Vics introduces rule changes

[Dogsbody]

Look like some of the rules the AFL use in the NAB Cup have made their way into the general rulebook of the VFL.

From the Herald Sun website...

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THE VFL is bracing itself for criticism from AFL coaches after a move to cut out kicking backwards.

Aimed at eliminating time-wasting and the trend of chipping the ball around, the new VFL rule does not allow a mark to be paid if a player outside his forward 50m arc kicks backwards to a teammate. While the new play-on rule has the approval of the AFL, it is not expected all AFL coaches will offer their blessing for the change, given some players will regularly move between levels and will need to adjust to the different rules.

"We've heard there are a few (AFL) coaches who are not happy," VFL general manager Peter Harley said yesterday. "Having players in the AFL one week and in the VFL the next week, they are probably not going to be very approving. We're not going to change our mind. We think it's good for the game. The AFL approved it and, they haven't said so, but it might be a bit of a trial for them."

The introduction of the play-on rule is a double-edged initiative for the VFL, which sees the rule as trying to improve the game by making it a more direct contest while giving its competition a slightly different on-field look to the AFL. "We brought it in to try to cut out the delaying tactics," Harley said. "We see it as something that might attract some more people to the games and, if it works, the AFL might take it on board."

Melbourne coach Neale Daniher was not so critical of the rule itself last night, but was upset AFL clubs had not been involved in a decision-making process that had the potential to have an impact on the development of their young players. "I'm disappointed the AFL clubs had no input into it," Daniher said. "We're interested in developing our players and we want them to be developed (in the VFL) in the same way as they're going to come up and play in (the AFL).

"If the AFL or the VFL want to change that environment, we'd like them to have consulted with us on the ramifications from a development point of view. We were under the impression the pre-season competition was where we experimented with the rules."

The VFL also has extended the 12-10 rule from finals to cover the whole season. It means VFL clubs that are aligned with an AFL club must field a minimum of 10 players not listed by the AFL club when they play non-aligned teams.