With only 6 days to go until the season opener the AFL have today announced that two of the rules that were trialled in the NAB Cup will be brought into the premiership season permanently.

Rushed behinds have now been outlawed meaning that if a player deliberately concedes a behind an opposition player will take a free kick from where the behind was conceded from.

the other rules that was introduced is designed to stop players who tackle or hold an opposition player after the ball has been disposed of. If a player is caught breaking this rule a 50m penalty will be rewarded to the opposing side.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said that during the pre-season players were able to keep the ball in play to keep the game flowing instead of conceding rush behinds.

“The Commission’s view was that the deliberate rushed behind rule and the 50m penalty for tackling a player after disposal rule had worked well in the pre-season period and would benefit the game,” Anderson said in a statement released by the AFL on Friday.

“The quality of football that has been played over the 2007 and 2008 seasons has been outstanding, and the AFL remains committed to ensuring the game remains an exciting and free flowing spectacle.”

Wording and interpretation of new laws


15.12 FREE KICK – DELIBERATE RUSHED BEHINDS

A Free Kick shall be awarded against a Player from the defending Team who intentionally Kicks, Handballs or forces the football over the attacking Team’s Goal Line or Behind Line or onto one of the attacking Team’s Goal Posts. In assessing whether a Free Kick should be awarded under this Law, the field Umpire shall give the benefit of the doubt to the Defender. A Free Kick awarded under this Law shall be taken at the point where the football crossed the Goal Line or Behind Line or from the relevant Goal Post.

Interpretation:
When an Umpire is determining whether to award a free kick for a deliberate rushed behind the considerations are:
• What is the player’s intention?
• Is the player contesting the ball?
• What is the degree of pressure the player is under?
• Was there a team mate in the vicinity of where the ball crossed the scoring line?

For clarification:
• Players who are contesting the ball in a marking contest or in general play may punch or knock the ball away from their opponents to prevent them from gaining possession of the football or from scoring. This will not be deemed to be deliberately rushed.

• Where a player is in possession of the football and is tackled near the scoring line, he must dispose of or attempt to dispose of the ball in complying with the laws of the game. A player will receive the benefit of the doubt in this situation.
15.10 (b) FREE KICKS AFTER DISPOSAL

(b) If a field Umpire is satisfied that a Player tackles, holds or makes high contact against a Player who has disposed of the football for the purpose of preventing that Player from being able to run to the next contest then, if it is a greater penalty than would otherwise be provided by Law 15.10(a), the field umpire shall award a free kick and a 50 metre penalty to that Player’s team.

The Laws Committee consists of Adrian Anderson (Chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Luke Darcy, Brendon Gale, Matthew Pavlich, Rowan Sawers, Michael Sexton and Andrew McKay.

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