The AFL announced in December last year that it would trial technology to assist with any scoring decision along with four additional trial rules that would operate for the duration of the NAB Cup pre-season competition.
AFL General Manager Football Operations Adrian Anderson said the AFL had determined the process for its scoring review process and the crowd at the ground would see the vision on the scoreboard, to enable supporters to understand any decision that was made. Under the process, players will not be permitted to call for a consultation on a score, and a consultation will not be initiated by the umpires if play has already resumed and the game is ongoing. The process will be as follows:
· Any consultation between the field, boundary and goal umpires will trigger the participation by official scorer, using the broadcast footage immediately available.
· This will extend to include determining whether a goal was a six or nine-point play.
· The Official Scorer will be permitted to trigger a consultation.
· For the avoidance of doubt, there are no “referrals”. Players will not be permitted to call for consultation. The official scorer will be using whatever video angles are immediately available.
· A consultation cannot interrupt play. If play resumes, the opportunity to consult has passed.
Mr Anderson said the AFL would continue to use the NAB Cup as an opportunity for the AFL to examine potential rule options, after a number of recent successful trials including the revised ruck rule at centre bounces, the altered advantage rule and the player substitute rule and the rushed behind rule - all of which have since become part of the premiership season and the Laws of the Game.
The AFL is trialling a further three rule options across the pre-season competition, along with one option that will be used in round one of matches only. Each rule to be trialled is as follows:
1. A player awarded a 50m penalty which takes them inside the 50m area can elect either to kick from outside 50 for nine points, or kick from inside 50 for six points
It was felt that a player who is awarded a 50-metre penalty which would advance him inside 50-metres, should be given the opportunity to decide whether he kicks from outside 50-metres for nine points, or take the full 50-metre penalty to kick from inside 50-metres for six points.
2. Boundary umpires pay free kicks for holding & high contact at stoppages
As an extension to the 2010 NAB Cup Trial, boundary umpires may pay free kicks for obvious holding or high contact infringements. They will not pay any other form of free kick.
3. Free kick against player who drags or holds ball under opponent
As an extension of the rule trialled in the 2010 NAB Cup trial, the umpire may pay a free kick against a player who drags the ball under his opponent, and may also pay a free kick against a player who holds a ball under his opponent, when he is trying to knock it out.
4. Official scorer can assist with scoring decisions by reference to technology
If a video replay is immediately available, the goal umpire can consult with the official scorer to determine the correct decision. To be implemented such that the effect on the flow of the game will be minimal and there is no avenue for players to refer decisions.
5. Last touch out of bounds
To be trialled in the first round of matches only, when each of the 18 clubs will be broken up into six groups of three clubs to play two shortened matches each on the one day at the one venue, a free kick will be paid against the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds. A free won’t be paid if the umpire is unable to determine who touched the ball last, if the ball goes out of bounds from a spoil after a marking contest or if the ball goes out of bounds as a result of a defensive smother to a kick or a handball.
In 2011, the format for Round One of the NAB Cup has been revised, due to the introduction of the Gold Coast Suns and the GWS Giants. The AFL has divided the 18 teams into six divisions of three clubs each, with each club to play two matches in their pool against the other two sides they are matched with. These matches in the first round of the NAB Cup will be shortened games, comprising two 20-minute halves and would allow for three games to be played in a three-hour block.
The Brisbane Lions will feature in the second week of scheduled matches on Friday 18 February when they face off against Essendon and St Kilda in succession.
All six round one fixtures will also feature special nine-a-side Legends and Celebrity matches as part of football’s response to the flood disasters across parts of Australia.
Adult ticket prices start at $20 and concession prices at $11, with 15 per cent of all gate receipts from the opening round to go towards supporting football communities affected by the floods. Please note that ticket agent fees and ground levies may apply at some venues.
Children under the age of18 can register their details at afl.com.au/juniortickets to receive a free ticket to a NAB Cup match of their choice in Rounds One, Two or Three.
