TLPG wrote:No, Pies, you can't do that with the high tackles because of the effect on the neck. Grabbing around the shoulder is dangerous - and a key difference between footy and thugby (in footy it's illegal and in thugby it's not). It's all about protecting the neck. So it must not change.
It's also not possible to simplify the rules, because it would open up options for players and coaches to get around them. Rules need to be flexible and allow for judgment calls in the circumstances - and this allowance is an inherent part of the complications you are talking about. For instance - it allows for two or more different styles of umpiring even though it's basically the same rules. A good umpire for example would not pay holding the ball purely on it's present interpretation in Under 10's. That's not fair. Give the kids a chance to play the ball because they are far more likely to blow it.
If there is a problem at elite level, it's the tendency to be whistle happy on holding the ball. I'm told on the AFL board here that there was an AFL umpire who did the right thing (apparently on the description) and paid the protection free kick ahead of the holding the ball penalty. I've seen umpires get that wrong, and it infuriates me. I never pay holding the ball if someone has been pushed in the back or grabbed high or whatever else, and neither should anyone else.
I didn't expect to have to post on this thread I have to say!
TLPG you try to bag KE and then contridict yourself, first you say you are only need one update and you make two. Then you try to make out like you understand RL. You are wrong, There is very little difference with the intention of a high tackle between AFL and RL based upon what you have said, a high tackle in RL is also illegal which contradicts your ridiculous statement above. Get your facts right before opening your gob!!
I keep seeing you gloat you are a referee, good on you. I also, have been a ref, but within RL, the difference is I also played RL so I understood it before refereeing it. I am tipping you never played AFL and are the boy who grew up in AFL territory, mum would not let you play contact sport, so being from Victoria all you know is AFL and your the couch expert. This is why you are so passionate about bagging RL as you have no idea about it. I on the other hand tried both sport and also soccer as a young block and chose the best game of them all. I found AFL was less of a challenge, kick straight and score a goal. In fact I played AFL at school. My school was full of RL players and we were not allowed to play RL, but AFL was an option. We all decided to played AFL against the local school where the local AFL team was from and we belted them both times. Yep it was easy, catch the ball and kick between the posts. Not one guy left to play AFL. When you have experience both games come back and talk to us
Also would love to hear others opinion on this one.
.............. good done D.ick head