Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has blasted the AFL over changing its guidelines around tackling, believing the league’s decision-makers have reacted to media criticism.
Key points:
- The AFL announced a crackdown on playing for high free kicks
- Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the AFL has made the change in response to media pressure
- Rival coaches Chris Scott and Sam Mitchell did not join Beveridge in criticising the rule change
On Tuesday, the AFL issued a warning that players would no longer be rewarded with free kicks when they ducked or shrugged their heads in tackles.
It came after heated debate surrounding young Collingwood dynamo Jack Ginnivan and whether he was being umpired differently to other players.
However, Beveridge hit out at the change, saying the AFL had caved under external pressure.
“My point of view is let’s not change the game and the interpretations that’s been there forever,” he said.
“The reason why [Geelong captain] Joel Selwood gets a lot of head-high free kicks is because he’s probably the hardest at the football, a loose ball and at a contest in the competition, so he’s rewarded for it.
“If you’ve got techniques that, ultimately, entice a clumsy or undisciplined tackle, then good luck to him and he deserves every free kick that he gets.
“He’s a prime example for me, because do we now look back and say, ‘Well, some of those ones he got over time they shouldn’t be there based on what’s just been put out?’
“Reward the player who’s got his head over the footy … ultimately penalise the guy who hasn’t tackled how he should have tackled.
“I’m happy for the marginal ones to be play-on but let’s not change things again, because the umpires have got it hard enough.
“Just reward the player who’s hardest at the football and let’s not victimise that sort of behaviour because it should be rewarded not penalised.”
Beveridge said he was unsure how long this latest crackdown would last, highlighting previous examples this season of rules being adjudicated differently across different weeks.
“There are things, and messages, that have come through that have really only lasted two weeks,” he said.
“I’m always keen to keep the wheels in current motion and support the umpires in decision-making.”
The AFL confirmed a player with the ball — who is deemed to have a prior opportunity and attempts to shrug, duck or lift an arm — will be called for holding the ball.
While Beveridge was vocal in his disapproval of the AFL’s change, Geelong coach Chris Scott and Hawthorn counterpart Sam Mitchell both backed in the clarification.
“My care factor for what the rules are has reduced enormously over time,” Scott said.
“I kind of see it as a badge of honour to understand it better than anyone else.”
Mitchell argued that, when the AFL makes rule changes, it usually works “for the better”.
AAP
Source: AFL NEWS ABC
