The AFL is set to trail a raft of new rules for the 2009 pre-season cup in an effort to make the game ‘better’. There are projected plans for new protection for umpires, four field umpires, frees after disposal incur a 50m penalty and many more. Amongst the proposed rules change is one about deliberate rushed behinds. There are two possible solutions that are being touted to solve the omnipresent rushed behind problem. Most people agree that the rule should be changed, but the arguments start when the two options of the result of a rushed behind are put forward. One of the options is to have a bounce at 25 meters out and the other is a free kick being awarded.
The problem with the 25 meter out bounce is that it will not stop clubs from rushing behinds; it could even have the opposite effect. If the game is close then a rushed behind and a bounce would not be that dire, because the defending team could just flood the ball up if they were in front. According to Terry Wallace, Richmond Coach, this could mean that teams would have “all 18 players come inside the back half” trying to clog up the play, exactly the opposite of what the AFL is trying to achieve. Not to mention that teams could intentionally rush behinds if they were the better ruck-roving team. If they had a freak ruckman and a decent on-ballers it could be more beneficial for the rushing team to have a bounce and gain the extra 15 meters (kick out line is 10m out).
The problem with the free kick rule is that it could be perceived as too harsh a penalty. Some club officials have drawn the comparison that “It’s like being sent to jail for stealing a loaf of bread”. Furthermore this would bring in yet another interpretation the umpires have to deal with, in this case the definition of ‘deliberately rushed’. How can you tell if a spoil from the side is a deliberate rushed behind? We have shocking inconsistency already in the way deliberate out of bounds is adjudicated. Do we really want a 50/50 rushed behind deciding grand finals? I have to wonder if the umpires have been consulted very extensively, the general message from them over the last few years has been desires to reduce interpretation not add more to their officiating duties.
If a player is deliberately rushing behinds and they know that it will result in a free against them they would be foolish to do it. This rule would almost always rule out the rushed behind and would result in much more holding the ball decisions around the goals when players have no options.
The AFL should give the free kick rule a go in the NAB cup to see if it works and to see how the players, fans and umpires like it. Not that it matters what I think, the AFL make up their minds then ‘consult’ (make everyone else agree with them).
See Also:
Herald Sun on the rushed behind issue
Fox News Story
Tags: Umpiring
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