Scott Pendlebury is uncertain whether proposed rule changes will fix footy’s congestion problem

SCOTT Pendlebury is uncertain whether the introduction of starting positions and lowering rotation numbers will help fix footy’s congestion problem, warning the AFL over potential consequences.

Scott Pendlebury doesn’t want the AFL to change its rules. Picture: Getty Images

COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Pendlebury is uncertain whether the introduction of starting positions and lowering rotation numbers will help fix footy’s congestion problem.

The AFL is considering revolutionary changes to help keep forwards inside 50m and generate more space for players to run through the midfield.

Pendlebury, 30, said whatever changes are brought in at AFL level must be first successfully trialled over three weeks in the JLT preseason series next year.

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One idea is to make sure every team keeps at least three players inside 50m at every ball-up or boundary throw-in, but Pendlebury said that alone wouldn’t necessarily fix the congestion problem.

“I hear people say ‘If you get three players in the forward line it opens up the stoppage’, but it doesn’t,” Pendlebury said.

“If you have a look at a stoppage now, most teams still play three forwards 50m or 60m away from the stoppage.

“But what you want to remove if you really want to open up stoppages is the line of three high forwards or the wingers.

Scott Pendlebury is a master around congestion. Picture: Michael Klein

“Have a look at Richmond, who are the best at it.

“They setup for a transition game at stoppage and they have seven or eight players behind the footy and they are (ranked) number 18 for clearance differential.

“So they setup to lose the clearance, get it back and away they go.

“But they’re the highest scoring team in the comp, so it works for them.

“In any case, I would like to see it play out more than just 15-minute trials because you are getting guys to play when they are completely fresh and not under fatigue.”

The AFL has also flagged the possibility of dropping rotation numbers, but Pendlebury, who is a five-time club champion and best and fairest winner, said that lowering rotations could increase midfield congestion.

“That has not worked (cutting rotations) from 120 tom 90 in clearing up congestion,” he said on the Jock and Journo podcast.

Scott Pendlebury doesn’t want the AFL to change its rules. Picture: AAP Images

“When we had unlimited rotations the game was flying up and back, the game was too quick.

“So you brought in rotations to slow the game down a little bit, but then guys get tired and naturally gravitate towards the ball.

“Then it went to 90 and there was more fatigue and more gravitation towards the ball.

“When guys are tired and fatigued you more just stay around the footy. You end up tracking one possession at a time.

“You don’t think ‘I’m fresh here, I’m going to make an 80m run and read the play’, two kicks in front.

“You are already’ gassed’, most of the game you are going to be running at 60 or 70 per cent energy.”

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