The memo the AFL sent to all 18 clubs clarifying the 'stand-the-mark' rule has been revealed.

Following strong words from Essendon coach Brad Scott after the club's Anzac Day loss to Collingwood, where the Pies would manipulate the player standing on the mark "to benefit from the rules", the AFL felt it necessary to explain what they are educating the umpires.

Craig McRae's men have become masters at standing outside the protected area, giving them the ability to cover the corridor options and force opponents down the line. However, at times, they would seemingly encroach on the protected area but suffered no penalty.

"The club (sought clarification)," Scott said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters.

"In terms of how the rule is interpreted, it seems there's been a bit of creep on the stand (rule) and the protected area.

"I understand it's a really hard rule to umpire, but do you have to stand or can you just block the 45 (degree kick)? In this case, can you stand on the inside and protect the midfield?

"They've come back and said they're all errors, so there'll obviously be an adjustment to that. That doesn't help us now."

Football boss Laura Kane also admitted that there'd been some "creep" in different parts of the ground, and that she'd met with "particular clubs" about the contentious rule.

SEN's Sam Edmund revealed the contents of the memo sent by the league earlier this week, which provided a literal description of what the umpires are looking for.

Included in the memo are the provisions players must adhere to or face a 50-metre penalty.

"When a Player is awarded a mark or Free Kick, one Player from the opposing Team may:

a ) stand on The Mark; or
b ) otherwise be directed by a field Umpire to move outside 5m.

For the avoidance of doubt, all other Players from the opposing Team must be positioned behind The Mark or otherwise outside the Protected Area defined in Law 20.1.2."

1 COMMENT

  1. Itโ€™s easy.
    To โ€œunderstand the rulesโ€ you only have to do the one thingโ€ฆ..

    Just guess who the vfl (afl) wants to win that game โ€“ and all is made clear.

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