Adelaide Footy League to introduce Behavioural Rating System to tackle on-field violence

A demerit points-style system will be introduced by the Adelaide Footy League in 2019 as its campaign to address on-field violence ramps up. Meanwhile, rule changes are also set to come into force.

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A demerit points-style system will be introduced by the Adelaide Footy League in 2019 as its campaign to address on-field violence ramps up.

From next season, clubs will be placed into five rating categories – from best to worst behaved – based on points accumulated for guilty tribunal reports.

The system replaced a model where repeat offenders were made to sign affiliation agreements at the discretion of the league’s executive committee before each season.

Adelaide Football League chief executive John Kernahan. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

REVEALED: THE BEST AND WORST BEHAVED ADELAIDE FOOTY LEAGUE CLUBS

League chief executive John Kernahan said the new framework – named the behavioural rating system (BRS) – would be more consistent, transparent and remove subjectivity.

“The most significant benefit is the diluting of subjectivity by offering transparency and consistency of the BRS that all clubs are aware of, not just those on notice,” Kernahan said.

“It will offer motivation for those in category one and two to do all they can to stay there.

“One of our great challenges is what is sometimes a protestation by a club that they did not recognise a problem or trend in behaviours as being unacceptable.

“The beauty of this is clubs will be measured over a three-year period, so a bad year can be balanced by three good ones.”

Screenshots of Henley's Kane Fry striking a Goodwood opponent. The Sharks were the second-worst behaved club in the league in 2019 with five reports and 20 matches suspended.

Kernahan said next season would offer a “dry run” of the system to allow the clubs to see it working in principle and give them the chance to offer feedback.

When the system eventually comes into force, clubs on level five – the worst end of the scale – will have their affiliation put up for review.

This is the category the dumped Salisbury West Tigers would have been on prior to their removal from the competition.

Reaching level four will attract an official warning from the league, while tier three requires clubs to review their practices.

Sides will reach the second category for a small number of reports and level one will contain the best behaved clubs.

Meanwhile, the league will also adopt some of the rule changes set to be enacted by both the AFL and SANFL from next season.

Players will no longer need to kick to themselves to play on from the goalsquare following a behind and the hands in the back rule interpretation will be relaxed.

Ruckmen who take direct possession of the ball from a centre bounce, throw-up or boundary throw-in will no longer – if tackled – be regarded as having had prior opportunity.

Other changes brought in by the AFL, such as set starting positions at centre bounces and restrictions on runners and water carries, will not apply to the amateur league.

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