Skippers slam slide rule

AFL captains have savaged the sliding rule. Picture: Klein Michael Source: HWT Image Library

SEVERAL AFL captains have savaged the sliding rule that has been introduced this year.

The leaders gathered in Melbourne to mark the new season and those against the rule said it would affect a fundamental element of the game.

Of the 15 club captains surveyed by the Herald Sun, eight were against it.

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Adelaide captain Nathan van Berlo said outlawing contact below the knees would change "how we played our footy growing up".

Hawthorn counterpart Luke Hodge said the interpretation would rob the game of acts of desperation.

As trialled in the NAB Cup, a free kick will be awarded against a player who makes forceful contact below the knees of an opponent.

>> SCROLL BELOW TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THE HERALD SUN'S CAPTAINS SURVEY

Van Berlo was the most vocal in his opposition to the rule, saying he worried it would be misinterpreted by umpires and players.

"That's how we played our footy growing up, so to remove that completely from the game is going to be very difficult," he said.

AFL Captains, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: HWT Image Library

"For the odd occurrence where there's an injury, I understand the AFL's concern, but I don't think there's a drastic need to change it."

Hodge agreed with the need to outlaw players sliding into contests knees first.

"But with the sliding head-first desperation stuff, I don't agree with that," he said. "You've got to be able to slide and put your body on the line.

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"That's what Glenn Archer was known for and why he played so many games.

"I agree with the knees first but head first, that's going to take away a lot of the desperation stuff the fans want to see and that's what makes our game so good."

St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt was in favour of the rule, saying "anything that protects players from serious leg injuries (is good)".

But confusion reigned among many, even for those in favour of the change.

Melbourne's Jack Grimes said the AFL needed to explain the rule better.

Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh said Saturday's practice match against Port Adelaide had proved the rule was not clearly understood.

AFL Captains, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett, Picture: Ludbey Wayne Source: HWT Image Library

"Dan Hannebery kept his feet, picked the ball up and a player dived at his legs with their head and they got the free kick for high contact, but Hanners got hit below the knees, so we couldn't work it out," McVeigh said.

"The rule is if you stay on your feet and take the ball, then you're in the right.

"If you just keep your feet, then that's all you can do. You've just got to keep your feet and try to take the ball. If not, you tackle."

AFL CAPTAINS SURVEY

1. Which seven other clubs do you think will make the top eight?

Sydney (17)
Collingwood, West Coast, Hawthorn (16)
Fremantle, Geelong (15)
Adelaide (14)
Carlton (11)
Essendon, North Melbourne, Richmond (2)

2. Which other club will reach the Grand Final?

Hawthorn, West Coast (7),
Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong, Sydney Swans (1)

3. Who do you think will win the 2013 Coleman Medal?

Lance Franklin (8)
Taylor Walker (4)
Jack Riewoldt (3)
Tom Hawkins (2)
Drew Petrie (1)

4. Who do you think will win the 2013 NAB AFL Rising Star?

Jaeger O'Meara (9)
Lachie Whitfield, Ollie Wines (2)
Bradley Hill, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jonathan O'Rourke, Jake Stringer, Jack Viney (1)

HERALD SUN CAPTAINS SURVEY (Matthew Pavlich and Darren Glass were absent and Jobe Watson was unavailable)

1. Do you support the new sliding rule?

YES: 7
NO: 8

ADELAIDE CAPTAIN NATHAN VAN BERLO:
"No. I think it's going to be mis-interpreted so I think it needs some further change. It will be interesting to see how the umpires interpret it. I just think, particularly when it's wet, that's part of what people love coming to see, those collisions, as players that's how we played our footy growing up so to remove that completely from the game is going to be very difficult to do.

"For the odd occurance where there's an injury, I understand the AFL's concern, but I don't think there's a drastic need to change it."

2. Should the league bring in an interchange cap of 80?

YES: 3
NO: 12

HAWTHORN CAPTAIN LUKE HODGE:
"I don't want them to jump into it too early. Whether they put in a cap or not I reckon the game looks pretty good as it is.

"They're fastening the game up a lot more with how quickly they throw the ball in, how quickly the umpires ball it up and now with the kick-in from a point is six seconds so they're trying to fasten the game up but then give the blokes less rotations. I think they've got to ease up there.''

3. Should there be two byes in the season?

YES: 15
NO: 0

MELBOURNE CAPTAIN JACK GRIMES
"If there are less rotations and guys a pulling up sore, I guess (two byes) would be a good thing.''

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