Cap move put on the bench
THE AFL Commission will hold fire for a year before deciding whether to cap the number of i nterchange rotations.
The AFL laws of the game committee had recommended that interchanges be capped at 80 per team per game — excluding those made during breaks — after the average figure spiralled to 131 this season.
‘ ‘ The commission accepted the principle around a cap . . . but felt it would be prudent to have another year’s data,’’ AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said yesterday.
A cap will apply for the preseason NAB Cup in 2013, but will not be incorporated into the season proper until at least 2014.
The commission approved three changes yesterday as part of the annual laws review process: UMPIRES will throw the ball up at stoppages in general play, though they will continue to bounce it at the start of each quarter and after goals. A FREE kick will now be awarded against any player who makes forcible contact below the knees of an opponent. RUCKMEN will not be able t o make c o n t a c t w i t h opponents at stoppages until the ball has left the umpire’s hands.
‘‘ The approved changes are primarily designed to protect players from injury, as well as helping to reduce congestion,’’ Demetriou said.
The decision not to rush into a cap on interchanges or to change the breakdown of interchange and substitute players from 3:1 to 2:2 met with the approval of AFL players and coaches. ‘‘ The number of byes in a season commission’s decision today doubled to two. will provide more opporThe AFL is supportive of tunity for consideration of that wish, but Demetriou said the implications of this printhe season could not start ciple in light of emerging a week earlier as cricket had trends in the game,’’ AFL first call on major venues such Players’ Association chief as the MCG, SCG and Gabba executive Matt Finnis said. until late March.
‘‘This has been a critical He dismissed claims by issue for our members, and Collingwood president Eddie has a big impact on their McGuire that a cap on fitness and longevity in rotations could drive players to the game.’’ take performance-enhancing
The players also want the drugs.