More rule changes from Adrian Anderson
New rules for NAB Cupafl.com.au
4:00 PM Thu 24 Nov, 2011THE AFL will experiment with four new rules for next year's NAB Cup, including reducing the interchange to two players with two substitutes (rather than three interchange players and one sub).
The League on Thursday wrote to all clubs to confirm the trials that will be used, with AFL general manager football operations Adrian Anderson confirming the pre-season competition will continue to be used to trial rules that may provide some benefit for future use in the premiership season.
In recent years, successful trials have included the revised ruck rule at centre bounces, the new advantage rule, the interchange substitute rule and the deliberate rushed behind rule - all of which have since become part of the premiership season and the Laws of the Game.
The nine-point ‘NAB super goal’ for goals kicked from outside 50m, will continue to feature during the competition.
The other trial rules are as follows:
1. Interchange system with two interchange and two substitute players on the bench (will not be used in the final week of the NAB Cup)
The AFL will trial the use of two substitute players on the interchange. It has already been determined that the three interchange and one substitute player will remain in place for 2012 premiership season. In rounds two and three, when teams are playing four quarter matches, four new players may be introduced for the second half of each game.
2. Free kick against player who drags or holds ball under opponentAs an extension of the rule trialed in both the 2010 and 2011 NAB cups, the umpire may pay a free kick against a player who drags the ball under his opponent, and may also pay a free kick against a player who holds a ball under his opponent, when he is trying to knock it out.
3. Deliberate out of boundsA free kick will be paid against the last team to dispose of the ball with a kick or a handball before it goes out of bounds, provided no-one else touches the ball before it goes out. A stricter version of the rule was in force last year, but it was felt the 'last touch' element was too harsh in certain situations, and this has been altered in 2012 to a last kick, last handball or a player walking the ball over the line.
4. Ruck contests at field bounces and throw-insRuckmen will not be permitted to make contact with their opponent prior to bounces and throw-ins, with umpires ensuring the players do not make contact with each other until the ball leaves the umpire’s hand. The trial is designed to encourage ruckmen to contest the ball, rather than focus on nullifying their opponent, as well as making ruck contests easier to adjudicate.
In response to requests from clubs, the final round of the NAB Cup will be played with premiership season rules, to allow clubs sufficient preparation for round one, although the NAB Super Goal will still be a feature of the NAB Cup Grand Final.
In addition the trial rules, there will be two umpiring trials:
1. Boundary and goal umpires to pay free kicks for holding and high contact at stoppagesAs an extension to the 2010 and 2011 NAB Cup trial, boundary and goal umpires may pay free kicks for obvious holding or high contact infringements. They will not pay any other form of free kick.
2. Official scorer is able to participate in consultation process for scoring decisionsAs per the trial that was used in the 2011 NAB Cup, the official scorer would be able to participate in the consultation process for scoring decisions. If the trial is again successful, it may be introduced for the regular season.
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