KNOCK IT OFF BEVO

Scott fires back over rule change comments

CHRIS Scott has rebuked Luke Beveridge for his inflammatory comments about AFL rule changes as he pushes for a radical alteration to winning the ball.

The Geelong coach believes the AFL should consider banning players from taking possession when not on their feet. He sees it as a congestion-busting tactic that would be a better alternative than removing prior opportunity from the holding-the-ball rule.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on Saturday that starting points would “ruin the game at junior level and kids will go and play other codes”.

But Scott said those comments were poorly timed. “From my perspective, we should do our best to remove that emotion from the conversation,” he said.

“When comments are made that the game will be destroyed or it will ruin it at junior level, it is a big stretch.

“And it encourages people to be more emotional in the discussion. It doesn’t lead to better outcomes, in my view,” Scott said.

The competition committee will meet again on July 26 and assess the AFL’s research before a recommendation goes to the AFL executive.

Many of the game’s biggest figures support starting points, with premiership coach Scott also in favour of an extended goal square.

Scott has urged the AFL to consider changes in the knowledge that if they do not work, the league still has the chance to reverse them.

“We’ve fallen into the trap of thinking if we change things, it gives us no chance to change them back,’’ he said on ABC radio.

“If you are confident with the evidence the change will have a beneficial impact and if it doesn’t transpire, you have the right to go back.”

Scott gave cautious support to starting points, backed in set positions at centre bounces and pushed hard for a tweak to winning possession.

“I think the idea that players shouldn’t be able to take possession of the ball when they are not on their feet would make a big difference,’’ he said.

“It would help the spectacle of the game, reduce congestion.

“Make the ball your objective but don’t dive on it. That would make a bigger difference to prior opportunity, which would discourage players from making the ball their objective.

“You would see taggers at stoppages sitting behind the best players and, as soon as they took possession, wrapping them up.”