Revealed: The numbers behind AFL’s holding the ball crackdown

The first weekend of games since the AFL’s new interpretation of holding the ball is in the bag, and MATTHEW FORREST has gone through the figures to find out what’s come of it.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. May 31, 2024. AFL Round 12. Collingwood vs. Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium. Umpire John Howorth. Pic: Michael Klein

Fans who were hoping for faster moving, higher scoring games of football would have been pleased with the state of the game after round 12’s action, with the league officially introducing its new adjudication going into the weekend.

The AFL officially changed its interpretation on what was ‘reasonable time’ to dispose of the ball, after confusion and frustration reigned among fans, coaches and players in the opening three months of the season.

With less time to dispose of the ball, the whistle was used more, with a 41 per cent increase in holding the ball free kicks.

There was an average of 11.6 holding the ball infringements each game across round 12, increased from an average of 8.2 per game in the opening 12 rounds of the season (Opening Round to round 11).

Umpire John Howorth pays a free kick against Steele Sidebottom in the game between the Bulldogs and Pies. Picture: Michael Klein

Hawthorn’s win over Adelaide saw the most holding the ball free kicks paid in the round’s action, with a total of 17, while Geelong’s victory against Richmond had 16.

Round 12 had the most infringements paid per game (11.6) with round 3 (9.4) the next closest.

While the round had a clear increase in free kicks paid as a result of the rule change, it was not across the board.

Port Adelaide v Carlton (eight), West Coast v St Kilda (six) and Melbourne v Fremantle (eight) were all under the season average of 8.2 per game, while the other four games of the round all had at least 13 holding the ball free kicks paid.

With the whistle blowing more quickly, it also increased the number of stoppages in the game.

There was an average of 70.1 ball ups or throw ins per game in round 12, compared to 66.3 across the rest of the season.

Scoring was also up on the season average, with the quicker resumption of play leading to more opportunities in front of goal.

Across the round 12 action there was an average score of 175.1 per game; enough to sit fourth in rounds this season, but above the season average of 166.7 per game heading into the weekend’s matches.

While there was no combined score of 200+ in round 12, only one score dipped below that average mark, with the West Coast v St Kilda (150 combined points) the lowest-scoring match of the round.

Originally published as Revealed: The numbers behind AFL’s holding the ball crackdown