AFL backs controversial rule changes as coaches are blamed for lowest scores in 50 years

The AFL has backed its controversial rule changes, declaring they have helped stop the second half snooze-fests of last season, with fans watching more footy. So who is to blame for the 50-year scoring low? Brad Scott has a theory.

Scoring is at a 50-year low. Picture: Michael Klein

The AFL has emphatically backed its controversial rule changes, saying they have helped end the second-half snooze-fests which plagued the game last year.

Scoring has plummeted to its lowest level in 50 years, prompting speculation the new starting position and kick-in rules have had unforeseen consequences.

But North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said the coaches’ defensive tactics and low-risk ball movement were responsible for the scoring slowdown.

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“The reasons for that, in my view, are nothing to do with rule changes, it’s all to do with coaching tactics,” Scott said.

“If you look at the way teams are exiting defensive 50m at the moment, boundary use is at an all-time high.

“Never in recorded history have teams across the board been going so wide and so slow.”

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Hocking said the feedback the league had received — including spikes in attendances and television ratings — was a big tick for last year’s changes.

He said the move to a six-six-six format helped teams stay in games longer despite some early “teething issues” around the warning system.

Scoring is at a 50-year low. Picture: Michael Klein

“The feedback I’m getting is they (fans and stakeholders) are engrossed in the game and they’re not turning off at half time,” Hocking said.

“They’re watching right through to the end (because) we know that teams can be run down if they get 20 or 30 points up by half time.

“There were people switching off, but that’s not the case (this season).

“So there is real upside around that.”

As part of the Competition Committee talks on Wednesday Hocking said:

— Coaches wanted to ease restrictions on runners.

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— Four field umpires would be used as part of a rotation in games through the bye rounds as part of plans to reduce physical workload and enhance decision-making.

— Pre-season commitments including community camps would be altered to give clubs up to 10 weeks of uninterrupted training time.

— It was “very close to appointing” a new mental health boss to oversee the code.

Hocking also backed the match review operations this year, and in particular the decision to suspend Richmond ruckman Ivan Soldo for his high elbow to James Worpel.

Hocking said it was different to the situations where superstars Nat Fyfe and Gary Ablett were let-off for their elbows.

Brad Scott says coaches are to blame for the low scoring. Picture: Getty

But he flagged a review and possible changes to the system at season’s end.

“We have found consistency in that decision-making,” he said.

“The reality is you have to have some impact (on player ill-discipline).

“If you have a look at those couple of incidents, particularly the Richmond (Soldo) one, they were behind play, and off-the-ball.

“I don’t think anyone wants us walking past that.

“(But) if we need to look at that as an industry we will at the end of the year.”

Hocking said the league was expecting coaches to try and exploit the new rules and in particular efforts to create more space around the players at centre bounces.

North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said the new rules were “good for the game”.

“(They) were never solely implemented to increase scoring, and that has been lost in a fair bit of this (discussion) that scoring is as low as it has been since 1968,” Scott said.

“We are seeing teams across the competition not wanting to be scored against on turnover.

“You would have thought the kick-in rule would have enhanced scores from kick-ins.

“But that’s not being embraced by teams right at the moment, and the teams that are embracing that are being scored against on the rebound.”

Originally published as AFL backs controversial rule changes as coaches are blamed for lowest scores in 50 years