The AFL are expected to introduce a rule change to prevent time-wasting tactics after Fremantle forward Patrick Voss exposed the loophole in the dying stages of the Dockers’ win over Geelong last Friday night.
With time ticking down inside the final minute on Friday night, Voss had a shot at goal from no more than 12 metres out.
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The game was essentially already over with the Cats needing to kick two goals in 60 seconds, but Voss made a certainty of it by legally milking the clock almost down to zero.
Players having a shot at goal have 30 seconds to begin their approach but, once they start it, have no limits on how long they are allowed to take before kicking.
Understanding the situation perfectly, Voss started his approach well inside 30 seconds, but proceeded to then take 19 seconds to complete his run-up and kick the ball.
By the time the clock stopped, there were just six seconds left in the game and Fremantle had booked their spot into a preliminary final.
Patrick Voss milks the clock against Geelong. Credit: Channel 7
A similar incident happened earlier in the year when Carlton’s Lewis Young took an extra long run up as the Blues held onto a 13-point lead in the dying stages of their win over Gold Coast.
And it’s already catching on in lower leagues with a similar situation unfolding in the VAFA Under-19 South Division 3 grand final as Oakleigh clung onto a four-point lead over Monash Blues.
An Oakleigh player marked the ball inside forward 50 and walked as slow as possible during his long run-up before eventually slotting the goal seconds before the siren sounded.
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson revealed the AFL will certainly make a change to the rules ahead of next season, labelling Voss’ actions “not fair”.
“The AFL met this morning, and the umpire’s coach, Stephen McBurney, pointed out this incident to Greg Swann and the football department,” Wilson reported on The Agenda Setters.
“If the AFL could change it tomorrow, they would.
“The umpire next year will call Patrick Voss for time-wasting and they’ll call play on, because it’s just not fair.
“The rule will be changed and they will call play on. That was the discussion today and that will happen.”
St Kilda great Nick Riewoldt said Voss was entitled to take as long as he wants as the rule is written, but added there is an easy solution to the issue.
“It’s an easy fix, you just have to kick it within 30 seconds, not start your run-up within 30 seconds,” he said.
This will mean another rule will be changed on the back of an action by Voss.
Earlier this year, the AFL quickly introduced a “taunting” rule to outlaw ruffling the opposition’s head after Voss was involved in a heated exchange with Harrison Petty.
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