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Section 5
Norm Smith Medallist
- Nov 26, 2018
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- Brisbane Lions
Grasshopper17 nothing about the AFL or rules of the game are "clear". Lots of grey everywhere.Thanks so much. So yes, the very first clause in that rule, 20.2(a). That is hardly ever interpreted correctly when the ball carrier is in their defensive 50. Seems pretty plain and clear to me.
The way i interpret the rule part that you are interested in 20.2(a) "a direct line from The Mark to the center of their Goal Line"
I interpret the 3 parts of that rule to depend on where the ball is located on or off the playing surface, or where a free is awarded.
The first part
20.2 DISPOSAL FROM BEHIND THE MARK
This rule has three sections a, b, c.
I believe the reason it is in three parts depends on where the ball is located on the ground.
I also believe (a) may have been the original "kicking for goal" rule but that is an assumption on my part
The rule certainly does not state this. But makes sense to me when you take into consideration all the parts of rule 20
from 20.1 through to 20.5.
For a while now they have had a separate Kicking for Goal rule 20.5 since two changes were made.
An after the siren kick and marking on the goal square line where the player gets to kick directly in front & not placed on an angle. The wording of this rule 20.5 is very close to the wording of 20.2 (a)
20.2
(a) i would say this is within goal scoring range but may not necessarily end up a shot on goal by the player.
The key thing here is "directed by the umpire"
If the umpire thinks the player may be having a shot on goal he will direct and line the player up accordingly to the center of the goal. The umpire does the same in the Kicking for Goal rule 20.5
(b) I take this as any area outside (a) so around and outside the forward 50-meter mark but not within the defensive 9-meter protected area 20.4 diagram. Basically, the majority of the playing surface
(c) "from beyond the Goal Line, Behind Line or Boundary Line, in which case Law 20.3 or 20.4 shall apply.
So, anything from these areas of the ground you have to apply rule 20.3 disposal from out of bounds and 20.4 disposal by a defending player- within nine meters. That being the blue (c) area on my image below.
For me it also makes sense after watching the game over the years.
My slack image below is the way i interpret 20.2 a, b, c.
![1723543024431.png 1723543024431.png](https://www.bigfootycontent.com/attachments/1903/1903915-6a7fa770ec21d3511a66f9078d913bfc.jpg)