AFL sets sights on delay

Rule- makers look to eliminate defensive strategies to increase scoring

THE AFL will consider if new rules are required for the 2021 season to help increase scoring and combat the defensive strategies enveloping the game.

The Competition Committee meets on Wednesday this week and rule discussions will be on the agenda.

The AFL has set its sights on “delays’’ in games which restrict players from moving the ball. A reduction in interchange rotations might also be on the agenda.

Data has revealed teams averaged 75.7 points this season ( when normalised to a standard length game), a drop of almost four goals from 2005 and a drop of two goals from 2015.

The spectacle of the game has diminished, according to AFL legend Kevin Bartlett, who reiterated his call to drastically reduce interchange to save the game from the defensive quagmire. “The fabric of the game is being destroyed.’’ Bartlett said.

AFL football boss Steve Hocking said a better balance between defence and attack was required.

“We’ve got to strike a balance between defence and attack and if anything it’s probably tipped towards — not probably, it has tipped towards — defence,’’ Hocking said.

“We are abundantly clear on that. The game is growing and what we need to do is make sure what levers are required, what adjustments are required to be made, and they need to be thought through.’’

The shorter game time this season was expected to produce higher scoring, but that did not eventuate.

“I’ve found 2020 to be a really insightful year because if you look at what we did, we provided a shorter game and did that for the reasons around the footy frenzy,’’ Hocking said. “A lot of people talked to the fact there would be greater improvement off the back of that, there would be more attack, but what it did was it led to greater defensive systems enveloping the game. I’ve found 2020 to be productive and it’s not going to be wasted.

“What I’m seeing are all those little opportunities, avenues to attack, get thwarted. The first form of defence is delay. That is, in my view, what has increased in the game.

“They’re so professional, they know all the margins, they look to reduce the margins for the ability to score and for good reason. That’s how they control teams in attack.’’

But Hocking said he wasn’t concerned about the spectacle of the game.

“When you say to me, am I concerned, well, no, because I’m immersed in the work that I’m doing and I’ve got a genuine commitment to support and grow the game,’’ he said.