2011 will see subsitutes and three interchange players instead of four interchange players

Every year at the same time of the year you can count on two things. One most people have failed a month into their new year resolutions and second the AFL has brought in some stupid new rule….

2011 is no exception with the substitute rule coming into affect.

Each team must nominate one of the four interchange players as a substitute when teamsheets are lodged on match day.

The substitute must wear a green vest until he is activated to play and the team-mate he replaces must wear a red vest.

The player who comes off for the substitute cannot return for the rest of the game.

If a club sends a substitute player onto the field before notifying the interchange steward, the opposition club will receive a free kick and 50m penalty.

Now the AFL says they have introduced the substitute system to cut down on the number of injuries and to curb the use of the interchange bench as a tactical tool but we know the truth don’t we? The truth is that the powers of Soccer have somehow infiltrated the AFL rules committee and are ruining the game…

I say we stand up, burn the red and green vests and drag Andrew and his brain washed followers out of their palace….. Ok maybe that is a little too drastic but seriously has anyone came up with any benefits of this new rule?

What do you think of the Aboriginal All Stars Haka?

Personally I think from what is shown above it looks weak! I hope I am proven wrong and it turns out to be a polished dance as the concept and game is an awesome idea but so far it just looks rushed, weak and uninspired!

Whats up for Kick2Kick for 2011

Well we hope to bring a new design before round one, our Dreamteam league will be back with the regular articles with some new changes. If you have written for us before or would like to for 2011, please get in touch with me as we would love to have you on board…

NAB Rule #1 Boundary Umpires can pay a free kick for holding at ball throw ins

To me the biggest mistake of this years rules is that the umpire can give a free kick to a player who pulls the ball under someone to ‘milk a free kick’ for holding the ball.

However first lets list the new rules and then I will give my opinion on the changes and then you can:

1. Boundary umpires will be able to award free kicks for holding at stoppages.
2. Players will now decide whether to use the advantage rule.
3. A player who tries to force the ball under an opponent at a stoppage can be penalised for holding the ball.
4. The no-go zone behind an umpire now applies at all ball ups around the ground.

and these two rules have been scrapped (which is a good thing):

1. Removed the trial rule which meant players were not awarded a mark for a kick backwards.
2. Reverted to the home-and-away rule which requires a kick to travel 15 metres for a legal mark.

My thoughts on these 6 changes for this years NAB

1. I like the idea in theory but can the boundary umpires see enough as they have their back to the play when throwing the ball back in?
2. Again good in theory but will this bring incidents where players milk for 50m penalties when they look to play on. Can the opposition player tackle them or hold them?
3. Rubbish, as its brings in another gray area for the umpire to decide on and now the player on the bottom will drag the ball in to try and get a free kick.
4. I have said for ages, its about the players and not the umpires, umpires you get out of their way!
5. Silly rule.
6. Same as above, a silly rule and about time they scrap it.

Your thoughts on the 6 NAB changes

Please give us your thoughts on the NAB changes and tell us what you like, dislike and if any of these rules should be introduced in the regular season. Or if you have a rule you would like to be introduced or tested, what is it?

Will clashes like this be what Matthew Lloyd will be remembered for or will it be the new Staging rule?

My first comment like I am sure everyone else’s was, “Lucky Matthew Lloyd has retired” but then it got me thinking who else is in danger of loosing some money with this new ‘Lloyd Rule‘ coming into play?

All Bulldogs fans will automatically think of Saints captain Nick Riewoldt who fell over like a dead fly after a chest shoving match between him and Bulldog Brian Lake in last years 2009 Preliminary Final.

Some other names I personally think are in danger are:

• Brad Johnson
• Brent Harvey
• Marc Murphy
• Steve  Johnson
• Nick Riewoldt

So today we are asking for names of players who stage for free kicks and do you think it is a good rule and your thoughts on anything else that comes to mind with the new “Lloyd Rule”.

What comes to my mind is how can you judge what is an act or not? Will a reprimand be worth winning a free kick that could help you win a game?

EDIT (3rd Feb 2010): As provided by AussieRulesBlog, hear is the video link with examples of what ‘staging’ consists off.

EDIT (8th Feb 2010): The Fox sports video does not work, so use the title=”Examples of the new Staging Free Kick rule”>link provided by AussieRulesBlog for examples of the rule.

AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson announces changes to the Rules of the Game for the NAB Pre Season competition.

New NAB Rule One) Rushed Behinds Equals Free Kicks

This rule has come due to two games last year (The 2008 Grand Final and Round 16) were the players used the law by rushing behinds to waste time and releave pressure of themselves.

So now the rule is: A free kick will be awarded on the spot where a behind is rushed.

This rule was suggested by Adelaide’s Coach Neil Craig and now he will be remembered as the idiot who made every defender’s job even harder.

New NAB Rule Two) No Touching After Disposed of the Ball

The second new rule is an automatic free kick and 50m penalty if a player tackles, holds or makes high contact to an opponent after they dispose of the ball.

I think this rule is fair enough but a 50m penalty? I can understand a down the ground free kick but a 50m penalty just takes out all forms of physical contact from a physical game called football, football is not soccer.

