The AFL tweaked the ruck guidelines over summer time, forbidding gamers from crossing the centre line earlier than partaking with their opponent, with a view to encourage each gamers to leap for the ball.
Coupled with the demise of the centre bounce, this was all executed to create extra aerial ruck battles, given tossing it up successfully turns into a battle for who can get to it larger.
However the change has hit a velocity bump within the very first official follow recreation, with Geelong star Shannon Neale left in ache after knee-on-knee contact within the ruck.
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Shannon Neale and Marc Pittonet make knee on knee contact within the ruck. Fox Footy
The AFL really moved away from ruckmen working and leaping at one another at centre bounces within the 2000s because of a spate of knee-on-knee PCL accidents.
And the choice to maneuver again in the direction of that has been a controversial one. Melbourne captain Max Gawn has expressed his doubts all through the pre-season.
Now, within the first official follow recreation, we’ve a knee-on-knee contact damage within the ruck.
Former Adelaide star Josh Jenkins took to social media to specific his frustrations.
“Get the rucks leaping as a result of it seems good they stated,” he sarcastically posted on X.
Neale has been cleared of a severe damage, with the Cats icing up his knee and shin as he sat out the rest of the sport.
Shannon Neale holding his knee in ache. Fox Footy
That change additionally led to 2 questionable free kicks towards Carlton on Wednesday evening, with ruckmen Marc Pittonet and Liam Reidy crossing the centre line earlier than partaking with their opponent.
Nonetheless, on each events, the ball being tossed up leant in the direction of the Geelong ruckman, that means it could have been unimaginable for the Blues gamers to achieve the ball with out crossing the road. In Pittonet’s case, his opposition ruckman in Sam De Koning clearly jumps throughout the road first as effectively.
“That is comical. And can worsen as we go,” Jenkins stated of the free kicks.
“These centre bounce ruck free kicks are diabolical.”
Former Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs replied to Jenkins, saying Neale merely wants higher method to guard himself in a leaping ruck battle.
“There are strategies to guard your self from knee on knee!! Expertise in there’ll win out and how you can use the circle to your benefit,” Jacobs wrote.
The free kick paid towards Pittonet for crossing the centre line. Notice the place De Koning is… Fox Footy
As for the free kicks, Jacobs added: “There shall be a interval of adjustment. Let’s give it an opportunity. Have not had one official recreation but.”
Through the recreation, Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall gave a grim evaluation of the brand new rule.
“If you happen to encourage the ruckmen to leap, that is one of many undesirable by-products of the rule change, you get extra knee on knee contact,” Dunstall advised Fox Footy.
“That contact has created so many dangerous PCL accidents for ruckmen over time.”
Talking final week, former Adelaide captain Mark Bickley stated the modifications may replicate extremely poorly on the league.
“We’re one knee damage away from severe questions being requested of the AFL,” Bickley advised SEN.
“The one motive is aesthetics, they do not like wrestling. It will not be lengthy earlier than we begin to see the ruckmen one another and stepping round.”
The AFL on Thursday issued an announcement saying the umpire bought it incorrect in paying the free kick towards Pittonet for crossing the centre line.
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