Crusader wrote:
sinbagger wrote:
sinbagger wrote:
The new stand rule could be interesting, if the penalty is still 50 metres then the outcome for the offending team could be pretty significant (easy goals)
...and it's even worse than that, apparently EVERY opposition player within 5 metres of a free (or mark) being paid must immediately stop and stand where they until "play on" is called! So if there's a ruck free, the entire midfield must stand where they are and let the entire opposition midfield run into the fwd line unopposed! Or if there is pack mark, every opposition player has to stand where they are in the pack and let their opponents run off!
Eventually the umpire will tell the players who are allowed to run off while leaving one to "stand", but by then it will too late and they'll be metres behind their opponents.
This will end well.....
Hang on…. What?
From Michael Gleeson in The Age today
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/the ... 5n6c6.htmlQuote:
That is the new stand rule as it is written and released on Wednesday. A player – any player – within five metres of a player who is paid a mark or a free kick must stand.
It does not specify the closest one – and besides, which player is to decide who is closest? – and it does not say a single player, it says players inside the five-metre protected zone.
So if a free is paid in a pack, all players on the offending team must theoretically stand and not run forwards.
Likewise, if a pack flies for a mark and one player comes down with it. All opposition players must stand.
This is patently absurd and clearly not the intention of the rule. But it is how it is written.
Explaining the new change, Greg Swann said: “If they are in the vicinity, some bloke will stand on the mark, and the umpires can call, ‘Hey Pete, you’re on the mark or whatever’. I think that’s easily umpired.
...
You can understand what they want here, but they can’t find the words to explain it.
Given there is now no option of not standing or moving out of the zone, it has not anticipated what to do in the confusing scenario of multiple players trying to flee the scene.
Do they all stand? If not, which one?
Pity the player who thought the umpire meant for him to stop when, in fact, the instruction was meant for a teammate, and so he lets his opponent run merrily away. He’ll have to sheepishly scuff his way to the bench for a very understanding debrief with the coach, explaining like a guilty kid, “the ump told me to”.
Or just as bad, the player who assumes the ump meant his teammate had to stand, so he runs off, thus giving away a 50-metre penalty and shot at goal.
Working out how to police the change will fall to umpires. They already have a bit on their plate, like where’s Matt Rowell? Was that him? Put him down for three votes.
The idea that a rule is announced with wording that is quite precise but with vague application gives it the impression it was drafted by The Castle’s Dennis Denuto. It’s the vibe, stand.
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