SuperFooty reporters reveal the changes to the game they want to see in the AFL
AFL clubs plan years in advance. If change is coming, they need to know now, writes SAM LANDSBERGER. Plus, our SuperFooty reporters list the one change to the game they want to see.
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THE AFL is wasting its time if it is considering bringing in starting positions after goals only.
Imagine that. Both teams must start six players in each arc at the centre bounce only.
If players were free to run wherever they like after the centre bounce, the current rolling mauls and congestion would remain.
There might be 10, 15 or 20 minutes until the next goal is kicked.
In that time the starting position rules would be totally irrelevant.
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If the league decides that starting positions are part of the solution, it must enforce them after every stoppage.
Policing them would be easy enough with a fourth field umpire.
Perhaps players charging back towards their arc as the umpire called for a stoppage would be spared penalty.
If not, their coach would be furious.
But not for long. It only takes one or two indiscretions for a coach to decide that enough is enough.
They wouldn’t tolerate their players giving away free kicks for being in the wrong places.
And so the players would learn to quickly adapt.
On Saturday, the AFL trialled Hawthorn starting three forwards and three defenders in each arc.
They also trialled a variation, where the full-back and full-forward had to start in the goalsquare.
The secret June experiment at Etihad Stadium highlights that there is a matter of urgency.
Clubs need to know what the rules will be for 2019 by the end of this season.
They can’t be left in limbo in October or November, because it would affect their planning and potentially their list management.
Boy, wouldn’t it be useful to see the secret vision of the Hawks.
WHAT CHANGES OUR REPORTERS WOULD LIKE TO SEE
MARK ROBINSON:
“Have a minimum number of players inside 50 for all stoppages.”
MICHAEL WARNER:
“The expanded interchange bench from two to three, and then four, is the cane toad of the AFL. Abolish it completely or cap rotations at 10 per quarter. Return to an 18-a-side game, not a rolling maul of 22 v 22”.
MICHELANGELO RUCCI:
“The farcical way the AFL clubs treat everyone with their injury lists. Steve Hocking, do something … do something.”
ANDREW HAMILTON:
“I’d definitely raise the draft age by two years. Rebuilding through the draft is too difficult and slow because the first few years of a player’s career is spent on developing them. At 20 they are more physically prepared, it also reduces the stress of having final year school exams in a draft year and would give those inclined a chance to start a degree or apprenticeship.”
SAM LANDSBERGER:
“Lift the draft age. School should be No. 1 priority for 18-year-olds.”
JON ANDERSON:
“Eliminate rolling mauls”
LAUREN WOOD:
“A weakening of the prior opportunity rule. I’m with Gillon on this one — reckon it could do a lot for congestion to get rid of it for players being tackled.”
SCOTT GULLAN:
“Mid-season draft”
GILBERT GARDINER:
“Want fan engagement? Pay holding the ball.”
CHRIS CAVANAGH:
“Take it back to 16-a-side like the women’s competition. Sure-fire way to decrease congestion.”
GLENN MCFARLANE:
“Faster decisions on holding the ball and tougher rulings on incorrect disposal so that we can limit the congestion and speed the game up as best we can.”
JON RALPH:
“10 interchanges per quarter. The AFL is ignoring the main contributor to congestion. You have to remember, only 15 years ago there were only 26 interchanges a game.”
ELIZA SEWELL:
“I’d like the umps to call incorrect disposal more. I’m sick of yelling at the TV “how did he get rid of it?”.
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