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In rugby, if a player intercepts the ball and is tackled over the scoring line, he wins the ball. But if he was tackled over the line while his team was in possession, it is a turnover.
In the NFL, if you cannot pass your scoring line (and therefore enter the field of play) following the opposition's possession, you still retain the ball. However, if you cannot pass that line on your own possession, you concede two points and turn possession over.
The AFL should simply adopt such a system. If a defender rushes a behind directly from a turnover, let him kick it out as usual. However, if he rushes it and the last disposal was a teammate's, then award a free kick.
This eliminates any need for the umpire to determine whether or not the rushed behind was deliberate, and punishes the real offender here - errant disposal on the last line of defence.
So simple. So sensible.
With thanks to Doug, the one-man think tank.
The AFL has this evening announced that a player who misses his set shot for goal will be penalised with a free kick against. AFL Football Operations Manager Adrian Anderson said the move was a positive initiative from the Rules Committee.
The AFL has long had battles with both wastage of time and deliberately allowing the ball to leave the field of play, and it claims that set shot misses are one of the key offenders of both of these.
"When a player lines up a shot, it takes far too long. Measures are already in place to ensure that shots are taken within 30 seconds," Anderson said. "This is time that could be used for fast, TV-friendly action that would captivate audiences and, most importantly, attract sponsors.
"Having the shot miss the target and only advance the team's score by only one point seems like that half-minute has been wasted.
"Of course, the player is also, quite clearly, deliberately booting the ball out of the field of play. That action cannot be condoned."
Anderson explained that this move would encourage shots at goal on the run, rather than from over the mark.
"Everyone prefers shots on the run - they are much more exciting. I always get goosebumps when, say, Buddy Franklin turns and plays on from the mark. It's what people want to see," he added.
Under the new rule. a player who misses a set shot will have to kick the ball in the wrong direction from the spot the shot had been taken, and the opposition would regain possession from the point the ball landed, instead of the traditional kick-out from the goal square.
"The AFL feels that viewers would rather see more action football and less of players pulling their socks up," Anderson explained. "We are confident that, in general, the football world will understand the reasons for this decision and will support it."
The new rule will be implemented in the NAB Cup, and could be in place for Round One of the season proper if the Rules Committee deems it successful.
The Blues have suspended Setanta O'hAilpin indefinitely. He punched a teammate, and gave him a little extra love-tap with the boot while he was down for good measure. Now he cannot mix or train with his team, and will undergo anger management therapy.
But while Carlton may have very short memories, a lot of us don't.
It wouldn't look out of place on The Rich List - how many Brendan Fevola indiscretions can you name?
Four? Five? Six?
One, quite notably, also involving some punches, deportation and playing a part in the suspension of an international rivalry for a few years.
In some ways, yes, punching a teammate is worse than punching a stranger in a bar. But in some ways, it isn't. If a stranger irritates you, you never have to see them again. Let alone trust, train with or shower with them - all while putting on a happy face and essentially lying to the public about how much you get along with them.
Setanta's outburst was really bad, the last thing that a footy team wants to see. It was unprofessional, immature and mostly inexcusable. It invoked images of the infamous incident in which Lee Bowyer attacked West Ham teammate Kieron Dyer onfield during an English Premier League match.
But what message is Carlton sending here? Brendan Fevola may have got a week for any of his public failures. However unprofessional or immature his mostly inexcusable actions may be, somehow he manages to take the field in club colours within a fortnight.
Setanta, on the other hand, commits one sin and is out. His career is in jeopardy. There are buckets of young kids on the Blues' list that will look at this and take away from it the message that Carlton sells untouchability at the cost of just 99 goals a season.
It doesn't have to be like that. Collingwood were potential flag challengers last season but still suspended two of its biggest and most in-form names in Didak and Shaw for the last month and a half of the year for their deceit. They showed that it doesn't matter who you are, your conduct will earn consequences.
Carlton have shown the exact opposite.
Midway through season 2008, I ran an review of the top 10 handballers in the league [CLICK HERE]. These were the players who may not get the media attention or fan adoration of the flashier marquee players, but whose contribution to the team is almost immesurable.
I wagered that, with the exception of Black and Mitchell, it is highly unlikely that any would finish very high up in the Brownlow count, but would in their teams' Best and Fairest awards
[ Click here to read more ]
September 22nd 2008 09:02
While the Hawks could point out that Geelong suffered the worst loss of any top eight team this year, it’s probably best for them to focus on their own strengths.
Forwards and forward defensive pressure
[ Click here to read more ]
September 22nd 2008 09:00
On the odd chance that their 41 wins from 43 games doesn’t convince you, we better take a look at how the Cats have managed to achieve them.
Less reliance on marking forwards
[ Click here to read more ]
September 17th 2008 13:17
Lord, grant me the patience to endure stories about local players’ mothers before the real news…
I’ve been living in Perth for the last six weeks, and it has been a real culture shock in terms of football. It takes up no small part of my headspace now that my Hawks are up top again, but you’d hardly realise that most of the teams were based in Victoria from the reporting over here. For instance, at the time of its announcement, I was shocked to hear that the evergreen Robert Harvey would be retiring from the game
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Western Bulldogs v Essendon at Telstra Dome
With the Bombers out of the finals race, it's not too surprising to see them ring in the changes. Fletcher, Jetta, Laycock, Hille and Dempsey all sit this game out injured, to be replaced by some uncharted names like Bellchambers, Hocking and debutant Cale Hooker. The Bulldogs played well below their par against the Lions last week, but with a first final against the Hawks all sewn up, they can be excused for having little to play for. Nonetheless, this is the first deep breath the Dons will take after a bruising season and we may see them make more tired mistakes than a side preparing to play for a few more weeks yet
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Melbourne v Geelong at the MCG
There's something about the top team taking on the bottom team that breeds wild theories as to how the upset of the century will come about. Rarely, however, are two teams so genuinely deserving of their respective places. The Cats are one of the best units that we've seen for a while. The Dees have been appalling all year. The best they can hope for this week is to learn a bit about how to play for each other and use every member of the list
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Collingwood v Hawthorn at the MCG
Collingwood were simply woeful last week against the Bombers from the opening bounce. Hawthorn - who are also coming off a loss - will be on high alert against a team that is out to prove their premiership credentials. The Hawks, however, did a lot to show that they can mix it with the best, as they were well within striking distance in the shadows of full time against the Cats last week. Their forward defensive pressure was admirable, and the Pies appear to have too small a defence this week to cope with the likes of Franklin and Roughead
[ Click here to read more ]
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