Hibberd: 10-metre protected area “the one rule that’s annoying me”

Melbourne defender Michael Hibberd has become the latest voice to criticise the AFL’s controversial 10-metre protected area around the mark.

The new rule, implemented at the start of the season, has been widely criticised by fans, with a number of contentious decisions in Richmond’s Thursday night clash with Sydney only fuelling the debate.

CORNES SLAMS 10M RULE

Hibberd says that while he’s not a fan of the rule, he expects players will have to get used to it.

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“As a player it’s the one rule that’s annoying me the most,” he told SEN Mornings.

“I found myself in that situation a couple of times this year where you actually do make a genuine attempt to get out but that's the rule they've brought in and you get to try adapt the best you can do it.

“But I don’t think it will go away anytime soon, so we just have to adjust to it.”

It has been an up and down year for the Demons, with a six-game winning streak coming to an abrupt halt with losses to fellow top-four hopefuls Collingwood and Port Adelaide in their past two games.

Listen to Michael Hibberd's chat with Kane Cornes on SEN Mornings in the player below