Push in the back reinterpretation

[murray]

Repost from another forum:

There is a lot of whinging about this at the moment, especially from defenders and coaches. I actually think it is a good interpretation for the game, it had gotten to the stage that any old hack could make life very difficult for even the most talented forwards just by pushing them in the back while pretending to compete for the ball. Now defenders have to be able to compete physically for the front position or compete athletically to mark above the forward.

 

[lockyno1]

Personally I hate the rule but I can see why they have done it. It is plainly to get more high scoring games, which in turn creates more excitement. Is that entirely true, well who knows. Some of my best games are low scoring affairs. i feel as if they won't happen anymore!

 

[murray]

Personally I hate the rule but I can see why they have done it. It is plainly to get more high scoring games, which in turn creates more excitement. Is that entirely true, well who knows. Some of my best games are low scoring affairs. i feel as if they won't happen anymore!

I don't really agree with this. I think it is a case of taking the game back to the roots of bodily struggling in the marking contest.

I agree on the high/low scoring concept, I love a good hard low scoring game myself. I think rule changes like the instant restart after a behind etc are more to blame for this though, as the pushing in the back is just going back to the intent of the rule rather than changing a rule.

 

[lockyno1]

I think they just have gone too far. Some contact in the back is fine as long as it is minimal. What will be worse is if tehre at 100 free kicks a match for the in the back rule as it stands. I hate free kick goals both for and against my side. Did the rule need adjustment, yes I said it last year that it needed adjustment, but they have taken it a bit too far. Hopefully they will ease up on the penalties as the season gets on.

 

[murray]

I agree it has gone a bit far. Gasper got absolutely shafted against Geelong in the first NAB round. I think it is better on this end of the extreme though and hope the umpires work towards a good middle ground though the season.

 

[lockyno1]

As long as it doesn't stay at this level as free kicks and I don't look at stats, but I recon they have doubled this year compared to last year!

 

[murray]

Yes it is hard to say in the preseason. If defenders get their paws off the backs of players and compete with their bodies they won't be giving away free kicks.

 

[Twizzle]

give it a chance

we've seen it for 2 rounds ffs

 

[Tom Shines]

Yeah we'll see.

 

[Collingwood Storm]

i went to the collingwood vs st kilda practice match last friday and i think the rule will end up being a success and bring back the aerial contested mark

in recent years the typical contested mark was 2 players wrestling and holding the opponent away from the drop of the ball.....now with this new rule, there is still a little bit of bumping/shoving when players are next to each other but when one player is infront of the other they both jump up for the mark rather than trying to nudge the other player under the ball and taking it on the chest

lets give the rule time

 

[leaguerules]

im not a massive afl fan but the last couple of seasons ive watching the games this is one rule i didnt understand or liked. A player wouldtackle the player with the balll from behind ina conventional league tackle but get penalised as pushed in the back. icouldnt work out what the defensive was meant to do

 

[Twizzle]

the idea is to favour the man playing in front

so if you are caught behind, you are not really reading the play very well and most just tend to push the bloke from behind

the jury is still out on the rule, we need to see it tested for a full season first