The AFL wrote to all clubs yesterday to re-confirm the amendments to various Laws/Interpretations that will apply from the start of the JLT Community Series this week and then into the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

The AFL Umpiring Department has been meeting with all clubs during the pre-season period and AFL General Manager Football Operations Mark Evans re-stated the changes approved by the AFL Commission during the off-season for High Tackles, the Protected Area, Deliberate Rushed Behinds (DRB) and Designated Rucks, as follows:

High Tackles

‘Where a tackle is reasonably applied and the ball carrier is responsible for the high contact via a shrug, drop, arm lift or duck, play on should be called.

When considering whether a tackle is reasonable, the umpire will assess:

  • The starting point of the tackle
  • The degree of force and nature of the tackle.’

‘As a reminder, the reasonableness of the tackle will be the first determination for an umpire. If the tackle is not reasonable a free kick should be paid against the tackler regardless of the actions of the other player.’

Protected Area

‘Umpires will penalise players with a 50m penalty for an infringement of the protected area when:A player is caught in the protected area and does not demonstrate intent to immediately leave the area

  • A player is caught in the protected area and does not demonstrate intent to immediately leave the area
  • When a player enters the protected area and impacts or could impact on the kicker, especially once the kicker has established a set position.’

Designated Ruckmen

‘A free kick will be awarded against a player who is not the designated ruck if they contest the ruck or boundary throw in.

  • Umpires are coached to establish the designated ruckmen, ensure 1m separation and throw the ball up to a height of 6m. Boundary umpires are coached to throw the ball in 18m.
  • If the designated rucks are unable to contest the stoppage, no other players are allowed to contest the ball until it hits the ground and play on is called
  • Where a player pushes an opponent into the ruck contest which impacts the ruck contest or affects the ability of the rucks to contest the ball, a free kick will be paid against that player’

Deliberate Rushed Behind

‘A Deliberate Rushed Behind (DRB) will be paid if any one (or more) of the following criteria applies:

  • A player rushes a behind from outside the top of the kick-off line (9m) and its extension to the behind posts
  • A player has had time and space in which to dispose of the ball, rather than rush it
  • A player is not considered under immediate physical pressure and rushes the ball
  • A player from a ruck contest hits the ball on the full over the goal/behind line

‘A player will still be allowed to prevent a goal from being scored when the ball is close to the line and no other alternatives are available.’

For the opening two matches only of the JLT Series, the AFL will trial a different penalty for any deliberate rushed behind, whereby a point would be awarded and the ball then thrown up five metres in front of the goal square, rather than a free kick for goal as will apply during the premiership season.

Mr Evans said this trial would not continue for the final match for all clubs in the JLT Series.‘There are no plans to implement this amendment for the 2017

‘There are no plans to implement this amendment for the 2017 season, unless it was deemed a success and there was very strong support from clubs to do so,” Mr Evans wrote.