The AFL’s new last disposal rule has again caused angst among fans after a “harsh” call in the first quarter of Adelaide’s clash against Carlton.
The rule has already been heavily criticised with marginal touches off the foot resulting a free kick and a controversial call late in Geelong’s win over Adelaide seeing the wrong player awarded the free kick.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Haynes penalised for insufficient intent.
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Three weeks into the season, the league announced a slight tweak to the rule to prevent players diving towards the line to get a touch on the ball before it goes out.
That adjustment used to penalise Carlton defender Nick Haynes in a decision that immediately raised eyebrows.
Haynes was chasing the ball towards to the boundary line and collected it just before the line before appearing to attempt to keep it in.
But the umpire paid the free kick and the ball eventually landed in the arms of Alex Neal-Bullen, who kicked a goal.
“The new rule is if you actually attempt to touch it, you’ve got to try and keep the ball in,” Luke Hodge explained on Channel 7.
“We had players diving for it just to touch it, so they made that tweak a couple weeks ago.”
Kane Cornes couldn’t believe the decision
“What do they want him to do? Whack it back into his opponent? He had no room to work with,” he said.
“I get what you’re saying, but that’s just a poor decision.”
Hodge added: “I think we’re all in agreeance that this is not a free kick, he touched it before it went out of bounds … but look how harsh the punishment is.”
Fans on social media blew up at the call.
“What’s he supposed to do there?? He’s surely allowed to take possession of the footy??” One fan said.
“That’s a horrendous call,” another said.
“If that’s the rule then any player who takes the ball over the line while holding it with 2 hands is deliberate,” another added.
“Embarrassing how the AFL can make terrible knee-jerk rule changes mid season,” another said.
“I’m a Crows fan and even I find that damn harsh,” another said.
