Last touch out of bounds rule introduced to AFLW for 2018 season

A FREE kick will be awarded against the last team to touch the ball before it crosses the boundary line in next year’s AFLW competition.

There will be fewer boundary throw-ins in next year’s AFLW comp.

THE last disposal out of bounds rule has officially been introduced for AFL Women’s.

As reported by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, the league has confirmed that a free kick will be paid against a team when a kick or handball goes out of bounds without the ball being touched by an opposition player.

KEY DATES: FULL 2018 AFLW FIXTURE

“A number of options were debated at length by the clubs and the AFL, including anti-density rules, on how we can continue to reduce congestion and increase scoring,” league football boss Steve Hocking said.

“There was a strong view that a number of options require more data to ensure that they would actually have the desired impact we are seeking, along with the consideration any such changes would be a significant alteration for players and coaches close to the start of the 2018 season.

“This law has been implemented in the SANFL over the last two years, with the data supporting the reduction of stoppages and an increase in scoring.”

Collingwood’s Jasmine Garner and Giant Hannah Wallett fight for a loose ball.

Hocking and head of competition Josh Vanderloo recently met with all current AFLW coaches and football managers plus representatives of North Melbourne and Geelong, which will join AFLW in 2019.

Agenda items included expansion list rules, health and safety for players, talent pathways and laws and game style.

From next season — which kicks off in February — team sizes will change to 16 on the field and five on the bench, down from 16 on-field and six on the bench in the inaugural season.

Time on will also operate in the last two minutes of each quarter.

FULL LAST TOUCH RULE

The umpiring of last disposal will be as follows, where a free kick shall be awarded against a player who:

— Kicks or handballs the football over the boundary Line without the football being touched by another player;

— Except where a player who does not have possession stops the football being touched by an opposition player by shepherding the football across the boundary line where the football could have otherwise been touched.

— If in doubt the umpires are instructed to throw the ball in.

Originally published as Last touch out of bounds rule introduced to AFLW for 2018 season