AFL hails success of rule tweaksBy Gilbert Gardner
Herald Sun
July 25, 2019The AFL has declared a ceasefire on rule changes. Buoyed by the “state of the game”, AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking hailed most recent changes successful.
The AFL introduced nine rule changes this season alone, including 6-6-6 starting positions, a bigger goalsquare and allowing defenders to play on immediately after a behind is scored.
“We made a lot of change this year and all of our metrics show the game is better for it,” Hocking said.
“If you have a look at how many games are decided late … in the dying seconds of a game.
“There is 76 per cent of game time spent within a two-goal margin right across the 2019 season.
“All of those things lead to a really exciting competition … most of the work we’re doing as a committee is based around off-field.”
Hocking also rejected suggestions the league wanted to cut the number of tackles in games.
“I can categorically say on camera that’s not going to happen on my watch,” Hocking said.
“There will not be any eradication of tackling, at any time in the future, at any stage in AFL football.”
The AFL Competition Committee, including Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, Richmond president Peggy O’Neal, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan and Players’ Association executive Brett Murphy, canvassed a range of topics behind closed doors at league headquarters yesterday.
Hocking said talking points included a revamped score review system, injury prevention, a mid-season draft, the use of runners and how best to “de-clutter” the pre-season.
Fagan implored the committee to scale back limitations on runners. “Chris made his thoughts known to us, it was respectful the discussion that went on,” Hocking said. “It’s worth saying, where runners were at last season was extreme (and) where the runners are at this year is extreme as well. We just need to find some middle ground.”
A suitable bunker review system, not the finished product, will be in place in time for the finals.
“We’ve got about five weeks to get that up and running so plenty of pressure.”
A streamlined pre-season, it is hoped, could reduce the risk and rate of player injuries.
“If you don’t have players completing 80 per cent of load during the pre-season all you end up doing is chasing a lot of load,” Hocking said.
“Off the back of that you can break players through the season.
“It is small steps … but we think that part of it is something we want to address.”
O’Neal wants AFL player movement “bedded down” before the introduction of a mid-season trade window.
The Richmond president yesterday called on the AFL to also consider the “cultural change” with changing allegiances during the season.
The AFL will forge ahead with discussion around a mid-season trade period following the success of the supplemental selection and mid-season draft.
Of the 28 players selected outside the national draft, 16 have already debuted, including Tigers cult hero Sydney Stack.
“There was no decision made today but that’s (mid-season draft) certainly one of the things you want to look at, the fabric of what our game’s about,” O’Neal said.
“There’s been increased player movement, opportunity and flexibility, so that’s been happening, we might want to see that bedded down before we take the next step and we want to make sure there is no unintended consequences.”
Hocking echoed the sentiment yesterday. “If you have a look at the flexibility of player movement … it’s been a good thing,” he said.
“It’s just from here whether we open it up further, mid-season trade was certainly talked about.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-hails-success-of-rule-tweaks/news-story/8c608576cb3d1ab7d40590940cb7fada
