Which decade had the best AFL/VFL rules?

[Cleansweep17]

Which decade do you think had the best AFL/VFL rules and why? Would you bring any old rules back into the modern game?

 

[Daka]

Mid to late 90s to early 2000s in my opinion, after early 2000s the rule changes every year & consistency dropped at AFL.

 

[South of the Yarra]

I loved the 1920s. Watching it was a treat. Best rules I have seen. They just let em play.

 

[copthat]

Best time for me was around 2007-2012ish, maybe even a touch later. I used to look forward to watching most games and my own team despite Richmond being terrible.

I hate the recent rule changes around rotations, stand, 6-6-6, among others. Everyone is pigeon holed into playing the same way and it feels like I'm watching a manufactured product. I only really look forward to watching my team these days and the occasional blockbuster.

 

[Breretonisahood]

Best and most important rule changes were in 60s and 70s: out on the full, centre square (started as a diamond), banning flick passes and allowing player interchange. From then til 2010s was great. Modern rules protecting head and generally reducing violence are good but stand rule, 666, ruck nomination/3rd man up and insufficient intent OOB are bs.

 

[RUNVS]

Mid to late 90s to early 2000s in my opinion, after early 2000s the rule changes every year & consistency dropped at AFL.

Problem is they changed for a reason. Can you imagine how awful the game would be in 2024 if the deliberate out of bounds rule was entirely removed, or making it far harder for a player to be caught holding the ball. it would slow the game down massively and make it almost unwatchable.

 

[hawkman]

Problem is they changed for a reason. Can you imagine how awful the game would be in 2024 if the deliberate out of bounds rule was entirely removed, or making it far harder for a player to be caught holding the ball. it would slow the game down massively and make it almost unwatchable.

Would be awful, stoppage after stoppage, like a constant rugby maul. Also deliberate rushed behinds would be exploited every close game

 

[verypoorboy]

2020s easily.

People like to go back to nostalgia and the good ol’ days. But truth is majority of the rule changes were necessary to improve the game.
Even at the top of my head, think about if we didn’t have:
Prohibiting cheapshot bumps, concussion protocols, deliberate out of bounds, shotclock, 6-6-6, dragging the ball in holding the ball, sliding below the knees, video replay that can decide the outcome of games etc.

Not saying all the rules they’ve brought have been as useful as others. But just saying it’s human nature to hate on the ‘now’, but really the rules have never been better.

 

[Coolangatta]

Review underway.

Looking at this angle, we can see that each decade had a different set of rules.

Decision on the scoreboard.

Umpires call.

 

[Engimal v3]

Could you add an option for the 2030s? I think the best is yet to come

 

[moses]

1910s

 

[adammania9]

I really enjoyed when I used to be able to urinate in my 10 empty cups of beer throughout the day and throw it onto opposition supporters and the umpires if I got close enough

 

[Freomaniac]

1990s.... it was more open and attacking. Oh and intead of 20 minute quaters, it was 25 minute quarters.

start of the 1990s it was 2 players on the bench. Then it increased to 3 then by the end of the 1990s it increased to 4.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Decades ago, the overall rules were far superior, I miss when players could move and psyche out the opposition on the mark, the centre circle being drawn so the players could stand where they wanted, which allowed for creative rucking, no silly sliding tackle rule, no 666 with umpires stopping themselves from balling up to regulate it, no ruck "nomination", no "insufficient attempt".

There's only a few new rules and some past unused preseason rules I liked, no kicking to self from goal square, countdown for kicking at goal, not allowing players to take forever on the mark, no runners on the field, no backwards marking, ball hitting the post being play on if it lands into field of play again.

 

[JackFlash]

The problem with our game is it's more known as "Aussie Rules, What Rules"? We have too many rules and are always changing them, soon we'll have more umpires than players! It's a hard game to watch these days.

 

[Freomaniac]

The problem with our game is it's more known as "Aussie Rules, What Rules"? We have too many rules and are always changing them, soon we'll have more umpires than players! It's a hard game to watch these days.

Yes, More umpires are Bad enough. Ross Lyon and coaches using similar defensive tactics similar to Ross Lyon doesn't help the cause either.

 

[HairyO]

I really enjoyed when I used to be able to urinate in my 10 empty cups of beer throughout the day and throw it onto opposition supporters and the umpires if I got close enough

Good old Vic Park... where you brought an umbrella no matter the weather.

I had a great aunt who was a Pies supporter and she would always sit nearly the walkway so she could have a swing at the umpires.