It’s been barely two months since the AFL returned for the 2021 season, but there is already uproar surrounding the amended ‘man on the mark’ rule that has coaches, players and fans alike shaking their heads in confusion.

 

The new ‘man on the mark’ rule is described by the AFL board and AFL Executive General Manager Football Operations Steve Hockingas an “amendment for players standing on the mark, with 50m penalties to be imposed on players who move (outside a one metre ‘level of tolerance’) laterally off the mark before ‘play on’ has been called.”

 

The rule, which has left AFL coaches and players already looking for loopholes, warns that “any deviation will result in a 50-metre penalty,” according to The Age.

 

The AFL is certain that this is a simple rule change. They’re looking to keep the game moving, keep the contest high scoring and allow teams with the ball in possession to keep their momentum, without being stopped by a player holding them up on the mark.

 

But have the competition’s leaders failed to realised that this rule could literally cost a team a win? Even worse, could decide a team’s spot in the final eight or even a Grand Final victory.

 

The rule was discussed at length back in November 2020, but was only tested in the mere weeks leading up to the start of the official season on the 18thof March 2021.

 

The first victim? Fremantle’s Brennan Cox, who stepped barely one footoff his markto shake his leg, not impacting West Coast’s Oscar Allen kicking for goal.

All of this fuss, for a 50-metre penalty, a West Coast goal, all in a practice match!

 

As discussed above, the rule was introduced with the intention to keep the game flowing for the team with the ball. This in turn would lead to higher scoring contests.

 

But, there has been little evidence over the opening rounds of the AFL season to suggest this rule has benefitted any team, in any way. If anything, teams are playing with 17 men, not 18according the Matt Balmer, whenever a mark is taken.

 

In the days leading up to round one in March, Geelong coach Chris Scott said on the television show AFL 360, that his team were already working around the new imposed rule, finding different positions to move the ‘useless’ man on the mark.

 

Additionally, St Kilda’s star midfielder Dan Butler expressed that his side was finding it difficult to defend and admits his side are looking for ways to overcome the rule already, like dragging a man back so he can move laterally.

 

Take Premiership star Luke Hodge’s opinion. The ex-Hawthorn player believes the rule could cause confusion “for months”.

 

When stars of this great game start questioning this, you know there is a fault in the rule. Should we really be forced to have discussions about something that was never needed?

 

And where is the technicality line drawn? There is no panel of experts, like the AFL Match Review Panel, who have time to sit and analyse every single man on the mark, when every mark is taken across nine games every week. It’s an impossible task, which leaves a bigger gap for interpretation and grey area for umpires.

 

Can a player jump up on the mark? What if he trips to the side? Sneezes? Coughs? Without this rule being policed in every game, there is no denying that umpires will and have already got this wrong.

 

The fear of this rule being exploited is evident in a multitude of social media posts from every day football fans.

 

Tim Rosen said “you can run at the mark and he can’t stop you”, while other’s offered advice to get around losing a player to defend every mark.

 

You cannot produce a rule that cannot be governed fairly across every team and every game for 22 rounds a year.

 

With so many lovers of this grassroots game questioning why this rule had to be amended in the first place, the answer is right under the AFL’s noses.

 

There is no need to amend a rule that was never required. It’s high time to leave our great game alone.