Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams admits he’s still a bit confused by the change to the holding the ball rule that was implemented last weekend.
The rule sees a tightening of ‘making a genuine attempt’ to dispose of the ball, with players pinged for taking possession regardless of prior opportunity.
Adams feels he was harshly done by in one particular contest last Friday night against Essendon.
“We have spoken about it. It’s pretty unpredictable to be completely honest,” he told AFL Nation.
“There was one where I got caught holding the ball last weekend where I picked it up with one hand and was tackled immediately with one hand pinned behind me and got pinged.
“To me, that’s not holding the ball in any rule book, but it’s a rule change and something we’ve got to adapt to and that’s about being first to the footy and being as clean and not giving the tackler an opportunity to pin an arm.
“It’s challenging. I think the umpires are finding it really difficult to adjudicate a rule that’s just been changed so rapidly.”