Good to hear it from a champions perspective.......

Lockett: Don't destroy contest

Tim Morrissey with AAP

May 17, 2007 12:00am

AFL great Tony Lockett has slammed the league's new hands-in-the-back rule, saying it is destroying the traditional contest that is such a feature of the game.

The reluctant superstar, who holds the AFL's goal kicking record of 1360, made a rare public appearance in Sydney to promote the sport at junior level.

The former Sydney Swans and St Kilda full forward believes the new rule introduced this season has made life too difficult for defenders.

Asked how many goals he could have ended up with under the new rule, the former Brownlow medallist replied: "How long is a bit of string?

"For mine it's not a good rule I don't think. I think a contest between a forward and a back should be a contest and I think they've taken a fair bit out of that.

"It makes it very hard for a back man to put enough physical pressure on a forward........

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,2...9-11088,00.html or http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,2...1-23211,00.html

(And woo hoo, thats 900 posts up for me !!!)

great to hear but demity and andy dont care about any ones opinion except their own and how much wind they can blow up each other

this one rule has made me lose more faith in the afl than i think anything else they've done, possibly even put together.

how can it be brought in without being trialled, let alone without even seeking the opinion of the fans. i've no doubt the afl are simply trying to neaten the game up so it can be presented as a nice little package and sold to any other, rich, people who are not as yet connected to the game.

i've not heard one person who is vehemently for the rule, and haven't yet heard proper rationale for it's introduction.

this stinks of an arrogant head office who don't care about the people who really make this game great, for after all without fans there's nothing.

jesaulenko you...bloomen fool, you put your hands in the back and ruined the game's most recognisable quote

This post has got me thinking about the suitability of demity at the top of the AFL, this guy openly states that he is a soccer man. I don't care how much management experience he has, if the heart is not in the right place then he is not the right man to progress the code. This year is the first year that I am frequently bagging umpires decisions that go Melbournes way!, the new the rules are just ruining the game, reminds me of when I played mixed netball lol just so soft with contact etc..

Unfortunately it seems difficult to reverse these new rules and I worry that they are going to ruin the game forever

This year is the first year that I am frequently bagging umpires decisions that go Melbournes way!,

that's incredibly true. i've literally started screaming abuse when we've got a free kick on occasions they've been that bad. people around me say that it's our free, but doesn't really bother me. they should be instructed to put the whistle in their pockets

Wondering if there will ever be a free kick paid when a defender gives his forward mate a pat on the back to say well done?

watch out for this one, it happens at least 20 times a game. midfielders trying to chase down a player and end up putting hands on the back when/after the ball is kicked. waiting for that to be paid, then the vain in the neck will really pop