TonyK
CibbuanoNo rule changes for next season
December 15th 2009 06:40
THE AFL has announced that there will be no official rule changes for next season.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the game's current state meant there was no need for any formal rule changes.
"The feedback from our clubs and fans was that the quality of the game in 2009 was outstanding," Anderson said.
"The changes introduced in recent years have made the game significantly more continuous and encouraged an exciting brand of football from our clubs and players."
While there will be no official rule changes, umpires will be instructed to be stricter in their interpretations in four areas. These are:
- 50m penalties against players cribbing over the mark and entering the protected area.
- 50m penalties against players for not giving the ball directly back to an opponent after a mark or free kick.
- Holding the ball to be paid more often where a player has no prior opportunity to get rid of the ball when tackled but makes no real attempt to dispose of the ball during the tackle.
- A crackdown on the holding of opposition players at stoppages.
Anderson said the crackdown was instigated by the clubs.
"Club feedback confirmed that consistency of these rules is important to allow teams to play attacking football," he said.
"Players who are willing to absorb tackles without making a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball will continue to be penalised and the end zone umpires will be positioned closer to the play to help detect the (illegal) holding of players at stoppages."
Meanwhile, the AFL will announce if any new trial rules will be used in the NAB Cup - which kicks off on February 12 - early next year.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the game's current state meant there was no need for any formal rule changes.
"The feedback from our clubs and fans was that the quality of the game in 2009 was outstanding," Anderson said.
"The changes introduced in recent years have made the game significantly more continuous and encouraged an exciting brand of football from our clubs and players."
While there will be no official rule changes, umpires will be instructed to be stricter in their interpretations in four areas. These are:
- 50m penalties against players cribbing over the mark and entering the protected area.
- 50m penalties against players for not giving the ball directly back to an opponent after a mark or free kick.
- Holding the ball to be paid more often where a player has no prior opportunity to get rid of the ball when tackled but makes no real attempt to dispose of the ball during the tackle.
- A crackdown on the holding of opposition players at stoppages.
Anderson said the crackdown was instigated by the clubs.
"Club feedback confirmed that consistency of these rules is important to allow teams to play attacking football," he said.
"Players who are willing to absorb tackles without making a genuine attempt to dispose of the ball will continue to be penalised and the end zone umpires will be positioned closer to the play to help detect the (illegal) holding of players at stoppages."
Meanwhile, the AFL will announce if any new trial rules will be used in the NAB Cup - which kicks off on February 12 - early next year.
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