Steve Hocking rejects call from Luke Beveridge to backflip on new runner rule before Round 1

If Luke Beveridge is waiting for the AFL to backflip on its new runner rule, he might be waiting a while. MARK ROBINSON reports that there will be no change to any rule prior to Round 1.

Luke Beveridge wants a change to the AFL runner rule. Picture: Michael Klein

Luke Beveridge lost his battle for the return of runners on Tuesday after the AFL ruled out any backflip on its new rules.

The Western Bulldogs coach said he expected a rethink before Round 1 on runners being allowed on the field only after goals were scored.

Beveridge’s misgivings about the new ruling, which was relayed to the coaches last year, were supported by St Kilda’s Alan Richardson and Brisbane Lions’ Chris Fagan, veteran Luke Hodge and former players.

TOP 50: WHO MADE ROBBO’S TOP 50?

ROOKIE BIBLE: EVERY SUPERCOACH ROOKIE REVIEWED

EXPERT TIPS: FIVE SUPERCOACH FORWARD PLANS

But the AFL on Tuesday reiterated its position on runners and the “100m penalties’’, which have caused consternation during the JLT series.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking was emphatic the nine new rules for 2019 would not be reversed.

“No, it won’t happen, and for good reasons,’’ Hocking said. “Clubs that have adjusted to this already have taken on board this was happening.

Luke Beveridge wants a change to the AFL runner rule. Picture: AAP Images

“If Luke is feeling like he has lost part of his repertoire … everyone knew this was coming, we actually did it in JLT last year and we spent the year talking to clubs about it.’’

Of the coach backlash at the weekend, Hocking said: “I get that we are right in a point in time where it is a bit of a holding pattern among the coaches, they are not sure how their team is going to perform … and they get a bit toey.”

Hocking stressed the AFL had collected data, had it debated by the league’s competition committee, and the recommendations were accepted by the commission.

“There was always going to be the odd clunkiness around certain rules, but the important call-out for me was all these changes … work together,’’ Hocking said.

“They are a suite of rules which are going to impact time and space within the game.

“We’re not going to move away from that. Coaches are a bit scared, a bit nude (exposed) from where they’ve been.

“He (Beveridge) is entitled to say that, it’s OK for him to call that out, but I go back to how much we’ve consulted on this. It was endless.”

Hocking said the new rules would provide for players to be instinctive, provide coaches with different strategic scenarios and provide less congested football for the fans.

Steve Hocking has backed the AFL’s rule changes. Picture: Getty Images

He expected second 50m penalties against players encroaching the 5m exclusion zone would be reduced as players continued to learn the rule.

The player, if not already in front of the player with the ball, will be urged to clear the exclusion zone.

The rationale for the rule is to stop players flooding back.

“It’s about congestion,” Hocking said. “A lot of delaying tactics have crept into the game over time because we just haven’t addressed it.

“We’re going to remain pretty strongly on that.’’

The controversial LED boards are a work in progress and the league expected clubs to use them during the season.

The AFL also declared on Tuesday that the application of concussion protocols would remain with the clubs.

St Kilda’s Paddy McCartin suffered his eighth concussion at the weekend, prompting player agent and concussion campaigner Peter Jess to renew the call for concussion management to be taken out of the hands of AFL clubs.

“There’s been discussions about having concussion experts on the sidelines, but the clubs spend the most time with their players and are best placed as far as navigating the player in these spaces,’’ said AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking.

Hocking is due to meet with coaches, club chief executives and club captains in a series of catch-ups this week.

Originally published as Steve Hocking rejects call from Luke Beveridge to backflip on new runner rule before Round 1