The Stand Rule

For anyone that has an Idea about Aussie Rules and in particular the, “Laws of the game” for the AFL in 2021 the AFL introduced the Stand Rule which would restrict players standing the mark to move in any lateral direction, allegedly it was created to speed up the play of the game.

Anyone one that follows AFL knows that this rule has a negligible outcome on the speed of play. However there is one thing that changed when the rule was introduced, 50 metre penalties were being awarded left right and center.

Aussie rules may be one of the hardest games to officiate, how you may ask? How is this game so hard to officiate with 3 central umpires, 4 boundary umpires and 2 goal umpires. I say that, that many umpires is the problem, too many decisions to be made from so many different perspectives and interpretations.

The stand rule states,  The defending Player will be permitted zero lateral movement on The Mark once the umpire has communicated ‘Stand’. If the defending player moves off The Mark in any direction prior to ‘Play On’ being called, a 50-metre penalty shall apply. Once the umpire communicates ‘Stand’, the Player onThe Mark is not permitted to be substituted.

As fans of this game we need to put it back on the AFL to stop complicating this game with making these laughable rule changes.