Geelong star Jimmy Bartel says he’s still scratching his head over some deliberate out of bounds decisions
HE’s played 289 career games but Geelong star Jimmy Bartel says he’s still scratching his head over the deliberate out of bounds rule. SEE THE STATS
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GEELONG star Jimmy Bartel says he’s still confused over the change in interpretation for the deliberate out of bounds rule.
Bartel, who has played 289 games, won a Brownlow Medal and played in three premierships, says even he is left scratching his head over some of the decisions paid so far this season.
“I know it’s probably providing a fair bit of theatre for the crowd every time it goes near the boundary it’s like everyone is going up for an LBW decision,” Bartel told SEN.
The deliberate out of bounds rule is sensational. Better footy, higher scores. Just some terrible application with no feel for footy
— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) April 29, 2016
“Some of them, you see players and even you hear on the commentary gasping or shaking their head — you don’t want that.
“I like the rule but you want it to be super consistent — as soon as it happens everyone knows well yeah, that’s deliberate out of bounds.
“I’m still scratching my head.”
Already 86 free kicks have been paid for deliberate out of bounds in six rounds, up from a remarkable 22 in the same amount of time in 2015 and 32 in 2014.
13 free kicks for deliberate were paid in Round 6, while a massive 22 were paid in Round 3, the most of any round so far this season.
In March the AFL announced its stricter interpretation “based on the player not showing enough intent to keep the ball in play” and were instructed to give less benefit of the doubt to the ball carrier.
The rule states: “If there is a realistic option to keep the ball in play and the player does not elect to use this option, but deliberately puts the ball out of play, deliberate out of bounds should be paid.”
The change has caused a lot of confusion between players, coaches and fans, with many left unsure when a free kick should and shouldn’t be paid.
But umpire Brendan Hosking said in April it is now easier for whistleblowers to adjudicate.
“It’s obviously hard to put ourselves in the players shoes and figure out their intent,” Hosking told the AFL website.
“I think it does sort of take that grey area out of the game, (so) it’s slightly easier for us.”
In April, the Herald Sun reported the league is also considering a last-touch rule.
AFL football operations boss Mark Evans said umpires should be even tougher on the deliberate out of bounds calls.
There have been a number of contentious decisions already paid this season, however, that have left many confused and have required the umpiring department to explain the decision.
Blues ruckman Matthew Kreuzer was one of the first to be penalised in Round 1, when he hurried a kick out of congestion that travelled nearly 60m.
That decision was deemed correct by the AFL’s umpiring department.
In Round 3, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley queried a decision paid against midfielder Jack Crisp when he stepped over the boundary line as he took possession of the ball.
Crisp was penalised for deliberate but days later was declared a wrong call.
The umpiring dept have got the deliberate out of bounds rule to the point it's laughable. #Embarrassing #AFLNorthDogs @AFL
— Brooke (@B_Richardson_) April 29, 2016
Let's make it a free for every time a player throws his arms out & appeals for deliberate out of bounds. #AFLEaglesPies @Robbo_heraldsun
— Tomkatoz74 (@TomKat74) May 1, 2016
Umpires really need to start showing some consistency in this deliberate out of bounds rule #AFLNorthDogs vs #AFLCrowsFreo @7AFL #afl
— Dallas McIntosh (@DTrainAU) April 30, 2016
That decision was similar to one paid against Bulldog Matthew Suckling in his side’s loss to Hawthorn, which cost the Bulldogs a goal in their three-point loss at Etihad Stadium.
Suckling fumbled the ball towards the line before falling over the boundary.
“You don’t have to have possession of the ball, you don’t (only) have to kick or handpass it, you can pay deliberate if it’s knocked out as well,” umpire Hosking told the AFL website of the Suckling incident.
“The ball landing closer to the boundary from where the player kicks the ball is a big cue for paying a free kick.”
Stats: Champion Data
@cjzanoni Deliberate out of bounds is their new favourite call. Unfortunately they seem to have forgotten about a lot of the other rules.
— Nate (@Aggressiveth) May 1, 2016
The over-the-top appealing for deliberate out of bounds is becoming a real eye sore this year. #AFLLionsSwans @AFL
— Robert Aynsley (@robertaynsley) May 1, 2016
#AFL just dump the deliberate out of bounds rule - a total joke last night and tonight in #AFLCatsSuns @GeelongCats you were flawless
— K-van Photography (@kvanphotograph) April 30, 2016
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