AFLW rule changes aimed at more free-flowing play

AFLW fans can expect to see more free-flowing contests and higher scoring next season if changes implemented by the league have the desired effect.

Ten new rules and interpretations were tabled at a competition committee meeting in Melbourne yesterday and will be introduced for the 2019 season.

The women’s competition will adopt eight of the nine rule tweaks made for the men’s league next season.

Rule changes specific to the AFLW will see the last touch out of bounds rule, adjusted to take effect only between the 50m arcs and throw-ins, now to take place 10m in from the boundary.

“We’re still at the early development stage of this league and our objective is to create free-flowing play,” AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone said.

“We’ve looked really carefully at data and trends of our first two seasons to try and help us make informed decisions.

“We hope that it will encourage further scoring but the thing that we’re really looking for is for our players to be able to showcase their skills.

“We think the ball will move more freely and if it’s moving more freely then we think it will result in higher scoring.”

The AFL commission last month ratified nine rule tweaks put forward after extensive work and consultation by league football boss Steve Hocking.

One of the more significant changes is the introduction of the 6-6-6 starting positions for centre bounces.

But with women’s teams made up of two less players than the men, the starting positions will be 5-6-5.

Adjustments to other rules like the removal of prior opportunity at ruck contests and the scrapping of the hands in the back rule will be the same in the men’s and women’s competitions.

But given the timing of the women’s season and the addition of two new teams — Geelong and North Mel- bourne — it was decided runners and water carriers won’t face the same restrictions as they will in the men’s league.

“AFLW is played in the summer months, so it’s important for us to protect our players,” Livingstone said.

The Cats will host the 2019 AFLW season-opener against Collingwood at GMHBA Stadium on the evening of Saturday, February 2.