Senior umpires to help Geelong adapt to AFL rule changes for 2019 season

Geelong will enlist the AFL’s senior umpires to hone the league’s new rule changes in a series of match simulation and scratch matches early next year.

GEELONG will enlist the AFL’s senior umpires to hone the league’s new rule changes in a series of match simulation and scratch matches early next year.

The Cats have spent the pre-Christmas period working on fitness and ball work but will look to start working on specific tactics for the new rules in January and February.

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Cats football boss Simon Lloyd said that like most clubs Geelong had benefited from AFL umpires attending training and practice matches to work through new interpretations in previous years.

Geelong seems well placed to benefit from at least two of the new changes — the loosened kick-out rules and the ability for players to use their hands in a marking contest.

Irish defender Zach Tuohy should benefit from rules allowing players to run out of the goalsquare without touching the ball to their boot.

The AFL believes the rule will see clubs being more attacking as they clear their defence, with players like Tuohy capable of zone-clearing 60m kicks or playing on to run the ball through half-back.

Cats forward Tom Hawkins should be the chief beneficiary of the rule allowing players to hold their ground in marking contests with their hands to clear the drop zone before marking.

Senior umpires will help Geelong players understand the new rules. Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong starts its JLT Community Series commitments on March 1 against reigning premier West Coast, with clubs scheduled for just two pre-season games.

But clubs have permission to play unofficial scratch matches against rivals and most training sessions post-Christmas have an element of match simulation.

Clubs will also spend time working on how to maximise the new 6-6-6 centre bounce rules which mean wingmen are the only players allowed along the edge of the centre square.

A club like Geelong could decide playing Patrick Dangerfield or Tim Kelly on the wing in cameos and funnelling the ball through them might by an X-factor.

Lloyd said AFL umpires were playing an “increasingly important role in working in conjunction with clubs”.

He believes clubs and players will quickly acclimatise to the changes, with the league hoping they result in higher-scoring games.

Clubs will also spend plenty of time working out how to defend kick-ins given many had adopted 16 and 17-man zones to clog the ground.

The AFL will be hopeful teams play several defenders closer to goal in case the ball gets over the back from a kick-in, which should spread players out more across the field.

Originally published as Senior umpires to help Geelong adapt to AFL rule changes for 2019 season