https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2022-protected-area-rule-changed-video-how-does-the-rule-work-example-matt-guelfi-essendon-vs-st-kilda-incident/news-story/dce9a1498550ef83773c100992d54038

AFL changes protected area rule ‘making a mockery of the game' which players were ‘exploiting’
Coaches weigh in on send off rule debate
Coaches weigh in on send off rule debate | 01:57

Max Laughton
Max Laughton from Fox Sports
@maxlaughton
June 28th, 2022 4:14 pm
The AFL has tweaked the protected area rule, following criticism about 50-metre penalties being given unfairly against some players.

The league has informed clubs that players can now infringe the 10-metre protected area if they have “split” from their opponent and are trying to run with them.

Previously players were allowed to follow their opponent into the area around a player who has marked the ball if they were within two metres of the opponent.

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Now the opponents can split apart but a 50-metre penalty will not be given against the defender who is trying to clear the zone.

The defender must still clear the area as soon as possible.

A prime example of a 50-metre penalty which would no longer be given is Essendon’s Matt Guelfi being penalised against St Kilda.

Guelfi was juked by opponent Jack Sinclair and ran on the other side of Saints player Jack Billings, and was thus penalised for being in the protected area.



“The protected area rule is designed for the kicker to have options to move the ball,” AFL head of umpiring Dan Richardson said.


“It is having the desired effect, however there have been more and more instances of players deliberately running their opponent into the zone with the intention of getting split and/or drawing a 50m penalty.

“If this ‘split’ of players happens, providing the defender moves to vacate the area, the umpires have been instructed to no longer apply a 50m penalty.

“Feedback is important, and we continually listen to a whole range of stakeholders, and this clarification will provide opportunity for the rule to be applied as intended.”

Matt Guelfi was caught out by his man running the other way around the mark (opponent mostly obscured by replay box).
Matt Guelfi was caught out by his man running the other way around the mark (opponent mostly obscured by replay box).
Source: FOX SPORTS
The protected area rule had frustrated many experts, including Port Adelaide champion Kane Cornes.

“My frustration has been building right throughout the season,” Cornes said on SEN earlier this week.

“I understand rules, at times, can be boring and no one is ever going to be happy with the way the game is adjudicated.

“It’s come to a head with the 10-metre protected zone rule to the point that it is making a mockery of the game and we are asking players to do things that we should not be asking them to do.

“We can’t cop it, and I want to do something about it.”

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