New rules an improvement

[DeadlyAkkuret]

AFL umpires coach Rowan Sawers believes the new interpretation preventing players from putting their hands in the back of opposition players in marking contests will add to the game as a spectacle this season.

"It's pretty straightforward - if you see hands in the back you pay it and we just have to make sure we get our positioning right.'

"It's no different to paying a free kick when you see a player tackled high."

The new interpretation will even see players penalised for a free kick if they use their hands to propel themselves above an opponent to take a spectacular mark - such as Nathan Buckley's grab for Collingwood against Port Adelaide late last year.

Sawers said no matter how spectacular the mark, a free kick will be paid in 2007 in such circumstances in what is sure to be a major cultural change for footy fans.

"If he has got his hands in the back of an opponent it's a free kick, the umpire doesn?t sit there and say, 'that is a spectacular mark', he only sees the infringement and he has to pay it."

New Rules

[swantastic]

Sawers said no matter how spectacular the mark, a free kick will be paid in 2007 in such circumstances in what is sure to be a major cultural change for footy fans.

Once an idiot always an idiot Sawers,that is the dumbest thing ive heard.I agree you cant push a player under the ball with hands in the back,but tacking a great mark there gota pay that.

[Sanecow]

Originally posted by swantastic
Once an idiot always an idiot Sawers,that is the dumbest thing ive heard.I agree you cant push a player under the ball with hands in the back,but tacking a great mark there gota pay that.

I really shouldn't, but I agree with you! IMO, if a player takes the mark in this case, pay it but if they drop the mark, pay the free.

[swantastic]

Originally posted by Sanecow
I really shouldn't, but I agree with you! IMO, if a player takes the mark in this case, pay it but if they drop the mark, pay the free.

Now i bet that hurt to say but thanks any way.

[NMWBloods]

One of the worst changes of rules I can remember.

[Jeffers1984]

haha Sawers is seriously a joke. Why do we let people who have not played the game make up rule changes like this?

[ROK Lobster]

I have never really played the game so I may be completely missing the point here, but how are players supposed to position themselves for, and in, a marking contest, without making contact? And is a push in the side ok, or a push in the chest? Sure, I do not think that the second in line should be allowed to push the player under the ball but this sounds ridiculous. Some rule changes are good for the game - many are not.

[ScottH]

There is a fine line between using your hands to hold your opponent out, and pushing them.

AFAIK, you are allowed to use your hands to push your opponent when the ball is within 10m(??), but you have never been allowed to push in the back, however, they have let it go most times.

You have to body yourself into position. That is why big heavy bodeid players, like plugger, were so good at one on one contests. They could just use their weight to move any opponent out of the way.

It's a lot like holding on. It is not allowed but they do not always enforce it. I guess mainly because it is too hard to determine who is holding who, when both are doing it.

[Chow-Chicker]

This is going to cause players and spectators a fair bit of annoyance IMO. Tiggy touchwood free kicks paid in front of goal will only cause frustration beyond belief. Zero tolerance. It's like copping a speeding fine for doing 61 in a 60 zone. What will be more annoying is the ridiculous over policing this new rule will receive in the first few rounds of the season, then it will slowly be ignored by R22, and then totally disappear during the finals. Crap as usual.

[sharp9]

Originally posted by swantastic
Once an idiot always an idiot Sawers,that is the dumbest thing ive heard.I agree you cant push a player under the ball with hands in the back,but tacking a great mark there gota pay that.

Are you joking???? This is a fantastic interpretation. I am sick to death of players (like Ottens in the "mark of the year") using their hands to climb up. It's been cheating for years but no one has had the guts to call it. About time.

[Chow-Chicker]

Originally posted by sharp9
Are you joking???? This is a fantastic interpretation. I am sick to death of players (like Ottens in the "mark of the year") using their hands to climb up. It's been cheating for years but no one has had the guts to call it. About time.

So a player backing back into an opponent, who has judged the flight of the ball better and is standing his ground, will be penalised for putting his hands out to protect himself from contact is a "fantastic interpretation" is it?

[ScottH]

Originally posted by Chow-Chicker
So a player backing back into an opponent, who has judged the flight of the ball better and is standing his ground, will be penalised for putting his hands out to protect himself from contact is a "fantastic interpretation" is it?

Climbing on an opponent, as sharp9 suggested, and someone backing back are totally different interpretations of the rule.

[Chow-Chicker]

Originally posted by ScottH
Climbing on an opponent, as sharp9 suggested, and someone backing back are totally different interpretations of the rule.

No they're not! Hands in the back will be penalised...be it in a marking attempt or the scenario I presented.

[swantastic]

Originally posted by sharp9
Are you joking???? This is a fantastic interpretation. I am sick to death of players (like Ottens in the "mark of the year") using their hands to climb up. It's been cheating for years but no one has had the guts to call it. About time.

No im not joking so you thought all Cappers marks were no good then?If a player at the back stands his ground while the player in front backs back into him there should be no free kick unless the player at the back uses his hand to stop the front player moving back.Now if the player uses his hands to climb higher it should be a mark unless the umpire doesnt pay the mark because of not enough control of the ball.

[giant]

With you on this one Swantastic - in most cases where the players use their hands to spring off another player they aren't impeding the player in front, just using him for leverage. This is totally different to someone using his hands to push a player out of the contest. And it will be tragic to see the Robertsons of our game totally neutered from taking a speccie.