Cats call in the umpires

GEELONG will enlist senior umpires to hone the league’s new rule changes in a series of match simulations 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. Cats football boss Simon Lloyd said yesterday that like most clubs Geelong had benefited from AFL umpires attending training and practice matches to work through new interpretations in previous years.

Geelong would seem well placed to benefit from at least two of the rule 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 rules allowing players to run out of the goalsquare without touching the ball to their boot.

The AFL believes the rule will see clubs innovating as they clear their defence, with players like Tuohy capable of zone-clearing 60m kicks or playing on to run the ball through half-back.

Cats forward Tom Hawkins should be the chief beneficiary of the rule allowing players to hold their ground in marking contests with hands to clear the drop zone before marking.

Geelong starts its JLT Community Series commitments on March 1 against reigning premier West Coast, with clubs scheduled for just two preseason games.

But clubs have permission to play unofficial scratch matches against rivals and most training sessions post-Christmas have an element of match simulation. Clubs will also spend time working on how to maximise the new 6-6-6 centre-bounce rules which mean wingmen are the only players allowed along the edge of the centre square.

A club like Geelong could decide playing Patrick Dangerfield or Tim Kelly on the wing in cameos and funnelling the ball through them might be an X-factor. Lloyd yesterday said AFL umpires were playing an “increasingly important role in working in conjunction with clubs”.