tanking. Perhaps equal ratios for the bottom 4 reducing up to 10th spot.

• Any untouched kick down the line paid "insufficient intent", except inside forward 50
• Get rid of the touched off the boot rule. The game's hard enough to umpire and would make ARC easier to process decisions.
• Independent doctors for concussions, data collected and openly reported on all head knocks.

Point 2 is riddled with problems. Define off the boot within a meter 2 metres?
Than if you allow touched sides will just set it up and punch it through the goals.
My change. 3 on the bench 2 subs.

 

[Vindicater]

I want the stand rule gone.

 

[_Mike_]

get rid of the stupid stand & dissent rule. If a player on the mark intentionally runs off before the play on whistle - fine, 50m penalty. But players getting penalised for taking as little as a side step is a ridiculous approach

A player penalised by a 50 for putting their arms up in frustration is also stupid.

also, just get it ****ing right and pay HTB/incorrect disposal.. How hard can that really be?

 

[MiguelM]

Get rid of the sub just have 5 on the bench.

Also get rid of ruck nomination, just throw the ball up straight away and pay a free only if 2 of same team go up.

 

[aCunningPlan]

also, just get it ****ing right and pay HTB/incorrect disposal.. How hard can that really be?

Genuine question, how many games have you umpired?

 

[_Mike_]

Genuine question, how many games have you umpired?

Enough to be able to call on experience and an understanding of the games and rules to be able to see that when a player drops the ball out of their hands, during a legitimate tackle applied by their opponent, is not a genuine attempt to dispose of the pill correctly.

Reward the player correctly applying a tackle when the opponent has had prior opportunity. This doesnt happen enough