THE AFL COMMISSION has approved several changes to the Laws of the Game interpretations, and Match Review Panel and tribunal review process.
Among the directives given to umpires for the 2016 season are "stricter adjudiactions" on tackling, the deliberate out of bounds rule, an increase of the protected area around the mark and closer monitoring of and 'third man up' activity.
The AFL will enforce a stricter adjudication of tackles using a lifting, slinging or rotating techniques, while the match review panel will enforce new definitions of dangerous tackles which cause forceful high contact.
Umpires will also enforce a stricter interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds rule, while the League itself will monitor the impact of the new 'last kick/last handball' rule adopted by the SANFL for 2016.
If the SANFL's new boundary rules are successful, the AFL may seek to implement similar regulations in the national competition.
WINGARD: Chad extends by three years
“The AFL has continued to seek to spread the game out, continue to enhance player safety, improve the umpiring of our game and consider the feedback of our fans that is received across our fan surveys,” the AFL's general manager of football Mark Evans said.
“The view of the AFL and the Commission is that a series of tighter interpretations in the areas of dangerous tackles, boundary line play and the protected area for the player with the ball will deliver an effective result for how the game is played and how it looks next season, compared to undertaking more serious changes to the game."
Among changes to the match review panel process will be the introduction of appeal grounds for the AFL to appeal 'manifestly inadequate' sanctions or classifications.
This means all parties - players and the league - will be able to appeal findings of the MRP or tribunal.
The AFL has also expanded the wording around the potential to cause serious injury to include intentional head-high strikes and high bumps with significant head contact and player momentum.
Contact with an injured player will also draw a fixed financial sanction.
