Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Demonland

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Change to the Stand Rule Cracks Down on Fake Handballs

Featured Replies

 

Who is running the show at the AFL since Scott moved on?

Seems to be a rudderless ship.

 

Can't access the article so not sure on the specific details, are they just going to call play on in these instances?


Isn’t this just a reversion to an old rule. There was a stage, mid 00’s if I remember correctly, where it was deemed ‘play on’ if you gestured to handball. Happy to stand corrected, but I believe this was a rule in the past. Either way, I very good rule tweak. 

1 hour ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Isn’t this just a reversion to an old rule. There was a stage, mid 00’s if I remember correctly, where it was deemed ‘play on’ if you gestured to handball. Happy to stand corrected, but I believe this was a rule in the past. Either way, I very good rule tweak. 

as far as i remember, only if you moved off the line. of course when opponents started standing to the left or the right it became hard to actually know where the [censored] line was, and for the sake of keeping the game moving the umpires got very lax in setting out the mark properly as they used to do. these days the kicker cribs grossly around the mark a lot especially when the mark is outside the corridor. it drives me spare. the "line" should always be a straight line from the centre of the goals to the mark then extending back

as for the standing on the mark. i would only pay the 50m if the opponent moved fwd of the mark or more than 1 pace laterally left or right. and only play-on if off the mark. for the fake play-on let the umpire use his common sense and just reset

I agree, presuming to fake a handball... Play on!

 

The thing I like about the stand rule is players taking a set shot at goal without defenders running at them as they come in to take their kick. My view is there were multiple examples of the defender running over the mark, disrutping the kicker and never getting pinged for it. Glad to see that stamped out. Couldn't really care less about the rule otherwise in general play and glad to see 50m penalty infringments removed.

16 hours ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

Isn’t this just a reversion to an old rule. There was a stage, mid 00’s if I remember correctly, where it was deemed ‘play on’ if you gestured to handball. Happy to stand corrected, but I believe this was a rule in the past. Either way, I very good rule tweak. 

Same old AFL rehashing old rules into new ones, they can't help them selves.


The changes are sensible, but still overly finicky. But they need to change more. For a start, the nominating a Ruckman rule is ridiculous; if they really want to stop a third man up, and I don’t really understand why they want to, then you just penalise a team if two people compete at the same ruck contest. And the one that really drives me crazy is the 30 second rule. You are supposed to play on quite quickly around the field but you are given 30 seconds to prepare a shot for goal. Fair enough I suppose. But when the kick is then an attempt to pass to another player – as was once brilliantly exploited by ANB - the team is given another 30 seconds, and that is ridiculous. It should be limited to 1 thirty second allowance per forward 50 entry. 

2 hours ago, Ollie fan said:

The changes are sensible, but still overly finicky. But they need to change more. For a start, the nominating a Ruckman rule is ridiculous; if they really want to stop a third man up, and I don’t really understand why they want to, then you just penalise a team if two people compete at the same ruck contest. And the one that really drives me crazy is the 30 second rule. You are supposed to play on quite quickly around the field but you are given 30 seconds to prepare a shot for goal. Fair enough I suppose. But when the kick is then an attempt to pass to another player – as was once brilliantly exploited by ANB - the team is given another 30 seconds, and that is ridiculous. It should be limited to 1 thirty second allowance per forward 50 entry. 

1/Totally agree re Ruck contests

2/ If they stopped the clock after a mark / free kick when going for goal until the ball hits foot or hand, then you’d eliminate this type of time wasting.

1 hour ago, Big Col said:

1/Totally agree re Ruck contests

2/ If they stopped the clock after a mark / free kick when going for goal until the ball hits foot or hand, then you’d eliminate this type of time wasting.

good idea on point 2.   player would have to nominate he's going for a goal, say within 5 seconds. then ump signals time off. if he doesn't nominate then he gets the usual 5 seconds (or whatever it is). if he nominates then doesn't shoot for goal, no probs. 

all sounds too sensible.

p.s, if he does nominate and the game clock is stopped he still only gets a max of 30 secs, else play-on signalled

Any rule changes about how umpires could be under increased scrutiny in view of last year's revelations??

Sensible tweak to an overly officious rule, but as always there will be 1000 different interpretations - 


Here’s an idea, just get rid of the friggin 50m penalty for encroaching the ‘area’ all together. A stupid rule that never should have been brought in in the first place.

And get rid of the farcical “stand” rule too whilst we’re at it.

Edited by Demon Disciple

Once again an ill-thought-out AFL sponsored rule change triggers unintended consequences and is rapidly scrapped/modified/reinterpreted due to the creative ways of coaches and players.

It is both amusing and predictable.

It's a sensible change if you want 'stand' to stand, but really, who needed 'stand' in the first instance?

Oh, and the protected area rule? I'm with DD. Scrap it.

INTERPRETATION. Yes, I know it's a funny word AFL Rules committee but we need to have less of this in an umpire's job description. Not more. 

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Gold Coast

    Melbourne’s slow starts have been a troubling theme for a while. Against the Suns, they started slowly in both of their games, they trailed by 5.7.37 to 0.1.1 at quarter time at Peoples First Stadium in Round 16. This season, the story has remained the same and if the Demons fail to shake off this issue against the unbeaten Gold Coast Suns, they will be in serious danger of capitulating once again in their Easter Sunday showdown.

    • 6 replies
  • NON-MFC: Round 04

    Round 4 of the 2026 AFL Premiership Season is upon us and it is the last week of the early season byes. Who are you tipping this week and what are the best results for the Dees Finals chances? 😜

      • Like
    • 84 replies
  • PREGAME: Gold Coast

    The Demons are back at the MCG for the second week in a row. They face the Suns off a 15 day break without their prized recruit and former Demon champion Christian Petracca. This will be a massive test for the Demons who will be facing a genuine Premiership contender. Who comes in and who goes out?

    • 289 replies
  • REPORT: Carlton

    The text messages started flooding in shortly after quarter time. One read: “Is Melbourne even at the ground?” Moments later, as Carlton’s Elijah Hollands kicked the first goal of the second term, the Blues held a commanding 43-point lead. By then, the Demons’ only score was a behind kicked by Brody Mihocek nearly five minutes into the game. Ironically, Mihocek would also register the last minor score of the day after the game took a dramatic turnaround. 

    • 4 replies
  • POSTGAME: Carlton

    The Demons snatched Victory form the Jaws of Defeat as they clawed their way back from 43 points down to win by 23 points in Max Gawn and Tom McDonald's 250th matches at the MCG. Never in Doubt!!!

      • Haha
      • Love
      • Thanks
      • Like
    • 564 replies
  • PODCAST: Carlton

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on TUESDAY, 31st March @ 8:00pm. Join Binman, George & I as we dissect the Dees miraculous 66 point turnaround win against the Blues at the G.

    • 49 replies

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.