‘Strangling itself’: AFL reacts after horror round four, rule changes pitched

A host of rule changes have been floated as former players, coaches, veteran journalists and the footy public say enough is enough.

Alastair Clarkson fears for the game. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Footy is in crisis.

It’s failing the eye test. Fans and former players alike are growing increasingly frustrated with game after game of ugly, low-scoring, congested play.

It’s delivering frightening numbers. Twenty games and counting since a team last topped 100 points. Four goals total between the Demons and Cats in the first half. Sixty-nine Hawthorn tackles without a single holding the ball free kick.

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And it’s now drawing all kinds of rule change suggestions as the footy public attempts to solve what is now crystal clear — the game is trending in a direction no one wants.

Despite a historic number of close finishes in round four (it was the first time there had been margins of one, two, three and four points in the same weekend), no one’s happy.

Players observed a minute of silence for Hawks legend John Kennedy Snr before Sunday night’s game but they could have held another one afterwards for a game that’s lost its soul.

WHAT THE SCRIBES AND PAST PLAYERS SAID

Piles of players everywhere. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Some of the game’s most experienced journalists are in dismay at what they’re watching.

“The first half between Geelong and Melbourne showed why football is in danger of strangling itself.,” the Herald Sun’s Mark Robinson wrote

“As the game was played between the arcs, four goals from 310 possessions was mind numbing. There was no daring as seemingly both teams were too concerned about being scored against on turnover.

“Cats coach Chris Scott is not paid to worry about the look of the game, just to win.

Still, 47-44 is not a great advertisement for the code.”

North Melbourne great David King dejectedly said on Fox Footy: “That’s a really ugly round of football … to play a game with circle work is really disappointing.”

“Seriously. Why can’t you leave a key forward in the forward 30 all of the time so your mids actually have someone to kick to?’’ tweeted ex-Bomber Joe Misiti.

Others joined him in hitting out on social media.

Watched both Melbourne games today on TV and both were terrible spectacles. No time and space for players to exhibit skills. Clarkson and Scott are in their own way saying to the AFL: "at least do something, don't think...do something"

— peter ryan (@petryan) June 28, 2020

Weird NRL v AFL dynamic at the moment.
V’landysball is more dynamic and entertaining but most games are blow outs.
Gillonball is a often a defensive grind but that results in close finishes.
I declare cricket the real winner!

— Richard Hinds (@rdhinds) June 28, 2020

Chris Scott just gave the AFL carte blanche to ignore senior coaches as we try to make the game more attractive. The covid crisis has given added impetus to make it more attractive given the battle for broadcast 💰. If we think it’s the best it can be we’re kidding ourselves

— Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) June 28, 2020

Great time to be a forward #AFL

— Matthew Richardson (@mattricho0) June 28, 2020

WHAT THE COACHES SAID

Leading coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Scott both spoke out on Sunday after the Hawks edged the Roos 58-54, a dour slug-fest that followed the Cats’ even more dour 47-44 win against the Demons.

“If that’s the spectacle that we’re trying to search for in our game, then our game’s in a dreadful space,” Clarkson said. “The AFL can’t be happy …

“I’m sorry for s***-canning our own brand, and our own club and our own team in this space.

“But I was so disappointed in the way we played and I was so disappointed with the way that the game is being played right at the present time. It’s frustrating, and it must be frustrating our fans.”

RELATED: AFL fans erupt after ‘awful travesty’

Scott called on the AFL to stop asking coaches to solve the problems and put it in the hands of the rule-makers. But he said reducing the amount of players on the field would have an impact.

“Last week we played Carlton in some match practice, 16 v 16 at Geelong, and it was exhilarating,” he said. “14 v 14 at Port Melbourne [against Melbourne], and once one team got the ball and moved it fast you couldn’t stop them. But I hear the traditionalists saying, ‘stop mucking around with the game, it’s never going back to what it was’.”

Max Gawn attempts to handball while being tackled by two Cats. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

TIME FOR A CHANGE

Chris Scott’s numbers reduction was just the start of the rule changes that have been floated in the past 24 hours.

Melbourne great Garry Lyon wants both sides forced to keep two players inside the 50m arc at both ends at all times.

This would mean a maximum of 28 players between the arcs and hopefully more space for quick ball movement.

“You want to break congestion up, then limit the players that can vacate their forward line and cause more congestion,” he told SEN.

“We’ll get some more contests, we might get some more high marking from your forwards and we might get some more bags of goals.

“It must be trialled … it helps congestion and you’ll get scoring if everyone’s got to do it.”

Fox commentator Brenton Speed wanted only kicks that went forward to result in a mark.

What effect would a new AFL rule have:

If a kick goes backwards anywhere on the ground... umpire just says “gone backwards - play on”. Why not?!

— Brenton Speed (@BrentonSpeed) June 28, 2020

Even Warnie had some suggestions.

I love @AFL - but love to see these changes @davidking34

1-Must have a min of 6 players in your forward half at all times.
2-Umpires must pay holding the ball more & reward tackle
3-Can’t kick backwards.
4-Must only be 15 second shot clock on goal & 20m Q’s plus time on-Agree?

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) June 28, 2020

But Fox Footy’s David King believed Clarkson was on the mark when he noted how unrewarded the Hawks’ tackling had gone.

Paying more holding the ball free kicks was the place to start.

“We’ve got to open up the game,” King said on Fox Footy’s First Crack. “The umpires have to take control. He’s spot on.

“In round 4, there were 954 tackles laid for 62 holding the balls. That’s six per cent, it’s a shocking percentage. I think he’s right. He pleaded at the end of the press conference, saying please pay them, for us and against us, we’ll adjust.”

Mitch Robinson appears OK with something changing.

Tbh, I’m just grateful to be back playing footy. But if they’re going to do some crazy shit to the game, this is the year to do it.

— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) June 28, 2020