Kane Cornes blasts the AFL’s ‘dumbest rule ever’

A rule that was brought in to increase scoring in the AFL hasn’t worked and polarising commentator Kane Cornes has teed off.

Kane Cornes has had an absolute gutful of what he calls “the dumbest rule the AFL have ever brought in”.

The “stand rule” was first implemented back in 2021 and has had a number of tweaks since, all designed to speed up play and theoretically increase scoring in the competition.

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The numbers don’t reflect that intention, however, and the rule has led to instances just about every week of players, fans and commentators being left confused over 50 metre penalties related to the rule.

Port Adelaide premiership player Cornes believes it’s time for the rule to be scrapped.

“It’s an absolute mess … and I’ve had enough,” he said on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters.

Kane Cornes (centre) has blown up over the contentious rule. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

“I’ve had enough of the dumbest rule the AFL have ever brought in and that is the stand rule.

“I’m so sick of it, I’ve given it a chance, it’s been four or five years, it is just not working and it is far too complicated for everyone.”

The program played a number of examples of the rule being breached last weekend, including Collingwood’s clash with West Coast and Sam Darcy coming out of the forward line to mark a Swans player at the SCG.

“How this is a 50 and a goal is just blowing my mind that we are asking our players to not move on the mark,” Cornes continued.

“Even when they do it well, like Sam Darcy here – what more could he do? What do you want him to do? And that’s 50.

The Suns' Will Powell makes a familiar gesture after giving away a 50m penalty. (Photo by Phil Hillyard)

Sam Darcy seemed to have no idea what he'd done wrong. Photo: Channel 7

“How are we accepting of this as an industry? This is costing goals, (Darcy) couldn’t believe it.”

Callum Mills is also shown being pinged in the same match against the Dogs, along with Lions forward Charlie Cameron against Geelong’s Mark Blicavs in round 15.

“It hasn’t done anything for scoring. The reason it was brought in, OK it was going to fix ball movement and scoring, well it’s not,” Cornes said.

“It has done next to nothing when it comes to scoring and improving that.

“The stand rule, I’ve had enough, players have had enough, I’m sure those watching at home are sick of it.

“Nice try but let’s just get back to footy the way it should be played and make life easier for everyone.”

On the same program, Lions veteran Dayne Zorko was asked what he finds the “most frustrating element of footy right now” and he immediately mentioned the contentious rule.

“There’s a number but I think guarding the mark is one of the hardest ones,” he said.

“Players normally nail most changes, I think we’re still struggling with this one.”

Fans were left pretty divided over the rule change and the way it is interpreted.

Bill Williams wrote on X: “In my opinion the stand rule is brilliant. Who wants to go back to watching the man on the “mark” carrying on like a headless chook or the ball carrier having to constantly ask the umpire “where’s the mark” as the marker could be any distance from the actual mark. A great improvement.”

Dayne Zorko says players are “still struggling” with the rule. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Harry Sheezel and a great number of players seem to be confused. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Ben Cameron tweeted: “The decision against Mills in this clip is everything that’s wrong with the current umpiring, Kennedy marks but Mills has no idea if it will be paid or not … if he lets him go & it’s play on he looks silly, why not blow the whistle & let him get back behind the mark.”

Joyboy suggested: “Why does it HAVE to be 50 metres? If the rule is so hard to follow, make it 10 metres or something.”

Another wrote: “The stand rule is fine, the 50m penalty is the problem.”

Bailey Smith (centre) reacts to a 50m penalty call against the Lions in Round 15. (Photo by James Wiltshire/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

One fan declared: “Absolutely it is a joke and needs to go.”

The rules are regularly reviewed by the AFL, with a clarification on the “stand” rule dropping ahead of the 2023 season.

“An opposition player cannot run toward the mark (and enter the protected area) and then elect to change their mind and retreat outside of the protected 5m area,” the AFL said at the time.

“Similarly, an opposition player cannot elect to leave the protected area and then change their intent and choose to come and stand the mark.

“Further all other players from the opposing team must be positioned behind the mark or otherwise outside the protected area.”

It seems it has all just added up to more confusion and some simplification – or in fact a scrapping of the rule – might be needed moving forward.

Originally published as Kane Cornes blasts the AFL’s ‘dumbest rule ever’