The AFL “had to” react to the outcry from several coaches over the holding the ball rule but Western Bulldogs mentor Luke Beveridge says it’s “not going to amount to much” and he won’t be telling his players to change.
Tackled players will be given less time to dispose of the ball correctly after the AFL directed an adjustment from umpires with a memo, and examples, sent to all clubs confirming the tweak which has come about after a shift in tackling technique from players to avoid dangerous incidents.
Players had reduced the amount of times they had been tackling opponents to the ground, instead often holding them up and swinging them around, enabling tackled players to still try and dispose of the ball.
But the extra time given by umpires for those often clumsy disposals, and the lack of rewards for tacklers, had incensed coaches and players.
Both Carlton boss Michael Voss and his Gold Coast counterpart Damien Hardwick voiced their concerns after the teams played last week after there were 131 effective tackles today and “four holding the balls for both sides” according to the Suns coach.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/umpires-have-been-told-to-give-tackled-players-less-time-to-dispose-of-the-ball-after-an-outcry-from-clubs/news-story/b0c3811bea3031db880b230bf23b0b24so when other clubs make noise things happen. Which is why i believe we have stayed silent on umpiring for years. Our club has become weak IMO since we stopped winning flags. I would like to see the same approach other clubs have been making.
I also dont see many fines being issues
