‘That’s lunacy’: AFL erupts again over ‘ridiculous’ protected zone rule

AFL commentators and fans have reacted in utter disbelief as one of the league’s most contentious rules appeared to rear its ugly head.

This is a 50m penalty in the AFL.

AFL commentators have slammed the controversial 10m protected zone rule after it appeared to rear its ugly head.

The latest incident occurred in the second quarter of Adelaide’s clash with North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon when the Crows’ Shane McAdam took a mark on the wing.

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North Melbourne midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke used the pause in play to come onto the field through the interchange gates and made a concerted effort to stay next to the boundary line to avoid interfering in the play.

But the umpire appeared to penalise him for infringing on the protected zone a player has when they take a mark.

Davies-Uniacke stayed well away from McAdam but the commentators thought the umpire ruled he had entered the protected zone and awarded was a 50m penalty.

The call advanced McAdam to within scoring range and he kicked a goal to extend Adelaide’s lead.

Commentators were dumbfounded by the decision and believed it was a sign the protected zone rule has gotten well and truly out of hand.

Fox Footy’s David King said Davies-Uniacke was “a little bit unlucky”.

“The protected zone, I’m not sure it involves the gates of the interchange,” he said.

“Quite ridiculous really. That 50m for the gates at the interchange, that’s where you hope that common sense (prevails).

This is a 50m penalty in the AFL. Photo: Fox Footy.

“What are you asking him to do? He’s got no play in the decision making process, he’s staying as wide as he can. I mean that’s lunacy.

“You can’t physically stay any wider on the field than what he has and enter the game. You can’t enter the game, he has to come through the gates.

“I know we’re laughing about that 50m penalty. (But) we’ve got two coaches playing today for their coaching survival. A goal either way is huge to both football clubs.

Commentator Anthony Hudson said: “That is stiff. The rule needs desperate review in my opinion.”

SEN’s Nic Negrepontis tweeted: “That 50m for protected zone because a player came off the bench is arguably the worst decision of the year.

“AFL lucky it didn’t happen on a bigger stage.”

Kane Cornes added on AFL Nation: “It’s just a mockery of the game.”

#AFLNorthCrows Another ludicrous 50metre penalty and resultant goal. North player comes through the interchange gate, stays on the boundary line yet is penalized 50metres This ridiculous rule has to go pic.twitter.com/rcm5cHAKTd

— Graham Cornes (@Cornesy12) June 26, 2022

However, the commentators’ anger was unfounded in this instance, as the 50m penalty was actually given because a Crows player was needlessly shoved behind the ball.

Shane McAdam made the most of the 50m penalty. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

It’s not the first time this round fans have blasted the AFL’s protected zone rule.

During Sydney’s win over St Kilda on Saturday night, Saints forward Tim Membrey marked uncontested just inside the boundary line in between the wing and half forward.

Membrey went back behind the mark, took a few steps off the line of the mark as he looked goalwards for the next option.

But as he stood with the ball in hand, Sydney’s Errol Gulden strolled past to get numbers in the defensive end.

The umpire blew his whistle and paid 50 against Gulden for being too close to Membrey.

The commentary team and footy fans watching on couldn’t believe it, as Membrey took full advantage of the penalty and slotted the goal.

Originally published as ‘That’s lunacy’: AFL erupts again over ‘ridiculous’ protected zone rule