New NAB Rule Three) Behind the Umpire is a No Go Zone

The third trial will be the umpire’s ‘no-go’ zone which aims to protect umpires from player contact at centre bounces.

Hey just remember the game is about the players and not the umpires…

New NAB Rule Four) Substitute Players

Two of the eight interchange players are to be designated as substitutes and can be brought onto the field at any time. The player a substitute replaces can take no further part in the game.

I am against any substitute rule, if you bring in a player who has a niggle and he re-injures it, you only have yourself to blame and if you get a player with a new injury, tough luck. I do like how they have got rid of the restricted number of interchanges though.

Other Different NAB Rules

Hear are the other rules that are different to the regular season for the NAB Pre Season competitions:

1. Interchange system: Remove the restriction on the number of interchanges permitted that was used in the 2008 NAB Cup and introduce a system of two substitute players in addition to six standard interchange players;
2. Remove the rule allowing play on when the ball hits the goal or behind post;
3. No marks for backward kicks in the defensive half of the ground;
4. Ball to be thrown up around the ground; and
5. Distance for a kick to be awarded a mark at 20m instead of 15m.

Your Opinion of these New Rules

Its obvious that given any excuse these rules will be carried onto the regular season with comments like this:

Anderson was confident all four changes could be effectively instituted before the start of the home-and-away season if they were deemed beneficial to the game.

Do you like any of these rules? And if so which one would you like to see in the regular season. I myself am against any rule that brings change, just for the sake of it and that brings gray areas into the game. It will be interesting however to see how the umpires and players manage these changes.

Todays post features the rules of the game and Fridays post will feature the two teams and Mondays will feature the wrap ups of the two games (24th & 31st Oct).

THE FIELD

The International Rules Series will be played on a rectangular field measuring 145m in length and 90m in width. As well as the mid-line, there are markings at 45, 20 and 13m from each goal. A maximum of two players per side are allowed between the 45m lines at centre bounces, and the goalkeeper must kick the ball back into play from within the 13m line following overs, behinds or when the ball goes out of bounds over the goal line.

SCORING

At either end of the ground are two point posts and two goal posts with a crossbar and a soccer-style net between the goal posts.

A player can score a goal, which earns six points, by kicking or knocking (not handpassing) the ball into the net, in which case the goal umpire raises both index fingers and signals by waving a green flag.

An over (three points) is scored when the ball is kicked or knocked over the crossbar, whereby the goal umpire extends one arm over his head and waves a red flag.

When the ball travels between the goal and point posts, a behind (one point) is registered, with the goal umpire raising one index finger and waving a white flag.

Play-on will be called if the ball bounces back into play after hitting any of the four posts or the crossbar, while no score is registered if a player on the attacking side carries the ball over the goal or behind line.

If both teams have won one match following the Tests in Perth and Melbourne, the team with the highest aggregate score is awarded the series, while Australia (having won the previous series) retains the trophy if the aggregate score is equal after both matches.

THE OFFICIALS

To complement independent video match referee Ian Curlewis, AFL umpire Stephen McBurney and GAA referee Pat McEnaney have been appointed as on-field officials for the 2008 International Rules Series.

GENERAL RULES

Red/yellow cards:

If an on-field or video referee adjudges a player to have committed a serious offence, he may send the player from the field for the remainder of the match by issuing a red card. Such infractions include insulting a match referee as well as striking, deliberately kicking, head-butting or gouging an opponent. Yellow cards can be issued for wrestling, misconduct, fronting up to an opponent or any other form of physical intimidation, as well as being the third man into a melee.

20-metre penalties:

The AFL’s 50-metre penalty is reduced to 20 metres in the International Rules Series.

Legal tackles:

A legal tackle constitutes grabbing an opponent in possession of the football between the shoulders and thighs, using both arms. One-armed tackles are not permitted. If the player being tackled does not dispose of the ball correctly, he will be penalised.

Opposition players are not allowed to check, challenge or tackle the goalkeeper inside the rectangle area unless he delays the play of the ball. However, the goalkeeper can be tackled when in possession outside his designated area.

Penalty kicks:

If a defender commits an offence in the rectangle directly in front of goal or a personal foul in the larger rectangle in front of goal, a penalty kick is awarded. The player who has been fouled takes the kick from the penalty spot, either placing the ball on the ground or kicking it out of his hands.

The goalkeeper must not move forward of his goal line until the ball is kicked, but is allowed to move along the line in anticipation of the kick.

Marking:

Although Gaelic Football does not recognise marks, as per the rules in Australian Football, a mark will be awarded if a player catches the ball after it has been kicked at least 15m by another player.

Out of bounds:

When the ball goes out of play, a free kick is awarded against the team that last touched the ball. A player from the opposition can either kick or handpass the ball back into play.

Running bounces:

When running with the ball, players must bounce or touch it on the ground every 10m (or six steps). However, there is no limit to the number of times players can ‘solo’ or ‘toe tap’ the ball between hand and foot instead of bouncing.

