Coaches Oppose Interchange Limits

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In the week leading up to Round 20 the AFL announced a number of proposed rule changes, the most controversial being a limit on interchanges. Should any or all of the rules be accepted by the 17 clubs, who were notified of the proposals by Operations Manager Adrian Anderson, they will be introduced next season. The proposed changes are:

1. restricting the interchange by one of the following:

a. three interchange players and one substitute player. This player would replace an injured player who could not then return to the field. This was tried during the preseason.

b. two interchange players and two substitutes

c. a limit of 80 interchanges per game (including changes at the breaks)

2. adjusting the length of the game by keeping quarters between 29-30 minutes

3. allowing a player (instead of the umpire) to determine if there is an advantage. This would allow the team in possession of the ball to continue playing if infringed against rather than stopping play for a free kick. This was also tried in the preseason.

4. allowing boundary umpires to award free kicks for holding and high contact at stoppages (tried during the preseason)

5. awarding a free kick against a player who drags the ball under his opponent (tried during the preseason)

6. making rough conduct during a shepherd a reportable offense if contact is made to an opponent's head or neck (unless contact is due to circumstances outside the control of the offending player)

7. allowing a goal if the ball goes through the goal after hitting the goal post. Also allowing a point if the ball goes through after hitting a point post.

All the clubs have been asked for their feedback regarding these new rules. Fans can also voice their opinions at the AFL website by going to www.afana.com/drupal5/node/add/story . The Melbourne Age conducted their own poll and fans have overwhelming voted against the proposed interchange rules. Several coaches, including North Melbourne's Brad Scott and the Western Bulldog's Rodney Eade are against limiting the interchange.

Anderson said the AFL had become concerned over the increasing rate of interchanges during the past several seasons. In 2007, the average was 58 per game. This was up from 22 per game in 2003. In 2010, the rate has skyrocketed to 116 per game. He stated that the Laws Committee considered three factors - fairness, congestion and injuries. The fairness factor, according to Anderson, comes in when a team with an injury is disadvantaged because they are restricted more than the opposition as to how many players can be rotated with one interchange player replacing the injured player. Increased rotations also lead to more congestion, more tackling and more stoppages in play. The AFL has also become increasingly concerned with high-impact collision injuries due to players having more rests on the interchange bench and therefore traveling at higher speeds. Prior to introducing the proposed changes, Anderson said the Laws Committee had consulted the League's medical staff as well as the authors of the AFL Injury report. All agreed that increased interchanges would continue to increase the speed of the game which put players at a higher risk of serious injury.

As for the length of the game, Anderson said the average duration of matches over the past five years had increased from 122 minutes to 177 minutes. Anderson believes the scoring changes would help reduce umpire errors in adjudicating a goal or a point. In Round 19, there were three scoring errors with two clear goals disallowed and one score adjudged as a point when it was really a goal. None of these errors had an impact on the outcome of the games. With regard to change number 7 above, for the score to be ruled a goal or a point, the ball would have to clear the line after hitting the post. If it did not completely cross the line, the current scoring rules would apply (one point for hitting a goal post, out of bounds for hitting a point post).

Collingwood Coach Mick Malthouse, Sydney Coach Paul Roos, North Melbourne Coach Brad Scott, and Bulldog Coach Rodney Eade have all voiced concern regarding limiting rotations. Eade was the most vocal in his objections and went so far as to say that he would increase the number of rotations among the Bulldogs. Eade also slammed the AFL, saying they did not listen to the clubs and that the League's consultation process was "pointless" as he believes they will do as they please regardless of club opinions. Hawthorn football manager Mark Evans said the club's high rate of interchanging players had resulted in the team's lowest injury rate over a six year period. He also agreed with Scott regarding the relationship, or lack thereof, between high rotations and more injuries. Eade also made a similar claim to that of Evans, saying the Bulldogs and Collingwood have the highest rate of interchanges and the least injuries.

Source: Patrick Keane, AFL Media Release, theage.com.au