Coral Sports Book – AFL warns players rushing could be a thing of the past
Coral sports book – Currently a player can rush a behind without fear of any repercussion other than the opposing side being awarded a single point.
The issue was highlighted in this years Grand Final when the Hawthorn Hawks rushed a league record 11 behinds against the Geelong Cats who were stifled in attack and subsequently hurt on the counter attack.
In this year’s pre season NAB cup, the rule will be trialed for the first tim,e outlawing the rushing of behinds.
The penalty for deliberately knocking the ball through the goals will be exactly the same as deliberately knocking the ball over the sideline – a direct free kick from the point at which the ball crossed the line.
In most cases, a rushed behind would almost certainly result in a goal – a huge seven point advantage for the attacking team.
This puts defenders in a very awkward position, forcing the question ‘Should I just let him kick a goal and save a point or try and stop him and risk a 7 point goal.’
Other rule changes include re-bouncing the ball if the resulting contest from an improper bounce favours one side as well as a softening of the previously harsh interchange rules.
The AFL is confident that if the rules run smoothly they could well be introduced into the home and away season in 2009.
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