Jack Ziebell says protected area 50m penalty is too harsh and should be reviewed next season

NORTH Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell says the AFL should change the controversial protected area rule as “the punishment doesn’t fit the crime” and should be reviewed.

Jack Ziebell in action for North Melbourne.

NORTH Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell says the AFL should change the protected area rule as the punishment is too severe.

The interference made when encroaching on the player who has marked the ball or received a free kick is often minimal, yet the penalty can prove costly.

“The AFL seriously need to look at the rule because the punishment doesn’t fit the crime,” Ziebell said.

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“The reason they brought the rule in was to avoid players impacting the mark and I think at the minute, you’ve got 0.01 of a second to make a decision on which way to go, and if you go the wrong way but still don’t impact the mark, you get paid a 50m penalty against you.”

The rule is unpopular among fans, while its effect on the game is also concerning players.

“I think a 50m penalty is too much,” Ziebell said on a North Melbourne podcast.

Jack Ziebell in action for North Melbourne.

“I think if you had a 25m penalty that would be better, but even then, the time it takes to bring the player forward, it gives the opposition time (to set up).

“The AFL is trying to speed the game up, but that just slows the game down.”

Ziebell said the 50-metre penalty had its place, but not for minor errors.

“If someone takes a mark and gets clobbered from behind and it’s a pretty bad act, then 50m (is appropriate),” he said.

“But for little, tiny indiscretions that have no impact on the game, 50m is just unnecessary.”

While the umpires are just trying to adjudicate the game correctly, the protected area creates too many inconsistencies.

“I think umpires say that the penalty was technically there, but they technically miss another 60 in the game as well,” Ziebell said.

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