AFL aims to simplify high contact free kicks with new rule changes
AN AFL crackdown on players milking high contact free kicks hasn’t closed a loophole used by Lindsay Thomas, but Joel Selwood could be in danger. SEE THE AMAZING STATS
Geelong
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FORGET Rogue One or Suicide Squad, the hottest DVD release of the summer will be the latest version of the AFL’s Laws of the Game.
The league sends a DVD to every club during the pre-season explaining rule changes for the upcoming year, illustrated with examples from recent matches. And Joel Selwood and Lindsay Thomas may have already placed a pre-order for the 2017 edition.
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The AFL has announced a set of changes for 2017, with a move to outlaw the third-man up in ruck contests generating the most controversy.
Also on the agenda are a crackdown on deliberate rushed behinds, tougher action against jumper punches and moves to “simplify” rules on high contact free kicks.
WHO WINS THE MOST HIGH CONTACT FREES? SCROLL DOWN TO FIND OUT
Umpires will now make a first assessment on whether a tackle “was applied in an appropriate manner”.
“Umpires will be asked to call ‘play on’ when a tackle is assessed as reasonable (no swinging arm or contact being incidental) and the player with the ball is responsible for the high contact,” the AFL press release says.
“It is important to note that at all times the ball carrier retains protection against high or indiscriminate tackling.”
The move follows a change in mid-2015 to stamp out players leading with their heads to draw high contact, classifying blatant ducking as “prior opportunity”.
The new interpretation should please Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson, who said in June that he had “a couple” of players who try to draw head-high frees but a simple rule change would eliminate the “very very dangerous” tactic.
But former field umpire Derek Humphery-Smith says it’s hard to know exactly what the new rule means until we see some examples.
“I will be interested to see the coaching video, the DVD that will be released to the clubs, because I think that if there is ever a rule that needs real example guidance, it’s going to be this one,” he said on SEN.
The high contact debate blew up this year around Thomas and particularly one free kick against Sydney when the North Melbourne forward dropped his knees and backed into chasing opponent Nick Smith to draw a free kick.
Dermott Brereton branded it “the most disgraceful free kick I have seen in years” but the new interpretation won’t appease him.
The loophole of going low then pushing up into a tackle is still open under the new guidelines because first contact from the tackler is still high.
Selwood might not be so lucky. Many of his 129 frees for high contact in the past four seasons came after he was tackled around the biceps and gave his trademark shoulder shrug, pushing the tackle up above the neck.
But even that isn’t as clear as it seems. If an opponent grasps at Selwood’s arms does that count as the initial tackle? If contact is around the shoulder that’s almost too high to begin with, and if Selwood is coathangered it will be hard for any umpire to hold his whistle.
In a well-intentioned move to make life easier for umpires, the AFL might have just made their job a lot more complicated.
HIGH TACKLE FREE KICKS 2016
28 Joel Selwood (Geel)
24 Rhys Mathieson (BL)
22 Toby McLean (WB)
22 Anthony Miles (Rich)
20 Allen Christensen (BL)
18 George Hewett (Syd)
18 Lachie Hunter) WB)
16 Luke Shuey (WC)
16 James Sicily (Haw)
12 Mitch Duncan (Geel)
HIGH TACKLE FREE KICKS 2013-16
129 Joel Selwood (Geel)
85 Allen Christensen (BL)
78 Anthony Miles (Rich)
58 Luke Shuey (WC)
56 Paul Puopolo (Haw)
49 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
46 Toby Greene (GWS)
43 Lindsay Thomas (NM)
41 Marc Murphy (Carl)
41 Jack Ziebell (NM)
* Free kicks for tackling infringements only not in a marking or ruck contest
Source: Champion Data
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