According to the latest decision of the AFL, the umpires will be more strict with the interpretations of holding the ball and time delay rules in the 2022 season. On the 17th of January, all 18 AFL clubs were notified by the league about the new adjustments to the rules.
A Decision Based on Extensive Analysis
While many people think that the changes in the existing rules are unnecessary, the decision seems to be based on research. The league came to the resolution of tightening up on the interpretations of holding the ball and time delay rules after a thorough analysis was conducted about the games played in the 2021 season. The game analysis was led by Andrew Dillon, AFL's executive general manager, and Brad Scott, its general football manager. To make the best decision possible, the leaders have also organized meetings with each AFL club at the end of 2021.
"Following meetings with each of the 18 AFL clubs across November and December last year, we have worked closely as a Football Operations and Umpiring Department to tighten up on the interpretations of existing rules relating to time delay and holding the ball," Dillon wrote to the AFL clubs on 17th January.
Cracking Down on Players Delaying the Play
As a result of introducing tighter interpretations of the existing AFL rules, this season umpires will look out for those football players who don't dispose of the ball immediately and correctly despite having a prior opportunity. This includes that AFL umpires will crackdown on and penalize those footballers more stringently who use delaying tactics, particularly doing one of the following activities during a match:
- evading
- ducking
- fending
- neglecting a prior opportunity of disposing of the ball
When it comes to the details, those players will also be penalised by the umpires who don't dispose of the ball legally in the following three cases:
- when they are tackled, they are steady and balanced,
- they duck their head into a legal tackle
- previously, they have been awarded a free kick or a mark.
These changes may not only increase the number of penalties during AFL matches but also affect the outcome of the entire game. Thus, it is something that may also be worth keeping in mind when betting on Australian football matches. If you would like to give a shot at online sports betting, make sure to choose a trustworthy and secure betting site that offers great odds as well. In regards to the online bookmakers Australia, check out the complete list here and read a full review about your preferred betting site.
No More Warning for Attempted Time Wasting
Among the possible penalties for deliberately delaying the play, both free kicks and 50m penalties can be found. If players want to prevent getting these kinds of penalties for undue ball holding and time-wasting, they will better abstain from the above-mentioned activities in order to delay or impede the play. This is because these will not be tolerated anymore by the umpires during the match.
However, there is another important change that players should be aware of. They won't get a warning anymore for attempted time-wasting. Due to the stricter interpretations, they will be immediately punished by the umpires.
For all the above-mentioned reasons, it seems like in the 2022 AFL season umpires will be much stricter when it comes to holding the ball and time-wasting as they were in the earlier seasons.
As Dillon said: "in relation to time delay, there will be less leniency towards players who delay play and, secondly, with holding the ball there will be less leniency towards players who have had prior opportunity and do not immediately dispose of the football".
Brad Scott seems to be quite positive about the introduced changes and penalties. In an interview given to Fox Sports, he said that hopefully, as the result of the tightening when AFL players are tackled, they are going to immediately dispose of the ball.
Umpires Are Ready for the Tighter Interpretations
Of course, the changes in the interpretations of existing holding the ball rules bring new challenges to the umpires as well. They will need to judge certain situations during the match in a different way than before. Hence, they have to be prepared properly to comply with the tighter interpretations in the 2022 AFL season.
But Dillon reassured AFL clubs that umpires have received training in connection with the changes. Moreover, they have also taken part in the process of tightening the interpretations. Therefore, they are all well prepared and will do a great job this season.
"AFL umpires have also resumed training and we commend their commitment and professionalism as we worked through these interpretations as a collective," wrote Dillon to AFL clubs.
Besides, umpires have also made plenty of club visits in the pre-season period that improved the connection between umpires and clubs.
Dillon added: "Last year, AFL umpires took part in over 500 club visits across the pre-season period which was beneficial to both players and umpires. We will continue that connection between AFL umpires and AFL Clubs in the lead up to games in 2022."
The Game Analysis Team's Work Doesn't Stop Here
As mentioned earlier, an extensive analysis was conducted prior to the current decision of the league. Back then the Game Analysis team - that consists of the AFL and club staff - took a look at how the matches were being played and also umpired during the last season. Hence, in the end, they were able to identify some significant trends and come up with the tightening of interpretations to improve the game.
However, the team's work doesn't stop here. They will continue to work hard on analyzing all the available data and insights. Thus, they can identify more trends that shape the way how AFL matches are played.
The Game Analysis Team "aims to deliver a game that is played and umpired in line with the spirit and intention that is consistent with the Laws of Australian Football."
Only Time Can Tell Whether the Changes Will Improve the Game
There are less than two months left until the start of the 2022 AFL Season. The players from the league's men's programs have already got back to training and are preparing for the new season.
Both the players and the fans are looking forward to the first match that will be played on 16th March 2022 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with the participation of the Melbourne Football Club (aka Melbourne Demons) and Western Bulldogs.
Though, only time can tell whether AFL's decision about introducing new interpretations of the holding the ball and time delay rules will bring the expected results. The league expects 2022 to be a "year of consolidation". This includes that besides cracking down on those players who are trying to delay or impede the play with their conduct, there will be "no material rule changes" introduced regarding the men's competition in the 2022 AFL season.
We are excited to see how the players will receive these changes and how they will affect the way matches are played. Hopefully, the league will be right and the new interpretations will be beneficial for the gameplay.
