North Melbourne coach Brad Scott demands the AFL fix the protected area rule immediately

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott has left no mystery over his feelings on the AFL’s protected area rule, demanding the AFL fix it immediately in a stunning post-match spray.

North Melbourne enjoyed a big win over the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

NORTH Melbourne coach Brad Scott wants the AFL to immediately fix the protected area rule after another handful of confusing 50m penalties were paid during the Kangas’ 37-point win against Gold Coast.

Jamie MacMillan joked to Scott that he should’ve run into the crowd and “brought a hotdog back for the umpire” to avoid the protected area.

“For the frustration of everyone, yes (we need to fix it now),” Scott said.

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“I just watch footy as a fan Thursday, Friday, Saturday night and it frustrated me as a neutral observer.

“Today we had a few examples where guys were trying to get out of there and it’ll frustrate me even more if the umpires say that technically they were correct.

“If they were technically correct then technically you’ve missed 20 others. It’s going to drive people nuts if something doesn’t change.

“The idea of the rule is OK. If someone takes a mark you need them to be able to play-on quickly, particularly through the corridor.

“So if players are deliberately getting into that area and impeding the ball carrier from playing on, then you need to penalise that.

Brad Scott was not happy with the umpires after his side’s win. Picture: AAP Images

“Jamie MacMillan suggested he should’ve brought back a hotdog for the umpire too, after he’d run into the crowd to get out of the protected area.

“Technically, was he in the 10m protected area? Yeah, he was. But he’s trying to get out of it too.”

Gold Coast’s only score in the first quarter — a Peter Wright goal — came courtesy of a 50m penalty after Paul Ahern was deemed to have encroached on the protected area.

Sunday’s crowd of 14,389 was the second smallest the Roos have played in front of at Etihad after 200 games.

Scott said the Roos had to change parts of their forward structure to cash in on their midfield dominance.

The Kangas won the inside 50m count 63-37 but were wasteful in front of goal, particularly in the final term.

Scott said full-forward Ben Brown’s output was “probably the same as a six or seven-goal performance” given his selflessness gave opportunities to captain Jack Ziebell and reborn defender Majak Daw.

Brown booted 4.2 and is on track to deliver North its first Coleman Medal since John Longmire in 1990.

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