New Rules Causing Unnecessary Confusion | Thebigtip

It has become a recurring pattern for the AFL to tweak the game in unnecessary areas come the start of the year. In the past few years, we have seen the introduction of numerous new rules including the rushed behind rule, hands in the back rule, deliberate rule and advantage rule. It is fair to say that since the inception of these new rules, the game has been shaped into an entirely different competition but has the AFL attempted to fix what was hardly broken?

Long gone are the days of a forward and defender fighting one-on-one for the incoming ball in the goal square. If you simply brush the back or anywhere above the shoulders on your opponent, be aware that you will have a free kick paid against you. It has been made clear that you are allowed to work your opponent under the ball with your forearm but how is that any different to using your hands? Sure, you may not get as much force into your forearm but in both cases, you're still playing with the intention of getting into the better position.

There are a few rules that have been introduced that are plausible and understandable with the purpose of reducing player injuries (such as the concussion rule), but the adaption to new rules that serve little purpose are simply adding confusion. In a competition that is now all about spreads, zones and other tactics, the last thing players need to be worrying about is jovial things like tackling too hard or whether or not to wait for the opponent to attack the footy first to avoid giving away a free kick.

If new rules are going to continue to be brought into the competition, there at least needs to be a higher level of consistency.

In the past two weeks the new advantage rule, allowing players to choose whether or not to continue with the play after a free kick has been paid, has shaped two close games in Gold Coast vs. Brisbane and Geelong vs. Collingwood. In the Suns and Lions game, a pivotal goal was kicked for the Suns who extended their lead to 7-points with minutes left on the clock. In that case, all players stopped except the goalscorer in Liam Patrick. In the dying minutes of the clash for top spot, Geelong's Brad Ottens gave away a free kick for high contact in a ruck contest. Most players continued to attack including one Cat that almost smothered the kick at goal by Scott Pendlebury who split the middle. The goal would have put the Magpies up by 4-points, instead leading to a Geelong win by only 3-points.

Melbourne's Jack Trengove was rubbed out for three matches last week after an appeal against a two-match ban for a rough tackle went awry. The ruling was questionable but eventually accepted. Throughout the most recent round of footy, similar tackles were on display with no punishment. It has left most scratching their heads.

It looks as though the AFL aren't done with shaping the competition to how they see fit. As we all have to re-learn the game at the start of each year, confusing is becoming a routine. Although there is not much that the common supporter can do, the very least we want to see is consistency with new rules. If one thing applies in a contest, the same should apply in another.