Cats call on umps for help on rules
GEELONG will enlist senior umpires to hone the league’s rule changes in a series of match simulation and scratch matches early next year.
The Cats have spent the pre-Christmas period working on fitness and ball work, but will look to start working on specific tactics for the new rules in January and February.
Football boss Simon Lloyd said yesterday Geelong had benefited from working with umpires in previous years.
Geelong would seem well placed to benefit from at least two changes — the loosened kick-out rules and the ability of players to use hands in a marking contest.
Irish defender Zach Tuohy should benefit from change to allow players to run out of the goalsquare without touching the ball to their boot.
The AFL believes the rule will see clubs adapt as they clear the defence, with players such as Tuohy capable of clearing 60m kicks or running the ball through half-back.
Cats forward Tom Hawkins should benefit from the rule allowing players to hold their ground in marking contests with hands.
Geelong starts its JLT Community Series on March 1 against West Coast, with clubs to play two pre-season games.
But clubs have permission to play unofficial scratch matches and most training sessions post-Christmas have an element of match simulation.
Clubs will also spend time working on how to maximise the 6-6-6 centre bounce rules.
Geelong could decide playing Patrick Dangerfield or Tim Kelly on the wing and funnelling the ball through them might by an X-factor.
Lloyd said umpires were playing an “increasingly important role in working in conjunction with clubs”.