Hawthorn livewire Jack Ginnivan sympathises with AFL umpires as they attempt to adjudicate the "worst rule" in the competition: the stand rule.
Ginnivan was involved in the most recent controversial stand-rule call and was awarded a 50-metre penalty by experienced umpire Matt Stevic at the MCG on Saturday night.
Stevic was heard calling "play...play", prompting Carlton's Adam Cerra to come towards the Hawks forward, and yet, the umpire penalised the Blues, awarding Hawthorn a certain goal.
"I think it's the worst rule the AFL has," Ginnivan said his podcast Ball Magnets.
"Easily. It's so confusing for players and umpires to adjudicate.
"There doesn't need to be this rule and create a 50-metre penalty, and you can kick a goal. It sort of ruins the game.
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"And then we saw the one I was in. I felt like, if I was to run straight, if Dimma's (Blake Hardwick) there, I can fade to handball if I wanted to, but if I'm still running straight, I'm okay.
"I don't think (I stepped off my line). I'm pretty sure I was still running straight. But then the confusion of calling play on, and it's so hard for Matt Stevic to umpire it because the rule is so bad."
Ginnivan's former teammate and Collingwood premiership player Tom Mitchell was harsher in his assessment, saying Stevic made the biggest blunder of the season so far.
Stevic has been selected to officiate in Round 19.
He is one of the most decorated field umpires in AFL history, officiating 532 games since 2004.
Stevic has called a record 12 grand finals and 63 finals, and has been named All-Australian umpire eight times.
