The AFL is considering a rule change that will limit the amount of congestion around the centre bounce after a goal is scored.
A NAB Cup trial would see a minimum of six players from each team being confined to the 50m arc while the rest of the team would be free to position themselves around the ball.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson told the Herald Sun that the trial may start in next year's NAB Cup.
"For NAB Cup, we've thought about whether you might do something like require it to be six in each forward and defensive 50," Anderson said.
"We already have that with the centre square to a certain extent - it's a zone."
The change could make the final minutes of a game more exciting by preventing players from flooding the back half of the field and preventing expansive play.
Congestion around the football often slows the game with fans increasingly frustrated by the lack of on-field action.
26 Comments
I had to laugh, seriously I was laughing. This game is changing to netball rules...because this new rule is another step closer to having netball rules. It is what they do in netball...to have zones. Aussie rules (AFL) will become a a #$%$ weak sport to watch in years to come. I'd rather watch the SANFL any day, to tell you the truth. If this rule becomes reality and is put forward to the season proper, the players might as well wear skirts. Next thing they will bring in is...no contact.
ReplyTime to go Adrian Anderson...you are completely stuffing up our great game. I thought Aussie rules was the peoples game, so why aren't you listening to the fans and supporters? We hate the rule changes each year, why so many rule/law changes every year? The sub rule sux, now you want to bring in 2 subs. the hands on back rule suck, the out bounds rule suck, the the ruck rule suck and the list goes on and on. Your pathetic Adrian, please give it up, move on will ya.
ReplyAFL stop screwing with the game! You have been ruining it for years. Take it back to the way it was a few years ago - no soft free kicks, 4 players on the bench, no ridiculous new rules, no reports/suspensions for tiny incidents, no pathetic 50m penalties, no video reviews. Just a good hard game of footy relying on strength, speed and skill.
ReplyThis rule change has been needed for at least the last 3 years as we see teams flooding back in defence causing a real scrappy horrible specitical of a game, it maybe hard to enforce and maybe they should just make it 3men need to be in the 50m arc at all time, this would be much simpler to play by and to umpire.
ReplyWhy do they insist on making changes every year, these changes will make the game more complicated than American Football. The people in control here are killing this game. I love the game so much as do milliions of others, so why the need to change things. Its just crazy! As has been said before, the officials are having trouble with all the stupid rules now. And this sub rule needs to go, its rubbish and has proven nothing.
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