Dane Swan and Sam Newman rip into new AFL rule

A divisive moment from the weekend has left former stars Sam Newman and Dane Swan leading a pack of torchbearers to the AFL’s front door.

AFL. Round 3. 31/03/2019. Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs at the MCG. Hawthorns James Sicily looks at umpire Justin Power after a free kick was paid to Bulldog Josh Schache 25 mtr out late in the last qtr . Pic: Michael Klein.

Criticism for the AFL’s new laws to prevent on-field argy bargy continues to rain in after a particularly contentionsous call during Hawthorn’s loss to the Western Bulldogs over the weekend.

With the scores level and just under five minutes left in the Sunday’s clash, Bulldog Josh Schache was awarded a free kick directly in front of goal for what appeared to be little more than a push and shove with James Sicily. There appeared to be no high contact and no clenched fists in the off-the-ball incident that was whistled as the ball was about to be bounced in the centre after a Bulldogs goal.

Some would argue that with the game so evenly poised Sicily should just keep his hands to himself, but former Dogs coach Eade saw the incident and immediately labelled it “a disgraceful decision” from the umpire on Triple M radio.

Former players Dane Swan and Sam Newman weighed in heavily on the issue with the latter labelling the shake-up “soft”.

Oh dur. Soft frees and pedantic umpiring, the sudden cry (AFL) How long have I been saying this? At least 5 years! What’s it like to be ‘ahead of the curve’? Relevant, of course. #softgame @Origsmartassam

— Sam Newman (@Origsmartassam) April 1, 2019

This is a free kick in the afl these days. We have officially lost our marbles pic.twitter.com/eDniqKasKf

— Dane Swan (@swandane) April 2, 2019

Hawks midfielder Isaac Smith said he was confused by the new method of umpiring after the weekend’s clash.

“If I got shown vision pre-game and that was said that it was going to be a free kick then I would’ve been quite shocked,” he told SEN’s The Oval Office.

“I was in camera but I didn’t actually see it on game day but I saw the vision this morning.

“I was a little bit shocked but if they’re the rules, they’re the rules and we’re going to have to play to it.

“But I don’t want to see games, especially later in the year, decided by free kicks like that.”

Geelong coach Chris Scott called for calm after all the hubbub, urging fans and critics to avoid overreacting early.

Get ready for more of this.

“Mistakes will happen every week, and I think we’ve got to be a little bit careful not to overreact when there are mistakes,” Scott said on Channel 7’s Talking Footy.

“The industry is saying we don’t want players off the ball being hit in the back, we don’t want any sorts of fists at all – I’m not saying that’s what those incidents were – but in the evolution to try and take that stuff out, I think there are going to be some free kicks that no-one would like to see paid.”

Chris Scott reacts to the controversial free kicks paid over the weekend.

Stream #TalkingFooty wherever you like on @7plus pic.twitter.com/7f9pxPtjF7

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 1, 2019

Star Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins was also in favour, stating he wasn’t fussed with the new move from the competition.

“I don’t mind the overcorrection,” he told SEN SA Breakfast.

“I know it’s hard for us to wrap our head around it at the moment, but I think the players will be forced to adjust.

“We don’t want to be at that point last year where punches were going basically unnoticed.

“We just don’t want to see that in footy and I don’t want to see that for young kids as well.”

This is a free kick in the afl these days. We have officially lost our marbles pic.twitter.com/eDniqKasKf

— Dane Swan (@swandane) April 2, 2019

— with AAP