Mark Robinson and Mick Warner mount for and against arguments for AFL’s new man-on-the-mark rule

The AFL’s new man-on-the-mark rule has divided the opinion of fans – but also the newsroom. Mark Robinson and Mick Warner debate the hot topic.

AFL head of football Steve Hocking says players have quickly adapted to the new man-on-the-mark rule. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

The AFL’s new manning the mark rule has already stirred up plenty of debate amongst footy fans.

But what do the experts think? Herald Sun footy scribes Mark Robinson and Mick Warner have gone head-to-head to debate this highly divisive issue and whether or not it will be a boom or bust in 2021.

Vote in the poll below to let us know who got it right.

Watch every match of the 2021 AAMI Community Series LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Mark Robinson: The case for new rule

I like the man-on-the-mark rule.

Any concept to open help break the defensive stranglehold on footy is to be welcomed.

So, park your outrage.

One curious decision – paid against Fremantle’s Brennan Cox at the weekend – should not prompt an avalanche of calls that ‘this game is stuffed’.

If anything, the game will be less “stuffed” now that corridor use and switch kicks and handballs to ballistic-running back flankers will be the natural outcome.

More run and more space means greater instinct in a sport which has become too boringly restrictive for the player with the ball.

Over the past 15 years the ability to transfer the ball from D50 to F50 has reduced almost 20 per cent.

Alarmingly, defence is killing the spectacle of footy.

And whining about the new man-on-the-mark rule – one decision mainly – is a silly knee-jerk reaction to what will be an overall positive outcome.

Mark Robinson is a fan of the new man-on-the-mark rule.

I had a text exchange with my brother Steve after footage of the Cox decision was made public.

He, like many fans, was concerned.

“He turned his back … this will be happening 20 times a game,” he said.

“So, someone has to stand totally still, don’t move a muscle, while a player can have 30 seconds to have a shot at goal?

“You can’t go sideways, forwards or backwards, so if the mark is on the 50m line and I run up and stand at 48m … am I on the mark or not?

“The games will be decided by umpires’ interpretation of these rules and not by the better team.’’

These will be common questions before Round 1.

The fact is players have three seconds to set themselves on the mark before the umpire calls “stand’’.

Then the player can’t move, other to jump and down on the spot.

And he can’t move before the umpire calls play on.

It’s not that difficult, is it?

Remember, no one barracks for the man standing on the mark

We should all be barracking for the player with the ball.

This new rule will be a winner.

Mick Warner: The case against new rule

“No-one barracks for the man on the mark” is the line you’ll keep hearing from the AFL’s conga line of apologists.

And they’re right.

But what footy fans do want when it comes to the AFL’s never-ending changes to the rules of Australian football is common sense – and on the basis of what we’ve seen so far, Steve Hocking’s tough new edict prohibiting “any” movement from the man on the mark needs urgent reassessment.

Yes, we want the game to open up. Yes, congestion is a major problem and yes, we want scoring to increase.

But if the Oscar Allen-Brennan Cox 50m penalty farce from the weekend is a correct interpretation of the game’s brave new rule, then it won’t be just COVID crowd restrictions turning footy fans away in 2021.

Common sense will tell you that Cox was not endeavouring to deny Allen space when he shifted a few centimetres off his mark.

Mick Warner says the new rule is a shocker.

Umpires should be given the right to adjudicate the new rule with appropriate flexibility.

A set shot from 25m out is a lot different to a ball trapped in the back half of the ground in the dying seconds of a game.

What was the intent of the player? Did the player’s movement off the mark have any impact on the flow of the game?

The real cure to AFL congestion is dramatically limiting interchange rotations, but if Hocking and Co. insist on implementing a series of adjustments like 6-6-6, third man up in the ruck and now the man-on-the-mark rule, they’d do well to listen to the supporters who don’t want a flurry of 50m penalties deciding results.

You only have to think back to the laughable “18-metre goalsquare” proposal cooked up by the competition committee a few years ago to know that the AFL’s lawmakers don’t always get it right.

HOCKING’S VERDICT ON DIVISIVE RULE AND 50M PENALTY

– Mark Robinson

The AFL is thrilled with the new standing-on-the-mark rule, but has not ruled out making adjustments to it before Round 1.

The league on Monday checked off the controversial 50m penalty against Fremantle’s Brennan Cox at the weekend because Cox moved slightly backwards after the umpire called “stand’’.

A player is not permitted to move laterally, forward or backwards after the umpire has made his call.

The Cox penalty was one of six 50m penalties paid against players for moving on the mark from nine practice matches.

There were up to 2000 stop play situations in the matches.

“We’re very, very happy with where it’s at when you consider the amount of times the ball was stopped during play at the weekend,’’ AFL head of football Steve Hocking said.

Hocking on Monday met with his analysis team to review the weekend’s matches and will do so again next Monday after the AAMI Community Series.

“It was our first real opportunity to have a look at it and we will continue to look at it, as we did with 6-6-6, and if there needs to be a sublet adjustment to it, that’s what we will do over the coming weeks,’’ Hocking said.

The AFL has given the 50m penalty against Dockers defender Brennan Cox for breaching the stand rule thre tick of approval.

Asked if that would involve relaxing of the rule in the forward 50m zone, Hocking wouldn’t elaborate.

“We’ve got vision and we will work through it Monday and will do it next week post the AAMI series games,’’ he said.

“We’re still three weeks out from the season starting.’’

The Cox incident outraged online fans on Sunday night, but Hocking on Monday supported the umpire’s decision.

“To the letter of the law, he turned his back on the player and moved backwards,’’ Hocking explained.

“You can’t move sideways, you can’t move backwards after ‘stand’ is called.’’

The rule, plus the extended area from a kick in, was introduced to aid ball movement and, it is hoped, increase scoring.

The players, Hocking said, had adapted.

“What we’re trying to do is adjust behaviour and muscle memory is part of that,’’ Hocking said.

“Players have been able to take a lot of real estate for a number of years, so it just takes time.

“There were up 2000 stop play passages in the weekend’s matches and six 50m penalties were paid for players moving on the mark.

“It’s not too bad for a new rule.

“The players and umpires coach have done unbelievable job.”

AFL head of football Steve Hocking says players have quickly adapted to the new man-on-the-mark rule. Picture: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hocking revealed players will get roughly three seconds to decide if they will man the mark or where to man the mark. As well calling “stand’’, umpires will raise a hand in a stopping motion.

Hocking expects to see further strategies employed by the player on the mark during this week’s one-match pre-season competition.

“The player can actually decide to move slightly to an angle to take part of that kicking lane away if he wants to. So, there’s about two or three seconds for that to happen before the umpire calls stand,’’ he said.

For example, a player about to stand on the mark on the wing-boundary area could move laterally towards the central corridor for three seconds before the umpire commanded him to stand still.

“Then he is pinged to that position,’’ Hocking said.

“That’s what clubs will pick up in time.

“We’ve got a small sample size and you will see examples this weekend that will prick your ears because it will be different to last weekend. That’s how clubs work.’’

The AFL made about 300 visits to clubs over the pre-season to educate the new rules.