The AFL has faced an uphill battle in 2026 with the quality of umpiring and various rules.
The rules around holding the ball and the stand rule have come under fire from the football public.
The kicking-in-danger rule hasn't been addressed.
For a considerable amount of time, if a player is seen to kick or "soccer" the ball off the ground while an opposition player's hands or head were in proximity, then a free kick would have been awarded against the player attempting the kick.
Often, the incidents occur at stoppages or in congestion when a player looks to move the ball away from the pack in a hurried fashion.
However, in 2026, this rule seems to have gone by the wayside, with only a handful of free kicks being given for such offences, while many have been left to play on, confusing fans and likely players.
The AFL hasn't addressed whether there has been a directive to umpires to keep the play going and only pay it in serious circumstances.
In the AFL's 2026 edition of the Laws of Football, it fits under section 18.3, Prohibited Contact. The rules state that "Kicks or attempts to kick the football in a manner likely to cause injury" should be penalised by the officiating umpire.
This season, there has been a steep and clear drop-off in kicking in danger calls by the umpires.
The danger in not calling "kicking in danger" free kicks is genuine, with opposition players at risk of breaking fingers and hands.
There is also the possibility of boot-to-head contact and to the face, which is also high.
In an age where, understandably, the AFL is looking to crack down heavily on any action that could cause a concussion, it is surprising that the league has dropped the ball in officiating these free kicks.
