The AFL has proposed several rule changes to the clubs for the 2024 season, including crackdowns on high contact incidents such as Brayden Maynard’s infamous collision with Angus Brayshaw in the finals.
Maynard’s attempt at a smother which concussed Melbourne opponent Brayshaw saw the Magpies defender cleared by the Tribunal after they determined neither his decision to smother, nor the way he braced for contact, were careless.
But, according to multiplereports, in 2024 the incident would likely see Brayshaw suspended under a suggested change to the Match Review Officer guidelines.
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The tweak would mean any high contact graded as low impact would be deemed careless at a minimum, unless a player had taken “all reasonable steps to avoid making contact with their opponent’s head and/or minimise the force of any high contact”.
The proposal uses an example of a player adopting a different body position.
The AFL is also looking to crack down on run-down tackles, after a series of Tribunal hearings where some players were suspended and others were cleared.
“An area of concern this year has been run-down tackles where the tackling player significantly contributed to the force with which the tackled player is driven to ground,” the league’s memo read.
But the league insists it is not trying to take run-down tackles out of the game – just minimise incidents where concussions or injuries are caused by the action.
The changes would be signed off at an AFL Commission meeting in February if the clubs do not object.
The AFL is also concerned about coaches on the bench whistling and interrupting the broadcast audio.
“Club football officials continue to whistle from the interchange bench to get the attention of players, which interrupts the audio of match broadcasts. It is proposed to include a new regulation prohibiting whistling or making any other such noises to communicate from the interchange bench,” the memo read.
The league asked for input on how the substitute rule and team selection are implemented, with some frustration in 2023 over players being announced as omitted on Thursday night, but staying in the squad as the sub on the weekend.
In an unlikely scenario the sub rule could be scrapped and teams allowed to name a 23-man side with five players on the bench.
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