The AFL warned clubs it would launch a crackdown on the deliberate rushed behind rule

THE AFL expressly warned coaches it would launch a crackdown on the deliberate rushed behind rule, with the Herald Sun seeing the memo sent to coaches.

THE AFL expressly warned coaches it would launch a crackdown on the deliberate rushed behind rule.

The Herald Sun has seen the memo sent by AFL operations manager Mark Evans last week advising umpires had missed rushed-point free kicks in the past two weeks.

The email to coaches and club footy chiefs included a link to a video highlighting the missed kicks.

It instructed the club chiefs to warn players and noted that ­umpires would be coached on the rule.

The AFL has previously said ­umpires aren’t instructed about a “rule of the week”. But there was a clear emphasis on the contentious deliberate rushed behind rule last week, leaving some clubs confused.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley admitted he had “no idea” how the rule would be interpreted consistently.

Melbourne coach Paul Roos and Brisbane Lions counterpart Justin Leppitsch both said they were ­unaware of the crackdown after their clubs’ MCG game on Sunday.

“Maybe I missed the memo,” Roos said.

“I thought we were going to look at it at the end of the year.

‘I thought (the two penalised players) were really stiff. I don’t think you can make changes like that in the season.”

Evans had noted in the memo sent to clubs last Wednesday “the discrepancy between what is permissible over the goal line and boundary line has increased since the tightening of the Deliberate Out of Bounds interpretation”.

Part of the AFL memo circulated to clubs. Picture: Supplied

“This will be one of the items raised as part of the Laws consultation process later this year.

“Separate to this, (umpires boss) Hayden (Kennedy) and (head of umpiring) Luke (Ball) are of the view that we have missed a couple of free kicks in the last two weeks that should have been paid for Deliberate Rushed Behind under the current interpretation.

“A video of these examples is attached ... and we recommend you make your coaching and playing group aware of these as examples of missed free kicks.

“They will also be provided to the umpires in their coaching this week.”

The deliberate out of bounds and deliberate rushed behind rules differ in that the latter affords “benefit of the doubt to the defender”.

Melbourne captain Nathan Jones appeals for a free kick. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Fremantle’s Lee Spurr and Lions’ midfielder Pearce Hanley were penalised for rushing behinds at the weekend — the first transgressors of the year.

Umpires coach Kennedy said both decisions were correct.

“We felt we missed a deliberate (decision) in Round 7 and a deliberate in Round 8,” Kennedy told the league website.

“(Spurr) ... kicks it from a fair way out, you are probably looking at 13m and he kicks it in an uncontested manner.

“So according to what we had sent out to the clubs and (we are) now currently interpreting as rushed behinds, it is a warranted free kick.”

Kennedy said Hanley “was probably three to four metres away and has an opportunity to dispose of the ball prior”.

“He draws the pressure and then takes the ball over the goal line.”