The AFL has announced changes to the holding the ball rule for the 2022 season.
General Managers and senior coaches at all 18 clubs were advised in a letter on Monday that umpires will be “less lenient towards players who have had prior opportunity and do not immediately and correctly dispose of the football”.
Free kicks will be paid against a player who “ducks prior to being legally tackled and does not immediately and correctly dispose of the football”.
Players will also be penalised if they don’t legally dispose of the ball if they’re “balanced and steady” when tackled, if a mark or free kick has been awarded, or if they go headfirst into a legal tackle.
Umpire cues for prior opportunity include players evading, fending, ducking, or when they choose not to dispose of the ball.
The AFL is also cracking down on time wasting, saying umpires will be “less lenient towards players who deliberately delay the play” and will pay more free kicks or 50-metre penalties as a result.
Players who “deliberately engage in time wasting” will no longer be given a warning by officials.
Subscribe to the SEN YouTube channel for the latest videos!
AFL Executive General Manager Andrew Dillon said in a statement: “We are looking forward to 2022 being a year of consolidation and, as such, want to reinforce there would be no material rule changes introduced for the men’s competition this season.
“Following meetings with each of the 18 AFL Clubs across November and December last year, we have worked closely as a Football Operations and Umpiring Department to tighten up on the interpretations of existing rules relating to Time Delay and Holding the Ball.
“In relation to time delay, there will be less leniency towards players who delay play and, secondly, with holding the ball there will be less leniency towards players who have had prior opportunity and do not immediately dispose of the football.
“The tightening up of these existing rules comes after the Game Analysis team, made up of AFL and AFL Club staff, identified trends in the way the game was being played and umpired in the AFL and aims to deliver a game that is played and umpired in line with the spirit and intention that is consistent with the Laws of Australian Football.
“AFL umpires have also resumed training and we commend their commitment and professionalism as we worked through these interpretations as a collective.
“Last year, AFL umpires took part in over 500 club visits across the pre-season period which was beneficial to both players and umpires. We will continue that connection between AFL umpires and AFL Clubs in the lead up to games in 2022.”