AFL cracks down on prior opportunity and time wasting in 2022
Umpires will take a zero tolerance approach under new interpretations of two contentious rules this season.
Players will have less time to get rid of the footy before being penalised for holding the ball under a new crackdown on the contentious rule.
And umpires will also be less forgiving on time wasting in 2022.
All clubs received a memo on Monday, in which the league said that umpires would be “less lenient towards players who have had prior opportunity and do not immediately and correctly dispose of the football”.
The clampdown will also include a focus on players ducking into tackles.
Umpires will no longer give a warning to players who deliberately engage in time wasting, awarding a free kick or a 50m penalty.
AFL executive general manager Andrew Dillon said there were no major rule changes coming for 2022.
“We are looking forward to 2022 being a year of consolidation and, as such, want to reinforce there would be no material rule changes introduced for the men’s competition this season.,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
Dillon said the crackdown came after analysing game trends.
“The tightening up of these existing rules comes after the Game Analysis team, made up of AFL and AFL club staff, identified trends in the way the game was being played and umpired in the AFL and 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,” he said.