'It became blurry after '16 flag': Bevo's advice for holding the ball rule

[bornadog]

BAD have you not seen what happens sometimes when players happen to be on the ground and the ball comes to them?

Players lying down on the ground is a different story

[bornadog]

My preference is for the game to evolve strategically and tactically without much intervention through adaptation/ changes in rules.

Me too

The current situation has evolved because the Prior Opportunity rule was brought in.

the knock on effect has been AFL trying to introduce more rules to counteract congestion (created by the current POR). 6.6.6., STAND, STAND, STAND, kickouts from goal square, reduction of interchange.

What they are doing is destroying the basic fabric of the game.

[comrade]

If Saints kicked straight, I doubt Ratten whinges in the press conference. Blaming the rules, umpiring etc is the fall back for a struggling coach.

[Grantysghost]

Me too

The current situation has evolved because the Prior Opportunity rule was brought in.

the knock on effect has been AFL trying to introduce more rules to counteract congestion (created by the current POR). 6.6.6., STAND, STAND, STAND, kickouts from goal square, reduction of interchange.

What they are doing is destroying the basic fabric of the game.

Was it that bad after they brought it in? I don't remember the game immediately being congested, I also don't believe it will de-congest the game if removed. Coaches will find a way.

[bornadog]

If Saints kicked straight, I doubt Ratten whinges in the press conference. Blaming the rules, umpiring etc is the fall back for a struggling coach.

Even if they kicked straight in the first, doesn't mean they win. Anything can happen in the next three quarters, and they did. Geelong outplayed them.

I know there is scoreboard pressure, what we don't know is what Geelong would have done if they were say 5 goals behind?

[bornadog]

Was it that bad after they brought it in? I don't remember the game immediately being congested, I also don't believe it will de-congest the game if removed. Coaches will find a way.

No, not straight away, it has slowly evolved as coaches exploit the rules. They create stoppages, which increases congestion, when their team is good at stoppage work - like us. We love a stoppage.

[FrediKanoute]

Yeah getting rid of prior opportunity would remove the HTB issue but would also totally disincentivise being first to the ball.

Not really, because it would incentivise tackling properly.

[Go_Dogs]

If Saints kicked straight, I doubt Ratten whinges in the press conference. Blaming the rules, umpiring etc is the fall back for a struggling coach.

A brilliant deflection.




Also I agree with mjp. Rules are there - seem pretty straight forward. Coaches, commentators and fans just need to educate themselves. And umpires need to follow the rules. Speed of game definitely a factor, but ball it up when in doubt.

[Grantysghost]

Percentage of tackles rewarded with free kicks top and bottom 4.
No surprise to see which coaches are whinging.


The Crows (11) are followed by Carlton (9.6), Melbourne (9.5) and Port Adelaide (9.3) in the top four.

At the bottom end, Richmond is the hardest done by, with only 5.9 per cent of the Tigers' tackles rewarded with a free kick. Fremantle (6.9) and Sydney (6.2) also rank low.

The other club in the bottom four? St Kilda, with 6.3 per cent of the Saints' tackles drawing a free kick. It is likely Rutten's frustration last Friday night was more than a one-week gripe.