Bumping:

Shoulder charges or bumps are allowed, provided neither player is airborne and the football is no more than 5m away. However, ‘shepherding’ or unreasonably charging a player will result in a free kick and/or an order off.

Gathering the ball:

A free kick will be awarded against any player on the ground or on his knees who picks up the ball or drags it back into a pack. To promote free-flowing ball movement, the ball can only be knocked on in these situations.

Advantage rule:

Referees can allow play to continue once a free kick has been awarded if they deem it will advantage the receiving team, but there is no recall mechanism in the International Rules Series.

THE CHANGES from 2005

Video match referee:

South African-born lawyer Ian Curlewis has been appointed to this fully independent role to report yellow or red card infractions not detected by match officials. These will be relayed during stoppages or at breaks between quarters. Curlewis, who has a background in officiating disciplinary tribunals in rugby, cricket, tennis and squash, will also help match officials decide who to refer to the International Rules Series tribunal, if needed.

Tribunal penalties:

As opposed to previous series, the tribunal will have the power to impose sanctions that apply during the AFL premiership season and GAA National Football League matches.

Tackling:

In light of recent AFL changes and the implications of Danyle Pearce’s tackle on Ireland’s Graham Geraghty in the 2006 series, a player who slings, slams or drives an opponent into the ground when executing a tackle shall be guilty of gross misconduct and shown a red card. This will result in an order-off for the remainder of the match without replacement.

Replacements:

A yellow card offence will result in players being sent off for 10 minutes, with no replacement allowed during this time.

Time-keeping:

Matches will run for 72 minutes, with four quarters of 18 minutes each, plus additional time added for breaks in play such as the blood rule, stretcher injuries or order-offs.

Interchange players:

While the number of on-field players remains at 15, each side will be able to use nine interchange players (up from eight in 2006) during the course of a game. All team members and interchange players shall be identified on the official team sheet 45 minutes before the game.

Interchange restrictions:

Each team is permitted a maximum of 10 player interchanges per quarter, with unlimited interchanges allowed at quarter breaks. Sides are not permitted to carry over unused interchanges from one quarter to another.

Kick-outs:

The goalkeeper will be the only player permitted to take kick-outs from within the 13m rectangle. All other players must remain outside the 20m line until the ball has been kicked into play.

Handpass:

With the Irish unfamiliar with handballing, it will be permitted for IRS players to play the ball away with either hand or fist, provided there is a definite, underhand striking action.

Consecutive handpasses:

To encourage a kicking game, teams in possession of the football shall not be allowed to make more than four consecutive handpasses before disposing of the ball by foot.

The Rule Explained

AFL clubs must lodge a small piece of paper with an AFL official (The Interchange Official) detailing which player comes off the ground and his replacement, and players must stay inside a box on the interchange while their teammate comes off.

If the player moves out of the box or the official is given a wrong player number his team has infringed and the result can be a free kick, fine of $5, 000 and a 50m penalty.

What is the Problem?

The problem is not the rule so to speak as it will mean that no mistakes will happen like when the Sydney player jumped and played as an extra player. However the problem is that AFL teams in todays game average well over 80 interchanges a game and it can well become very confusing. Not only due to the fact that you have only given one week to change the way that players are interchanged.

In round 8 the clubs were given a week to get used to the new rule and some reports have stated that there were up to 16 infringements which would have resulted in EIGHT 50m penalties and $40,000 in fines.

Most teams managed the problem ok but the problem is most highlighted when a player takes himself off and that gives the official to hand the piece of paper to the interchange official no chance. One example is when a Freo player went off and it meant that for 10-15 seconds they played with 17 players and Bulldogs kicked a goal and won by three points.

Ideas to fix the Interchange Problem

If the AFL really seems that the interchange needs to be changed instead of keeping it as it was (after all it only happened once) I would recommend a more high tech less complicated solution that will see no team play with 17 players while he re sharpens his pencil to scribble down a number.

What are your opinions on this rule? Did you laugh when the Collingwood official tackled Leon Davis to stay inside his square like a naughty school boy? Can and will it work or will it just create more problems?

How to tell when the ball is thrown when Tackled

1. When hitting hand for handball does not show the ball being hit clearly.

How to tell when the ball is dropped when Tackled

1. When ball just drops out of hands, it means the tackled player probably did not handball the ball.
2. When attempting to handball it must be visible that the ball has been handballed.
3. When attempted to kick the ball the tackled person does not make contact.

What makes an Illegal leg/ trip Tackle

1. If the tackle continues below the waist
2. If the majority of the tackle is below the waist a free kick is given (can start or end below waist)
3. Grab the persons leg/ foot

You can be given a card if

• You are reported by an umpire
• continually argue or abuse an umpire
• fighting and rough play

Consequences of receiving a card

A yellow card is the first offense and usually means you spend time off the field and are replaced by a team mate. However if you do something to warrant another card, you will be given a red card which means you cannot play the game and you have a date with the tribunal. The team cannot replace you for a period of time as well.

As you can see receiving a card yellow or red can really disrupt and penalise the team. If you play honest and clean, you will not need to worry about this rule.