AFL set to introduce rule changes following ugly Brayden Maynard incident

The AFL are set to make a major change to the rule book ahead of the 2024 season in the wake of a horror incident that rocked the game.

Screengrabs of Angus Brayshaw of the Demons is being cleaned up by Brayden Maynard of the Magpies during the qualifying final between Collingwood and Melbourne at the MCG>Fox Sport

The AFL is looking at major a major change ahead of the 2024 season with a crackdown on high contact incidents.

It’s a move that comes in the wake of Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard’s horror collision with Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw during the first week of finals.

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Maynard left the ground as he attempted to smother Brayshaw’s kick following a centre clearance.

His follow through saw him collide with the Demons star leaving him concussed and ruled out of the game. The AFL Tribunal ultimately cleared Maynard over the incident.

But under new changes a similar incident would result in a suspension under suggested changes to the Match Review Officer guidelines.

The tweak would mean any high contact graded as low impact would be deemed careless at a minimum, unless a player had taken “all reasonable steps to avoid making contact with their opponent’s head and/or minimise the force of any high contact”.

The proposal uses an example of a player adopting a different body position.

Maynard leaves the ground and collects Brayshaw. Image: Fox Sport

Maynard hits Brayshaw. Image: Fox Sport

It’s not the only change the league is looking to adopt with a reported crack down on chase down tackles after multiple incidents resulted in suspensions for some and others being cleared.

“An area of concern this year has been run-down tackles where the tackling player significantly contributed to the force with which the tackled player is driven to ground,” the league’s memo read.

The league insists it is not trying to take run-down tackles out of the game – just minimise incidents where concussions or injuries are caused by the action.

Proposed changes will be signed off at an AFL commission meeting in February provided there are no objections from clubs.

Maynard was swarmed by Dees players. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The AFL is also reportedly concerned about coaches on the bench whistling and interrupting the broadcast audio.

“Club football officials continue to whistle from the interchange bench to get the attention of players, which interrupts the audio of match broadcasts. It is proposed to include a new regulation prohibiting whistling or making any other such noises to communicate from the interchange bench,” the memo read.

The league asked for input on how the substitute rule and team selection are implemented, with some frustration in 2023 over players being announced as omitted on Thursday night, but staying in the squad as the sub on the weekend.

– with Max Laughton, foxsports.com.au

Originally published as AFL set to introduce rule changes following ugly Brayden Maynard incident