Round 1 scoring hits 54-year low in underwhelming debut for new AFL rules

The AFL introduced new rules in 2019 to generate more goals, but it's safe to say the first test hasn't hailed the results the league would have hoped for, with the season's opening nine matches producing the lowest average scoring first round in more than five decades. RECAP AFL DAILY

Scoring under the AFL’s radical raft of rule changes slumped to a 54-year low.

The average score across the nine opening-round matches was 78.7 points compared to 88.8 last season.

The average Round 1 winning score was 96.1 — down from 104.2.

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It was the lowest average scoring first round since 1965.

Only three of the competition’s 18 teams — Brisbane, Greater Western Sydney and Fremantle — cracked 100 points.

Nine major rule changes have been enforced for this year as part of a push by the AFL to combat congestion and encourage higher scoring.

The most radical rule changes involve starting positions at centre bounces and kick ins from behinds.

As AFL TV ratings declined last year, Channel 7 boss Tim Worner declared that he would like to see higher scoring matches.

“We want back-to-back shootouts,” Worner said.

“I want more goals ... that’s the most valuable 30 seconds of screen real estate in Australian television, aside from the 30 seconds after an over.”

A reduction in interchange bench rotations, seen by some including Richmond great Kevin Bartlett as the obvious solution to reducing congestion, was not included in the suite of rule changes introduced by the AFL Competition Committee last September.

SCORE REVIEW

Average R1 score

2019 - 78.7

2018 - 88.8

Average R1 winning score

2019 - 96.1

2018 - 104.2

Updates

4:54 am October 10, 2024

-TIM MICHELL

North Melbourne on-baller Ben Cunnington will be free to face Brisbane Lions this weekend if he makes an early plea after being charged with striking in the Roos’ loss to Fremantle.

Cunnington was charged with striking Dockers defender Nathan Wilson in the last quarter of Sunday’s match, with the incident assessed as intentional with low impact to the body.

GWS forward Jeremy Cameron has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Zach Merrett but can accept a $2000 fine, while West Coast forward Liam Ryan can take a $1500 sanction after being charged with striking Brisbane Lions defender Darcy Gardiner.

Gardiner was charged with misconduct and can accept a $1000 fine, while Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas (rough conduct, $2000 fine), Bryce Gibbs (careless umpire contact, $1000) and Jarryd Roughead (carless umpire conduct, $1000) have also been offered sanctions.

A match day report laid against St Kilda’s Jade Gresham after an incident involving Gold Coast Sun Wil Powell was deemed “insufficient to constitute a charge”. 

6:17 pm March 25, 2019

THAT'S IT FROM US

Michael Randall

Thanks for following today.

We'll do it all again tomorrow!

6:07 pm March 25, 2019 Highlight

NO SUSPENSIONS DISHED OUT BY MRO

Michael Randall

-TIM MICHELL

North Melbourne on-baller Ben Cunnington will be free to face Brisbane Lions this weekend if he makes an early plea after being charged with striking in the Roos’ loss to Fremantle.

Cunnington was charged with striking Dockers defender Nathan Wilson in the last quarter of Sunday’s match, with the incident assessed as intentional with low impact to the body.

GWS forward Jeremy Cameron has been charged with engaging in rough conduct against Zach Merrett but can accept a $2000 fine, while West Coast forward Liam Ryan can take a $1500 sanction after being charged with striking Brisbane Lions defender Darcy Gardiner.

Gardiner was charged with misconduct and can accept a $1000 fine, while Port Adelaide’s Tom Jonas (rough conduct, $2000 fine), Bryce Gibbs (careless umpire contact, $1000) and Jarryd Roughead (carless umpire conduct, $1000) have also been offered sanctions.

A match day report laid against St Kilda’s Jade Gresham after an incident involving Gold Coast Sun Wil Powell was deemed “insufficient to constitute a charge”. 

5:20 pm March 25, 2019 Highlight

Wines firming to make Power return

Tim Michell

Tim Michell

Ollie Wines is pushing to play his first game as co-captain of Port Adelaide this weekend when the Power hosts Carlton.

Wines, who will share the captaincy with defender Tom Jonas this year, missed Saturday's victory over Melbourne as he continued his recovery from a shoulder injury sustained while water skiing.

Senior assistant Michael Voss told SEN SA Port Adelaide Wines was unlikely to be risked, but would be assessed throughout the build-up to Saturday’s match against the Blues.

"We’d probably like to be in a position where Ollie has another week," Voss said.

"But it’s largely dependent upon his progression.

"If he is able to absorb the contact we expect to get into him this week then he might be available."

Hamish Hartlett is also striving for a re-call to the Power's senior team after making a successful return from knee surgery on Friday.

