I've only been watching footy 20 years which is not as long as some but its been there as long as I remember.
And that's about when it all started - early 90's is about 20 years ago.
I think there is a subtle difference between a push and putting your hands up to maintain position. A push has always been a push, but the AFL now has zero tolerance on any hands which I think has disadvantaged forwards greatly.
Putting your hands in the back of a player was always illegal whether it was a push or to stop the player coming back further or just to hold your position. The skill was (is) in timing and using your body - the smallest player can out-position the biggest player by timing and subtle use of the arms and/or hips, whereas in the wrestlemania that evolved it was just a case of the biggest gorilla or sneakiest cheat would win out. It was only the slackness of the AFL that allowed the blight to creep in and become accepted. It promoted pushing, scragging, shoving, wrestling and reduced the spectacle of our great game significantly.
Best day's work Adolph and his mates have done - the game is a far better spectacle and test of skills for it.
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Most people in footy would disagree I feel. 6 coaches this season voted it the worst rules change the AFL has made. One voted it the best rule change. Buckley voted against it as players rep. Walls and Aker both came out against it. I think general perception in footy circles was that it was a bad change.
The rule didn't change - it remained what it always was and just got 're-applied' how it always had been in the past and always should have been. Of course modern players would speak out against it - they have never known any different and would have some fear of a skill they have never had to learn. It is the most refreshing thing to have come out of football in the last 10 years - a return to a more skills oriented game. And regardless of the right/wrong of the rule interpretation - I would argue that it has done more to bring key forwards into the game than anything else. The old interpretation was a backman's best friend - made his job soooo much easier by just having to move his leading opponent under the ball with his hands. Sorry Jake, I can't agree with you on this one.
