Lines need the same care as goals

There’s no question in AussieRulesBlog’s mind that the fifty-metre penalty for interchange infringements is too harsh. Saturday night’s penalty against Saint Justin Koschitzke ignited spirited debate amongst the TV commentary team over the issue, yet we wonder what is so hard for the players.

 

The issue of the penalty aside, what is it about lines that some AFL footballers struggle with? There is a boundary line and they mostly manage to assimilate the concept that keeping the ball inside the line keeps the ball ‘live’. There is a fifty-metre square line for starting or restarting play (after goals). There is a fifty-metre line for super goals during the pre-season comp. All of these seem to offer no great difficulty, but show them a goal square or an interchange line and some of them come over all stupid.

 

There is no excuse for a player kicking out after a point stepping on the line of the goal square and thus giving up the ball to a bounce and a 50-50 contest at the goal mouth.

 

Similarly, there is no excuse for a player disregarding the yellow interchange lines when leaving or entering the field of play.

 

C-o-n-c-e-n-t-r-a-t-e. Allow a margin for error. These aspects of the game have as much impact as a kick for goal. Why would players not take the same care they would with a shot for goal?