The ‘obvious’ rule change fans must adjust toBen Waterworth
FOX SPORTS
20 January 2017NEW AFL umpires boss Peter Schwab has asked footy fans to be patient this pre-season, admitting a new on-field interpretation could be a shock to the system.
The AFL late last year announced three significant interpretation changes for the 2017 season, which included a stricter ruling on deliberate rushed behinds.
Umpires will also make tighter calls on high tackles, as well as penalise any team or player for using a third man up at a stoppage after the tactic was controversially banned.
But Schwab, who last week commenced his second stint as the AFL’s director of umpiring, said fans would be surprised by the new deliberate rushed behind interpretation, which will be “a lot stricter” compared to past seasons.
“It comes back to the whole definition of clear prior opportunity,” Schwab told SEN.
“So if a player is perceived to have had clear prior opportunity to rid himself of the ball or dispose of the ball to someone else and elects not to take it and then just goes through the goal line, then they’re going to find you’ll be penalised.
“It will take some time and adjustment, like any interpretation. But initially, I think you’ll find it’ll be harsher or stricter. It’ll be obvious to people watching the game that there’s been a change.”
Schwab added that players who rushed a behind under extreme pressure near the goalline would be given some leeway, but any player that deliberately handballed or kicked the footy through the opposition’s goals from nine metres out and beyond would be penalised.
The former Lions list manager said it would also take players and coaches time to adjust to the scrapping of the third man up, which drew mixed reactions from players when the change was announced in December.
Schwab said it was crucial that umpires quickly determined the two nominated ruckmen at a stoppage before recommencing play.
“You don’t want the game delayed too long for that sort of outcome,” he said.
“Are we going to wait for someone to come over and take the throw in or are we waiting for someone to take the ball up? We’ll have to work through that logistically, which I don’t think will be an issue.
“It’s pretty clear-cut in the end that only two players can contest that ball-up or throw-in.”
Schwab clarified that no player other than the two nominated ruckman would be able to contest a boundary throw-in until the ball hit the ground, even if it fell short of the contesting ruckmen.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/new-interpretation-change-will-take-fans-some-time-to-adjust-says-afl-umpires-boss/news-story/114a8dd9c682048a6bbbc73f666e45c7
