Kane Cornes is concerned by the AFL’s newly introduced man on the mark rule.
One of a trio of new rules in 2021 has players unable to deviate once the umpire has set the mark.
Cornes feels the alteration will only cause confusion, just like the ruck nomination rule, likening the competition to Auskick with these particular changes.
“The biggest concern around this is the AFL is turning into Auskick,” Cornes said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“Already, we’ve had the most ridiculous rule that has ever infested the world of an AFL football game and that is you have to nominate two ruckmen, one from each team, before a ruck contest.
“The umpire, before he throws it up, ‘Who’s up?’. You’ve got to put your hand up as if you’re playing Auskick where you change the ruck around and you’ve got to nominate.
“Now you’ve got this ridiculous command. An umpire blowing the whistle, motioning with his hand and saying ‘stand’ to a grown AFL footballer.
“It’s almost comical that our game, via the rule changes, is turning into what you would see on a Sunday morning at Auskick.
“That’s no disrespect to the Auskick kids but. Obviously at that age you do need a bit more command from your umpires.
“You don’t need it at AFL level and what it’s going to cause is complete confusion.
“Some rules have been ok in the game, and I’m not convinced this is going to be one of those.”
There have been mixed feelings regarding the man on the mark rule.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson recently said it provides an “enormous challenge” for the umpires in 2021, while Melbourne captain Max Gawn expects it to increase scoring.
AFL operations boss Steve Hocking has explained the reason behind the rule is to increase “random acts” in the game.