This year the Australian Football League has introduced a new rule regarding putting your hands in another players back during a contest. The old rule states that you cannot push another player in the back but the new rule states that you cannot even put your hands on their back, even if you are not pushing them.
I believe that this rule is a stupid rule because it is eliminating some of the best "hangers" (when a player takes a mark up another player's back) in our game today. One example of this is when Brett Burton took a spectacular mark up his opponent's back which is legal but because he used his hands in his opponent's back to steady himself, the mark was not paid. This was regarded one of the worst decisions of the season and this crazy new rule is to blame. Brett did not push his opponent at all which is the most annoying thing. This mark could have been a contender for mark of the year and Brett could have had an easy shot at goal but instead the ball was turned over and the opposition cleared out of defense. Spectacular marks are one of the most appealing skills of Australian Rules football and we should not be making it harder for our players to create such magic!
Another downside to this rule is that it is making it impossible for backmen to defend forwards. The forwards are so protected now by the hands in the back rule and backmen are having a lot more trouble stopping them without giving away free kicks. I believe this rule should be seriously reviewed by the AFL board and maybe even scrapped entirely.
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3 comments:
Hey
I totally agree with your view on the hands in the back rule. This footy season has been rather boring because of there being no hangers taken and when there one taken it is called a push in the back. It is really bad of the AFL to think they can change the rules in that and still think there is a good game of footy to be played...
From Bettess
Hey toddy
i think that you have a strong point with the hands in the back rule but i do not support your view. I believe that the new rule may protect the forward but if the backman has front position it also protects him. this makes the plays want to gain front position more often which requires more skill.
jack r
Hey toddy
I agree with you totally the new rule is completley wrong it makes it nearly impossible for backman to steady themself before punching the ball away from the leading foward. the rule is a stupid rule and i think the AFL should look at it closley next year.
The rule is changing one of the taraditions of the game as you said it is taking hangers out of the game. i agree with you and the rule should be droped next year
Wicksy
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