A last touch out of bounds rule will be introduced for the 2018 NAB AFLW season to combat congestion, the AFL announced today.
The AFL recently met with officials from all eight AFLW clubs, along with representatives from Geelong and North Melbourne, who’ll join the competition for the 2019 season, where the AFLW’s game style was discussed.
There were 37 per cent more stoppages and 96 per cent more secondary stoppages during the inaugural AFLW season than recorded during the 2017 AFL season, while tackling rates were also much higher. As a result, clubs were asked to consider methods the game could consider to reduce congestion and increase scoring.
“A number of options were debated at length by the clubs and the AFL, including anti-density rules, on how we can continue to reduce congestion and increase scoring,” AFL General Manager Football Operations Steven Hocking said.
“There was a strong view that a number of options require more data to ensure that they would actually have the desired impact we are seeking, along with the consideration any such changes would be a significant alteration for players and coaches close to the start of the 2018 season.
“This law has been implemented in the SANFL over the last two years, with the data supporting the reduction of stoppages and an increase in scoring,” he said.
How the new rule will work:
A free kick shall be awarded against a Player who:
- Kicks or Handballs the football over the Boundary Line without the football being touched by another Player;
- Except where a Player who does not have possession stops the football being touched by an opposition player by shepherding the football across the boundary line where the football could have otherwise been touched.
- If in doubt the Umpires are instructed to throw the ball in
