Rule bang on target

THE AFL says its contentious deliberate out-of-bounds rule is on the right track despite a hailstorm of criticism from fans and players.

AFL football boss Simon Lethlean said yesterday both the out-of-bounds rule and third-man-up rule were now running smoothly.

The Rules of the Game committee met for the first time this year yesterday but the AFL never intended to tweak the rules mid-year.

“The fans and players now know it will be paid if the intent was not clear to keep it in,’’ Lethlean said.