Hartlett played his first game in 330 days in a SANFL trial match and reports suggested he 'got through the game with flying colours'.

"We’d like to get another game under his belt, to be truthful," Voss said. "Although from what the guys were saying, we didn’t get to watch the game, but he moved extremely well and played a really good game.

"If they state a case, then it’s over to match committee to make some decisions. It’d be a nice problem to have."

4:54 am October 10, 2024

– Ben Horne

Sydney’s sluggish start to the season has been dealt another major blow with star recruit Daniel Menzel re-injuring his groin at training.

Menzel looked like he was primed for a Round 2 comeback from off-season groin surgery before re-tweaking it with his final kick at a session late last week.

The Swans are desperately hoping Menzel and Lance Franklin can form a powerful combination in the forward line this year, but Sydney will now have to wait up to another month before the two scoring weapons combine.

Swans coach John Longmire hinted today the 27-year-old, recruited from Geelong in the off-season, might have to make a slow return through the Swans' NEAFL team given his injury-hampered pre-season.

Menzel was brought in to reduce the reliance of Franklin inside 50, but after being belted in most areas against the Western Bulldogs in Round 1, Sydney will instead have to dig deep with what they have against Adelaide on Friday night at the SCG.

“We knew that when they had their operations last year that if we got them back in the first month of the season, that'd be a real bonus," Longmire said.

4:53 pm March 25, 2019

Menzel can't shake injury curse

– Ben Horne

Sydney’s sluggish start to the season has been dealt another major blow with star recruit Daniel Menzel re-injuring his groin at training.

Menzel looked like he was primed for a Round 2 comeback from off-season groin surgery before re-tweaking it with his final kick at a session late last week.

The Swans are desperately hoping Menzel and Lance Franklin can form a powerful combination in the forward line this year, but Sydney will now have to wait up to another month before the two scoring weapons combine.

Swans coach John Longmire hinted today the 27-year-old, recruited from Geelong in the off-season, might have to make a slow return through the Swans' NEAFL team given his injury-hampered pre-season.

Menzel was brought in to reduce the reliance of Franklin inside 50, but after being belted in most areas against the Western Bulldogs in Round 1, Sydney will instead have to dig deep with what they have against Adelaide on Friday night at the SCG.

“We knew that when they had their operations last year that if we got them back in the first month of the season, that'd be a real bonus," Longmire said.

4:42 pm March 25, 2019

AFL players express concern over Marvel Stadium turf

Al Paton

The AFL Players Association is concerned about surfaces at Marvel Stadium and the SCG ahead of Round 2, but don’t believe they are unsafe.

Player relations boss Brett Murphy spoke to the media this afternoon and said he had fielded calls from players about the surface at the Docklands venue, and the AFL was looking to replace the worst sections of the ground prior to this weekend’s matches.

“It was largely players from other clubs who saw the game on TV … I was concerned watching it on TV. Generally the players and the clubs who were there were OK,” he said.

Essendon and St Kilda meet at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, and the Kangaroos and Lions clash at the same venue the next day.

4:54 am October 10, 2024

Tim Michell

Teammate Jack Billings has lauded the rapid improvement of St Kilda’s mature-age recruit Matt Parker after his dazzling debut against Gold Coast on Sunday.

Parker, chosen with pick No.47 in last year’s national draft from WAFL club South Fremantle, kicked his first AFL goal 30 minutes into his debut and finished with 17 disposals, five marks and two majors.

“He’s really earned his opportunity in the AFL,” Billings said.

“Ever since he got to the club the thing that has stood out for me is his pressure, his speed and aggression.

“It’s something we probably needed, especially in the front half, after last year.”

The 23-year-old was mobbed by teammates when he opened his St Kilda account, nailing a set shot just before quarter-time.

Parker bagged his next goal midway through the second term and the tattooed forward was swiftly hailed as the Saints’ newest cult hero.

“Each game he has just got better and better,” Billings told RSN.

“It was awesome to see him kick a couple of goals (on Sunday), especially in that first half, he was just electric.”

Billings said the inclusion of key midfielder Jack Steven, who took a break during pre-season to deal with a mental health issue, had given the club a huge lift.

“He’s only going to get better in the next few weeks as he gets that run in the legs. It’s just awesome to have him back,” he said.

4:54 am October 10, 2024

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4:01 pm March 25, 2019 Highlight

Just in: AFL to act on Marvel Stadium surface

Al Paton

JON RALPH reports …

AFL will replace a section of the turf at Marvel Stadium that saw players slipping and sliding. Ground inspection going on as we speak. Player union spoke to clubs involved today, they didn’t seem especially concerned.

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) March 25, 2019