New rules in The Age.

Confirmation of suggested rule changes - the short article is as follows:

The AFL's has focussed on dangerous tackles, staging and bumping the man on the mark after a review of the tribunal system.

The rough conduct guidelines will now include specific references to sling and spear tackles.

The league said there was a growing trend last season where an opponent would bump the man on the mark with excessive force and this would be dealt with under rough conduct guidelines.

Players can now also be fined if they stage for free kicks.

The league says only 68 games were lost through suspension last year, the lowest total since 1985.

Edited February 2, 201015 yr by Rogue
Fixed the link

.......waits for someone to stage a free kick 29th min mark of the last quarter of the grand final 30m out directly infront when 2 points down, suck in the umpire, get the free kick, kick the goal, win the flag and not give a [censored] about the fine.....

Cheers for the edit Rogue, I didn't test but it seemed right looking at the tooltip.

On inserting links, the popup is left aligned to the point where its half off screen.

Further info on Sportal: http://sportal.com.au/AFL-news-display/stagers-sent-to-tribunal-85197 (to be sure)

Re GF.. true. But it will pull it back significantly in the regular season imo. Like melees etc.

Edited February 2, 201015 yr by Trident

Will staging also include the ridiculous practice of dragging the ball under your fallen opponent on the umpire's blind side and holding one up call for "holding the ball"?

Will staging also include the ridiculous practice of dragging the ball under your fallen opponent on the umpire's blind side and holding one up call for "holding the ball"?

You'd hope so. "the act of staging now a reportable offence".

It might take a few costly, well chosen and oft repeated super slow-mo replays to get through to the players though.

You'd hope so. "the act of staging now a reportable offence".

It might take a few costly, well chosen and oft repeated super slow-mo replays to get through to the players though.

The artform of falling forward in a pack for a mark will certainly be scrutinised.

It depends on what level of staging they want to attack. There are a variety of forms of it.

Could the victim in a tribunal charge be also up for staging??

I think the dangerous tackles changes is just making the game basketball even further. I mean what % of injuries are associated with people being slung or having there arms pinned over a weekend let alone a game, it would be very small.

So the AFL then goes and makes the rules stiffer for the defensive side of the game. Geeeebbbuuussss one of the reasons I enjoy football is because of some of the forceful nature of it ffs. It is a, sorry it was a physical game but now every year it is further and further diluted so the AFL can try and keep up with a rubbish, soft game like soccer and keep worried parents keeping there kids involved in the game. That is what has made our game great and so much better than every other sport in the world.

I have no problem with banning the spear tackle, but the whole dangerous tackle thing is just stupid. The correct way to tackle a player is to pin their arms so as to prevent their passing the ball. Now we're being told that this is in fact a dangerous tackle as it prevents them from protecting their head when they hit the ground? And "slinging" a player? So if I only get hold of a handful of jumper or one arm I'm supposed to let go and try again rather than put them down? Every player in the competition understands that there is a slight possibility of being hurt when these things happen and they accept that.

What I do like is the notion of fining players who dive. In particular I want to see something done about the practice of falling to your knees when tackled from behind. It has become a true blight on the game to see the number of frees payed when the player being tackled has dragged their opponent down on top of themselves.

Being fined for staging is fair enough

But I don't agree with anything else.

New rules in The Age.

Confirmation of suggested rule changes - the short article is as follows:

The AFL's has focussed on dangerous tackles, staging and bumping the man on the mark after a review of the tribunal system.

The rough conduct guidelines will now include specific references to sling and spear tackles.

The league said there was a growing trend last season where an opponent would bump the man on the mark with excessive force and this would be dealt with under rough conduct guidelines.

Players can now also be fined if they stage for free kicks.

The league says only 68 games were lost through suspension last year, the lowest total since 1985.

Big Bob Johnson would be broke. He was the best stager I've ever seen! Always near the goals, always a resulting goal and mostly against Coll##@#@#d. Delightful to watch. RIP Big Bob.

I have no problem with banning the spear tackle, but the whole dangerous tackle thing is just stupid. The correct way to tackle a player is to pin their arms so as to prevent their passing the ball. Now we're being told that this is in fact a dangerous tackle as it prevents them from protecting their head when they hit the ground? And "slinging" a player? So if I only get hold of a handful of jumper or one arm I'm supposed to let go and try again rather than put them down? Every player in the competition understands that there is a slight possibility of being hurt when these things happen and they accept that.

If you can sling a 80 to 100kg footballer with a handful of his jumper or holding one arm then you must be in WWF.

The whole issue of dangerous tackle is to outlaw the tackles consisting of two action. One to effect the initial tackle the other to inflict damage, pain or injury.

The game must act to ensure that no players head or spine is unduly compromised in a tackle or contest. Spear tackles, taking out the legs of an airborne player and swinging an already pinned player and driving him recklessly into the turf.

"Every player in the competition understands that there is a slight possibility of being hurt when these things happen and they accept that. "

They can comfort themselves with that every time the Doctor moves the neck/vertebrae support in hospital

Matthew Lloyd sure timed his retirement well!

As bad and unfortunate as it sounds, my thoughts precisely.