Are You Sick Of The Afl Changing Rules Every Year

[bornadog]

What do you think about the AFL and their rules committee, tinkering and changing the game? Has this effected the game over the years? IF you are happy with rule changes, should we have more?

Personally, I can't stand the AFL constantly changing the rules, experimenting in the preseason with no kicking backwards, minimum length of a kick etc. Why do we want to constantly change the greatest game in the world? I really can't see the point and it only confuses players, umpires and supporters.

[bulldogtragic]

I'm with you BAD. I'm a firm believer that the game continually evolves, and when coahces and players think of ways to change it for the better or worse, the game will adapt on its own for the better. I detest officials changing the nature of our game either because they dont like some new aspects or they are trying to challenge other sports like soccer. The game should be left alone for the most part. I hope that one day footy will go back to long kicking, contests and drafting people with more football ability than athletic ability. The game and clubs can do that without rule changes. Perhaps those in at the AFL rule change commitee feel the need to something to justify their existance?

[GVGjr]

While rule changes are now a part of AFL each year I am with BAD and 42 that so many changes are not required.

If the devote a team to review the rules each year then changes will occur because this group at least must be seen to be doing something.

I suppose the real question is what rule changes over the last couple of years do you think the AFL got wrong?

[southerncross]

Too many changes as far as I am concerned. Rules for rules sake.

They are making it to easy of forwards from what I can tell.

[Twodogs]

I suppose the real question is what rule changes over the last couple of years do you think the AFL got wrong?


I really, really like the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags. It makes it harder for the defending team to set up a zone defence and ZDs are a major blight on the modern form of the game. I hate seeing players run to mind space and really like the fact that with the quick kick in pretty much the only option is to go man on man.

[The Coon Dog]

I really, really like the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags. It makes it harder for the defending team to set up a zone defence and ZDs are a major blight on the modern form of the game. I hate seeing players run to mind space and really like the fact that with the quick kick in pretty much the only option is to go man on man.
And it helps when we have a kickerinnerer like Lindsay Gilbee.

[Twodogs]

And it helps when we have a kickerinnerer like Lindsay Gilbee.



Well, yes. It does!

[bulldogtragic]

And it helps when we have a kickerinnerer like Lindsay Gilbee.
How is young Andrejs kicking?

Early reports were he's a gun kick, Gilbee-esq. Could be very handy when Andrejs gets to be a regular player having multiple guys that can pin-point 50 kicks.

[The Coon Dog]

Kickerinnerer, after I reread that I thought of Derek & Clive.....I'm still laughing now.

[alwaysadog]

What do you think about the AFL and their rules committee, tinkering and changing the game? Has this effected the game over the years? IF you are happy with rule changes, should we have more?

Personally, I can't stand the AFL constantly changing the rules, experimenting in the preseason with no kicking backwards, minimum length of a kick etc. Why do we want to constantly change the greatest game in the world? I really can't see the point and it only confuses players, umpires and supporters.

IMHO it has farce like qualities. They introduce a new rule and are gung ho about it for a few weeks and then they discover it has negative and unplanned consequences (collateral damage) or it's just there to keep the game in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Having spawned a huge and for the most part, not very bright army of football journos they now have to keep them busy and keep them happy by allowing them to regularly mount and exercise their hobby horses.

All part of the attempt to keep football admin at the lowest common denominator. The odd worthwhile change happens but more by luck than good management.

Now if you want to really get me going try talking about the stupid and endlessly redundant language that the rules of the game and most other edicts are couched in. It's the best example yet of why failed lawyers should never be let loose on the English language.

[Dry Rot]

At any particular point in time I'd agree with everyone here.

But over time, have they generally been good for the game?

Or does everyone prefer the game played as I've seen from a grainy old video from the sixties?

What significant rule changes have been made over the last 40 years?

[bulldogtragic]

Centre square was a good idea limiting the players at the centre bounce.

[BulldogBelle]

In some ways it has been good seeing some new Rules being introduced by the AFL, but as rules have been introduced you will always hear of some players not fully understanding the rule changes etc, perhaps if they want to keep introducing these rules more explanation should be give to the players and coaches.

[Sockeye Salmon]

I really, really like the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags. It makes it harder for the defending team to set up a zone defence and ZDs are a major blight on the modern form of the game. I hate seeing players run to mind space and really like the fact that with the quick kick in pretty much the only option is to go man on man.

I really, really hate the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags.

Let's say you're around the centre square somewhere. You leave your man and run 30 metres to lay a shephard so your teammate can have a shot. He misses. The opposition kick it in straight away and your bludging opponent - who hasn't bothered to chase you - is now 50 metres clear on the wing.

[Dry Rot]

IIRC the rationale for rule changes is to speed the game up. But has it been the rule changes or innovative coaching that has really sped the game up?

[alwaysadog]

IIRC the rationale for rule changes is to speed the game up. But has it been the rule changes or innovative coaching that has really sped the game up?

The new marking rule won't affect the speed of the game. The game evolves on its own, coaches constantly seek ways to get an edge. The reason the game has changed from the way it used to be are vastly improved tactics, conditioning and skills.

In the past rule changes only occurred when there appeared to be something of a bottleneck, not as an annual media event. So there would be attempts to overcome it. Now we interfere with the natural evolution of the game and it is often not well based.

Attempts to speed up the game through the rules do so artificially and actually change the nature of the game and limit the capacity to innovate.

The idea of a standing Rules Committee is an admission of failure, something is wrong and needs fixing, and for their part the Committee must be responsive to the need.

Soccer has far fewer rules, which by the way are very simply written, but is far more technical than AFL, and changes to it's rules are few and far between.

[bornadog]

I really, really hate the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags.

Let's say you're around the centre square somewhere. You leave your man and run 30 metres to lay a shephard so your teammate can have a shot. He misses. The opposition kick it in straight away and your bludging opponent - who hasn't bothered to chase you - is now 50 metres clear on the wing.


I agree, in fact that rule didn't help us at all. In 2005 we kicked the most goals from carrying the ball all the way down from the kick in. In 2006 , I don't believe we were the highest goal kickers in that dept?

[Twodogs]

I really, really hate the rule that lets a defender kick the ball in after a behind without waiting for the goal umpire to wave the flags.

Let's say you're around the centre square somewhere. You leave your man and run 30 metres to lay a shephard so your teammate can have a shot. He misses. The opposition kick it in straight away and your bludging opponent - who hasn't bothered to chase you - is now 50 metres clear on the wing.



So you dont have teammates who can cover for you? Do we have to stand around waiting for the umpire. What if the umpire waves his flag and you still havent found where your opponent has run off too?

[GVGjr]

I think they get a lot of the rules right but it seems some rules are changed just for the sake of it. I like the idea of trialling the rules in the pre-season comp.