Rules "Stand" Rule

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FWIW, hearing the umpire yell 'Stand' is 99% of the problem with the rule.

The concept of a player having to stand on the Mark and not move isn't really that technical or complicated.

IMO the umpire shouldn't say anything. If the player goes over the Mark or moves laterally on the Mark, then it's 50m. Simple. Done.

But, if it's considered really important for some reason for the umpire to inform the player, then at least mute the mic so the rest of us don't have to hear it.
How are the players expected to know where the umpire thinks the mark actually is? The game moves continually. Players and umpires don't see everything from the same angle. Not unusual for the 'mark' to be several metres from where the free kick or mark actually occurs. Players juggle marks and run several metres. Players run several metres before the umpire even blows the whistle. Yet 50 metres is paid if they don't estimate the mark the same as the umpire?
 

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It seems to be working. I'm used to it, players are now as well.
Wait till a Grand Final is decided by a late 50-metre penalty because a player didn't guess correctly where the mark was, or tried to get outside 5 and was called to stand while running.
 
Wait till a Grand Final is decided by a late 50-metre penalty because a player didn't guess correctly where the mark was, or tried to get outside 5 and was called to stand while running.
Considering how ridiculously lax the umpires are on allowing a player to guard the mark to cover an immediate play on, then move outside 5, if someone actually gets caught by this its their own fault.

Not the rules or the umpires.
 
Considering how ridiculously lax the umpires are on allowing a player to guard the mark to cover an immediate play on, then move outside 5, if someone actually gets caught by this its their own fault.

Not the rules or the umpires.
 
The umpire is clearly calling MacKay to stand. Then he decides to turn around and run away...
McKay is standing way behind the mark, so he assumed it was the player actually on the mark who was the one being asked to stand. McKay is trying to clear the area, and has no impact on the player with the ball. So it's 50Metres because McKay can't read the umpire's mind?
 
McKay is standing way behind the mark, so he assumed it was the player actually on the mark who was the one being asked to stand. McKay is trying to clear the area, and has no impact on the player with the ball. So it's 50Metres because McKay can't read the umpire's mind?
He doesn't have to read the umpires mind.

There's no mind reading needed when the umpire is calling his name.
 
McKay was clearly the player on the mark, then his mate slid across to take his position, so Harry could fold back into defence. Umpire gave him ample opportunity to 'stand'. It's an inconsistent rule, but that was the right call.
 

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The stand rule is the very least of the games problems around rules and umpiring at the moment
Yes and no. It's not the biggest problem in itself, but it contributes to one of the games biggest problems: inconsistent, confusing and contentious umpiring decisions.

We should be making umpiring simpler, more consistent, more transparent. How are we supposed to explain this rule and how it is umpired to newcomers to the game?
 

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Rules "Stand" Rule

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