LOL, always a clown in the room isn't there...?

It's a basketball forum with an AFL section... Could always not click...

They talk about zoning in the AFL all the time, they believe this 'basketball' tactic is causing one of their problems.

I don't think it is, because their coaches will always look for innovative ways to get an edge on the opposition, it is the way they interpret and change the way they umpire the game that is the biggest problem facing them I believe...

I agree, what they want is not being supported by how they are doing things.

Why would a player who kicks a goal need to sprint off the ground to talk to the coach immediately?

This is ludicrous, leave him out there and rest for the bounce and maybe he can get his team another goal!!

Seems to me that they are allowing too many interchanges, so what's the answer to this problem?

1. Reduce the number of interchanges to say 10 per quarter, so players will stay on longer because if there is a late injury the coach will always have to save one near the end of the quarter?

2. Reduce the number of interchange players, maybe increasing the injury subs so it is less flexible but still allows injuries to be replaced?

3. Some combination of these, but also taking into account that it is a physical game and injuries may need to be treated?

The rest of the game, the talk of changing this rule and that rule is not necessary, I believe their rules are fine, they just need to actually umpire according to them and not allow the illegal and holding tactics...

Who cares, it's footy...

Stupid question/statement, the people above care obviously, and i'm sure there's others who do as well.

Problem with the AFL is the rules change every year more than just about any other sport in the planet, the rules start becoming almost arbitrary

It was on 360 this week. The major issue ATM is the stoppages which come from out of bounds throw-ins. Teams need to be discouraged/penalised for kicking wide and hugging the boundary line.

Also one game referees over officiate and barley call anything. this the inconsistency in calls isn't affecting the scoring anywhere near as much as the stoppages. I believe the Collingwood vs Port game has 37 minutes of stoppages.

Sorry for the grammar mistakes. Wish you could edit a post...

Trial in the pre-season having a rule where the front 6 and back 6 from each team cannot pass the half way line respectively.

In my view, this would reduce flooding tactics, open the game up, improve the spectacle, reduce impact injuries and collisions, increase scoring, encourage more 1 on 1 contests, and stop games looking like U-12 games (36 players chasing the ball like headless chooks).

But this might turn out to be a different sport. You won't know until you try it.

It shouldn't be too hard to enforce. The third umpire has nothing better to do than count heads when the ball is in the other half of the field.

Penalty is a free kick and 50 metres.

Should stop the issue with interchanges as well.

If everyone wants the game more like it was 20 years ago, this is the way to force it to be like that (Lockett never chased past the 50 metre line!)

The AFL has created this by constantly changing the rules, they are a mess. Leave the rules exactly as they are and change how you interpret them.

In 2013 when the umpiring interpretations were tight 12 teams scored over 2000 points for the season. Last season when they paid only obvious free kicks only right reached that mark.


It mirrors scoring in the NBL, whistle it tightly and offence rules, let it be physical and defence rules. There is no need for zones or any such rule changes.

Historically, the game was a little slower and that was part of the reason it was played more in thirds, as stated above. You still got congestion but not to the same extent. Improvement in ground surfaces led to the game speeding up a little, because fewer games were played on wet, soft surfaces. That meant players could get to more contests.

In the 1990s, as with other professional sports, more money was invested in coaches and support staff that led to new tactics being developed. Flooding was the most obvious but zoning started then.

In spite of all that, the fundamental change, with biggest impact, was the introduction of interchange benches. That has allowed coaches to increase the use of tagging, zoning and run-with tactics, all of which lead to more stoppages.

Given how different that change has made the modern game from its roots, I think another fundamental change is needed. The number of active players on the field should be reduced by 2 or 3. i.e., to 15 or 16. Retain the same number of interchange players, to allow for injury treatment etc, as pointed out above. Eliminate the substitute (no longer needed) and return that player to an interchange role.

Haha, good call.

I say forget ball-ups and throw ins, and change to a possession arrow system for all stoppages ;)

If they could kick straight more often than not, it would help the score line. I just am against some teams playing closed roof and other teams in the rain and wind.

What about the idea of reducing the number of players on the field? Maybe radical, but if 18 went down to 16 or perhaps 14-15, surely the freedom of space would not only create more opportunity to score, but we'd up ball movement in the process...?

.....Speed up ball movement.......