Ducking in the AFL is back, and it's not a good thing.
Daniel Harford and Mark Stevens joined forces this week on the Six Points podcast to discuss an old AFL tradition that has, ironically, reared its head once again.
Despite AFL crackdowns, recent games have seen an increase in players intentionally lowering their heads in an attempt to gain a free kick from a high tackle. It's a dangerous move, as it often results in the player putting themselves in a vulnerable position for head injuries.
"It's a blight on the game, it's an embarrassment on the game," Stevens said.
"There's a lot of players milking it."
Officially, the AFL have ruled that ducking is cause for a player to have "prior opportunity" called against him. This deterrent worked, for a while, however recent games have shown us players can still get away with ducking, if they're smart enough about it.
Collingwood golden boy, Nick Daicos is the perfect example, ducking his way into a free kick in the last few seconds of the Magpie's game against Gold Coast on Saturday.
"It was smart," Stevens said. "It was smart but a silly decision by the umpires, that should be prior 'op'. This is in the centre, the game is up for grabs, a goal the difference, technically that's prior and should have been a free kick the other way."
It happened again that same night with Carlton's George Hewett and Richmond's Seth Campbell both securing free kicks after ducking during tackles.
"It's a horrible thing to umpire, it's a horrible thing to watch," Stevens said.
"They [the AFL] need to do something about it."
