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Sport Nation
“It’s completely illogical”: The rule change that Gerard Whateley believes the AFL simply must make
Lachlan Geleit, SEN • November 4th, 2024 8:39 am
Gerard Whateley has suggested one AFL rule that he thinks must be eradicated ahead of the 2025 season.
In response to a report in the Herald Sun that said the AFL has asked clubs for feedback on a list of potential rule changes, Whateley picked out the adjudication that he thinks must be altered and it relates to the ‘double goal’.
As things stand, if a defender gives away a free kick after a goal is kicked, the ball is returned to where the infringement occured - often giving teams two shots on goal in two possessions of the footy.
The report said that the league has asked whether all free kicks after goals should be instead taken from the middle of the ground regardless of where the infringement occurred, and Whateley thinks that exact change should be made ‘on a pen stroke’.
“One change that is absolutely necessary and should be made on a pen stroke is the end of the ‘double goal’,” Whateley said on SEN Mornings.
“This free kick owes to a bygone era of king-hits and thuggery and it has no relevance to the modern game.
“Once the ball's gone through for a goal, its natural place is back in the centre of the ground, not where the goal was just kicked.
“It’s completely illogical. Think back to the dissent free kick against Jordan Clark.
“The goal is kicked, he carries on like a pillock so there’s a free kick against. It should be in the centre of the ground, not the goal square.
“This should be done in a pen stroke. No more double goals.
“That one's really easy, the time has come to eradicate an anachronism in the game.”
Other rule changes that have been canvassed include ending the 6-6-6 warning, calling play on quicker after a free kick or mark and whether the set shot clock should be reduced.
Whateley is against quickening up the play-on call but agrees with tossing out the 6-6-6 warning.
“As for the idea of rushing players with the ball with a quicker play on call - I’m a hard no on that - if you've won the ball, you control the game,” Whateley said.
“The idea you should be forced into chaos, that’s not the place of the rules, that's the place of the opposition.
“I'm a yes on the end to the 6-6-6 warning. Let’s eradicate the anachronism of the double goal. I’d leave the shot clock debate to those who are taking the shots and I'm a hard no on rushing the play on call.”
