SCRAP THE ‘STAND’ RULE
It’s embarrassing, says KB
FOOTY legend Kevin Bartlett has urged the AFL to scrap the contentious “stand” rule, declaring it an “embarrassing” blight on the game.
The Tigers great said a raft of recent rule changes aimed at reversing plummeting scoring rates had failed miserably, and should all be binned.
Bartlett also says interchange rotations should be slashed from 75 to 25 if the AFL wants to have a more appealing game for the fans in 2022.
“We have made a lot of changes to the game in the last few years … and I can’t think of one of them that has made any significant difference to scoring,” Bartlett said.
Bartlett’s biggest bugbear is the “stand” rule, which he says is contrary to the spirit of the game.
“The ‘stand’ rule is an embarrassment to the game because it pits 18 against 17 and the game was never designed to leave a team a player short,” Bartlett said. “If a player can’t guard the mark, they are made to look foolish when a player runs off alongside them and the umpire isn’t quick enough to call play on.
“Guarding the mark was always a strong point of the top sides.
“It was almost an art form. Now the man on the mark is like a statue, sometimes it is like he is stuck in concrete.”
Bartlett said the fact that this year’s Coleman medallist Harry McKay kicked only 58 goals was further evidence the AFL rule changes had failed.
“This year we bring in the ‘stand’ rule and the leading goalkicker kicks 58 goals for the season, which was the lowest tally since 1965 – apart from last year when we only played 17 games and 16-minute quarters,” he said.
The mastermind of the ‘stand’ rule, former AFL footy boss Steve Hocking, declared in March that he envisaged the return of the 100-goal full-forward during his time in charge.
“Give me another couple of years. I’m quietly confident,” Hocking said.
Bartlett, an AFL Hall of Fame Legend and former Laws of the Game committee member, has also called for the end of the “time-wasting” ruck nomination rule, saying it reminded him of “under-10s”.
“I don’t know why we always need to change things; there was nothing wrong with the third-man-up rule,” he said. “It was a great part of the game. All this putting your hand up to say who is going up in the ruck is under-10s stuff.”
Bartlett said the AFL’s decision to cut the interchange cap rotation from 90 to 75 for this year was a step in the right direction, but stressed it was nowhere near enough.
“It was the first time the AFL has really acknowledged that interchange helps to cause congestion and density around the ball, but unfortunately 90 down to 75 doesn’t make a big enough difference,” he said.
“You’ve still got 150 fresh players coming on to the
It pits 18 against 17 and the game was never designed to leave a team a player short KEVIN BARTLETT ON THE ‘STAND’ RULE
ground and 150 tired players going off.
“I would bring it back to 25 (rotations per side).
“I have heard people say it is radical to bring it down from 75 to 25.
“Well, it is not radical because we played 100 years with no interchange.
“What is radical is what we are doing now.”
Bartlett was encouraged to hear the AFL would almost certainly keep game time at 20 minutes plus time-on.
“That’s the perfect time for Australian rules football. It is folly for anyone to suggest otherwise. I have never heard anyone walk out of a ground and say the game is too long.”
Bartlett, 74, played 403 games for Richmond from 1965-83.
The AFL is intent on making minimal changes to the game next year after two seasons of Covid-inflicted turmoil.
Hocking, who quit the AFL in July to take charge at Geelong, has been replaced by long-time league legal chief Andrew Dillon and former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott.
A final decision on the size of next year’s salary cap has not been made, while the football department soft cap of $6.2m will rise by about $250,000.
League boss Gillon McLachlan has already indicated the grand final will return to its traditional afternoon time slot.
The floating fixture used in 2021 is likely to be scrapped. glenn.mcfarlane@news.com.au