kingbob182
Senior List
I feel like the game is relatively good to watch at the moment. I'd rather see elite runners breaking tackles than watch 80s vision of bombs to a 1 on 1 in the forward 50 all day. But I think the game could be improved.
For me, I'd change this:
1. 50m penalty for any player who sits on, holds, or just delays the play of a player who's just taken an intercept mark or caused a turnover with a tackle (holding the ball, incorrect disposal, etc.)
This is kinda already in the rules. It's just never enforced. Players constantly hold up the play, pretending they can't get up or holding onto an opponent who has taken a clear mark while defenders flood back. Punishing this would allow for faster counter-attacking play and reduce flooding, since teams can't rely on holding up play and getting defenders back in position after turnovers.
19.1 SPIRIT AND INTENTION After a Mark or Free Kick has been awarded to a Player, a Fifty Metre Penalty will be awarded against the opposing Team which delays or impedes the play, or behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner.
2. Stop paying free kicks when a player makes no attempt to keep the ball in play, waving their arms, calling for deliberate instead of taking posession, if they and the player who's kicked or handballed it have both shown insufficent intent to keep it in play, throw it in.
This encourages players to keep the game moving.
3. No free kick awarded for Holding The Man if a player begins to take posession and then drops the ball.
A bit like the first one, this is essentially already a rule (Incorrect Disposal). But players constantly get away with incorrect disposal by just letting go of the footy when they pick it up and get immediately tackled, pretending they couldn't pick it up cleanly. This would come down to umpires assessment of whether a player chose to drop the footy.
4. No marks paid for kicking the ball backwards in the defensive 50.
I don't even enjoy seeing my own team do this at the end of a match. It's boring and takes the excitement out of a lot of close finishes. I know it was tested in the Wizard Cup in the early 2000s. I can't remember how it went.
For me, I'd change this:
1. 50m penalty for any player who sits on, holds, or just delays the play of a player who's just taken an intercept mark or caused a turnover with a tackle (holding the ball, incorrect disposal, etc.)
This is kinda already in the rules. It's just never enforced. Players constantly hold up the play, pretending they can't get up or holding onto an opponent who has taken a clear mark while defenders flood back. Punishing this would allow for faster counter-attacking play and reduce flooding, since teams can't rely on holding up play and getting defenders back in position after turnovers.
19.1 SPIRIT AND INTENTION After a Mark or Free Kick has been awarded to a Player, a Fifty Metre Penalty will be awarded against the opposing Team which delays or impedes the play, or behaves in an unsportsmanlike manner.
2. Stop paying free kicks when a player makes no attempt to keep the ball in play, waving their arms, calling for deliberate instead of taking posession, if they and the player who's kicked or handballed it have both shown insufficent intent to keep it in play, throw it in.
This encourages players to keep the game moving.
3. No free kick awarded for Holding The Man if a player begins to take posession and then drops the ball.
A bit like the first one, this is essentially already a rule (Incorrect Disposal). But players constantly get away with incorrect disposal by just letting go of the footy when they pick it up and get immediately tackled, pretending they couldn't pick it up cleanly. This would come down to umpires assessment of whether a player chose to drop the footy.
4. No marks paid for kicking the ball backwards in the defensive 50.
I don't even enjoy seeing my own team do this at the end of a match. It's boring and takes the excitement out of a lot of close finishes. I know it was tested in the Wizard Cup in the early 2000s. I can't remember how it went.