Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has blasted the AFL over altering its tips round tackling, believing the league’s decision-makers have reacted to media criticism.
Key factors:
- The AFL introduced a crackdown on taking part in for prime free kicks
- Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the AFL has made the change in response to media stress
- Rival coaches Chris Scott and Sam Mitchell didn’t be a part of Beveridge in criticising the rule change
On Tuesday, the AFL issued a warning that gamers would not be rewarded with free kicks once they ducked or shrugged their heads in tackles.
It got here after heated debate surrounding younger Collingwood dynamo Jack Ginnivan and whether or not he was being umpired otherwise to different gamers.
Nonetheless, Beveridge hit out on the change, saying the AFL had caved underneath exterior stress.
“My viewpoint is let’s not change the sport and the interpretations that is been there eternally,” he stated.
“The explanation why [Geelong captain] Joel Selwood will get a variety of head-high free kicks is as a result of he is most likely the toughest on the soccer, a free ball and at a contest within the competitors, so he is rewarded for it.
“For those who’ve received strategies that, finally, entice a slipshod or undisciplined deal with, then good luck to him and he deserves each free kick that he will get.
“He is a chief instance for me, as a result of can we now look again and say, ‘Effectively, a few of these ones he received over time they should not be there based mostly on what’s simply been put out?’
“Reward the participant who’s received his head over the footy … finally penalise the man who hasn’t tackled how he ought to have tackled.
“I am completely happy for the marginal ones to be play-on however let’s not change issues once more, as a result of the umpires have gotten it arduous sufficient.
“Simply reward the participant who’s hardest on the soccer and let’s not victimise that form of behaviour as a result of it needs to be rewarded not penalised.”
Beveridge stated he was uncertain how lengthy this newest crackdown would final, highlighting earlier examples this season of guidelines being adjudicated otherwise throughout totally different weeks.
“There are issues, and messages, which have come via which have actually solely lasted two weeks,” he stated.
“I am all the time eager to maintain the wheels in present movement and assist the umpires in decision-making.”
The AFL confirmed a participant with the ball — who’s deemed to have a previous alternative and makes an attempt to shrug, duck or raise an arm — might be referred to as for holding the ball.
Whereas Beveridge was vocal in his disapproval of the AFL’s change, Geelong coach Chris Scott and Hawthorn counterpart Sam Mitchell each backed within the clarification.
“My care issue for what the principles are has diminished enormously over time,” Scott stated.
“I sort of see it as a badge of honour to grasp it higher than anybody else.”
Mitchell argued that, when the AFL makes rule modifications, it often works “for the higher”.
AAP
