Enough with the rule changes and technical adjudications in the AFL, writes Mick Malthouse

FREE kicks are on the rise in 2018, but MICK MALTHOUSE says AFL umpires aren’t to blame. The three-time premiership coach has called on league headquarters to give the game back to the fans.

Brisbane Lions skipper Dayne Beams argues with the umpire. Pic: Michael Klein

LET football be football and let the players play.

Let’s stop disrupting the game by overreacting to every tiggy-touchwood situation that occurs. Please.

This is not umpire bashing, far from it. They are victims of an inconsistent administration. There is so much pressure for the three field umpires to get every decision right, no matter how technical, on every occasion.

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No, this is someone who watches the game as a footy fan and media commentator, who is increasingly frustrated with the interpretation and implementation of the rules.

Free kicks have increased from 18.8 on average per team, per game last year to 21.6 after the first three rounds. Numbers for 50m penalties, deliberate out of bounds and frees in ruck contests have all increased on average compared to last season.

The coaches are watching the first game of every round to see what the umpires are going to be hot on each weekend. The players are confused on many occasions when the whistle blows. And supporters — the owners of the game — are just plain miffed.

The amount of 50m penalties given this season for violation of the 10m exclusion zone is bordering on ridiculous. And so incredibly frustrating to watch.

Trent Cotchin reacts after a giving away a 50m penalty. Pic: AAP

Most of the time when the free kick or mark is paid, the opposition hasn’t interfered with play by accidentally being inside the zone.

It is very difficult to suddenly go lateral when the intent is to get behind the ball to defend, which is why players get caught in the zone.

And if you are running past a man with the ball, 10m is a long distance so players will naturally stray into it without deliberate intent. As long as they don’t interfere with the play, a 50m penalty should never be awarded.

Let the play flow.

A pedantic 50m penalty resulting in a goal should never be the difference between a win or loss.

The intentional “out of bounds” rule was cleaned up somewhat when “out on the full” was introduced in the late 1960s. It was a good rule because it was generally clear-cut, so it was accepted by all.

But the more recent “deliberate out of bounds” rule doesn’t take into account the pressure on the player kicking the ball, nor the way the ball bounces.

Yes there are some blatantly deliberate acts, no question, and they should be penalised. But so often when a player is trying to clear the ball out of the 50m defensive arc, he is caught out by physical pressure from the opposition, or an unlucky bounce of the ball. This is not deliberate and shouldn’t be adjudicated that way.

If we want to eliminate the umpire’s uncertainty or guess work, then I suggest that if the ball goes across the line kicked and untouched, outside of the 50m arcs, then an automatic free kick should be awarded to the opposing team.

It’s not Joel Selwood’s fault umpires pay free kicks. Pic: Getty Images

This will also reduce game time with no need for a boundary throw in, in this area.

Inside the arcs though it will be left to the umpire’s discretion and only obvious deliberate out of bounds acts should be penalised.

This will get rid of some of the umpire theatrics we have become accustomed to.

The contentious “around the neck” rule always seems to be associated with Cats skipper Joel Selwood.

Let me say, it is not a fault of Selwood, he does not blow the whistle. It is a fault of the interpretation of that rule.

Selwood leans into the tackler and raises a strong arm and inevitably the tackler’s arm slides up on to his neck, and a free kick is awarded. It has served Selwood well.

If a player tackles an opponent above the shoulders then it is a genuine free kick.

But if he starts his tackle lower, say around the biceps of his opponent, and his arm is forced up towards the neck and head, then it should be play on. Or if the man holds the ball for too long, then it’s “holding the ball”.

It always bemuses me when people say, “just tackle around the hips”. We play a three-dimensional game, where players can be tackled from any direction.

In rugby union or league the tackle is front on, with the occasional chase down, but in AFL we move backwards, forwards, sideways and every which way to avoid a tackle. Most tackles happen within a metre of the contest, which gives the defender a split second to enforce the tackle.

It all comes down to the intent of the tackler. It takes a trained eye to see where the tackle starts, but this is the umpire’s job and he should be allowed to let it go if there is no deliberate high tackle.

Mick Malthouse would like to see ruckmen like Brodie Grundy and Matthew Kreuzer compete without fear of tiggy-touchwood frees. Pic: Getty Images

Something I’m enjoying more this season is watching the ruck duels.

We are seeing a renaissance of the ruckman. Aaron Sandilands and Jarrod Witts by using their height. Paddy Ryder and Brodie Grundy their spring. Ben McEvoy and Sam Jacobs their agility. And Stefan Martin and Matthew Kreuzer with athleticism.

To see Nic Naitanui, with his physical strength, bound, and guile, is a picture of ruck perfection.

Coaches dream of being able to truly utilise their ruckmen to get first use of the ball to their midfield. While we may not have a “Polly” Farmer, John Nicholls-type battle again because there are more players around the ball now, this year we are seeing some brilliant tap work and fantastic clearances because of dominant ruckmen.

The two best rule changes for ruckmen were the introduction of the centre circles, and the “no third man up” rule. Both of which protect the bodies of the big men and allow them to truly excel in their craft.

The only thing ruining the ruck duels now is the finicky frees being awarded at boundary throw-ins.

I remember umpiring great Bill Deller saying to me once that he doesn’t umpire size, he umpires the contest.

Umpires have been copping it from all angles over every dubious decision. Pic: Michael Klein

When two players are vying for the tap, let them move and battle it out.

Umpires are overreacting to a ruckman simply being outmanoeuvred and outplayed by his opponent. Arms will tangle, bodies will collide.

Unless it is over the top and deliberate interference, let the ruckmen do their job without fear of giving away a free kick.

We have a unique game. Born on the back of staying fit for cricket and based on elements of Rugby, it was played on various sized cricket grounds in the middle of winter. It is technical and brutal.

We don’t want it to become too technical, nor do we want to diminish the toughness.

With each new football administration entering the office with good intent, comes rule changes, and regulation adjustments.

Rules are rules, but the interpretation and adjudication of those rules depend on the umpiring hierarchy. With constant disruption, black and white becomes grey. We need to eradicate the confusion and frustration.

So I’ll say it again. Let our game flow. Let the players play. And give the supporters back their game. Please.

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