Carlton Supporters Club

So while the AFL give free kick hawks a ride. They also get warnings that are generous

Full AFL statement on Hawthorn's interchange breach

During the second quarter of last night's game following the Adam Cerra goal and a subsequent interchange of players, Hawthorn had 19 players on the field as the teams were resetting for the bounce. Upon realising this, the AFL interchange official notified Hawthorn who took steps to rectify the error before play resumed.

The AFL Field Umpires paid a 6-6-6 warning as Hawthorn were lined up with 7 players in one of the sections of the field.

Upon review of the situation post-match, it is the view of the AFL that the AFL interchange official should have considered it a major breach, alerted the umpires and Carlton should have been awarded a free kick and 50m penalty from the centre.

The AFL has now provided Hawthorn with a warning in relation to their process for managing player rotations.

So while the AFL give free kick hawks a ride. They also get warnings that are generous

Full AFL statement on Hawthorn's interchange breach

During the second quarter of last night's game following the Adam Cerra goal and a subsequent interchange of players, Hawthorn had 19 players on the field as the teams were resetting for the bounce. Upon realising this, the AFL interchange official notified Hawthorn who took steps to rectify the error before play resumed.

The AFL Field Umpires paid a 6-6-6 warning as Hawthorn were lined up with 7 players in one of the sections of the field.

Upon review of the situation post-match, it is the view of the AFL that the AFL interchange official should have considered it a major breach, alerted the umpires and Carlton should have been awarded a free kick and 50m penalty from the centre.

The AFL has now provided Hawthorn with a warning in relation to their process for managing player rotations.

Big deal! They should have their scores removed!

We have some issues no doubt.
Folks have pretty much covered them.

But on the flip side, you look at the position we're in...

We played arguably the form side of the competition.
We were essentially without our two key forwards because Curnow's contribution was only to draw an opponent.
As a result our forward structure was nowhere near its optimum.
Motlop and Silvagni both had close misses. Jack a poster, Motlop overturned on a late review.
I think there were a couple of others.
Scoring shots were the same.

They only scored 80 points.
Only two teams since they began their charge in the middle of last year have restricted them to lower scores.
The inside 50s were almost even...they had one more.
We won the clearances
Tackles were fairly even

In the end it was their efficiency which was the difference.

We play different styles of game.
They're at the top of their game with their style at the moment...run, skill, precision
We're a bit off the pace with ours....pressure, clearance, stoppage wins

Some have suggested ours is out-dated and their's is the new modern way to play.
Lets see how that develops if we can get back close to our best.

https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2025/03/21/19a8bff6-8f49-45b9-b686-83a64db02fe0/LEGAL_2025_150532_Laws-of-the-Game_Booklet_Digital_FA.pdf

Rule 5.5 Counting of players

Rule 5.5.3 (d) basically says the controlling body can do whatever it likes in the situation. So that's the end of it.

So dependant on which perspective we take, the rules are more of a guideline!

Isn't that the crux of the issue everybody has with the MRP, and the umpiring in general, that there are too many "interpretations of the guidelines!"

I can't help but wonder what the sport might be like if not run by lawyers.

Quote from: LP – on March 24, 2025, 12:12:26 pm

So dependant on which perspective we take, the rules are more of a guideline!

Isn't that the crux of the issue everybody has with the MRP, and the umpiring in general, that there are too many "interpretations of the guidelines!"

I can't help but wonder what the sport might be like if not run by lawyers.

Not really.  The rules Lods linked are general rules that the AFL provides for all competitions and they allow for local modifications in some circumstances; 6-6-6, stand rule, etc.

The rules of the AFL are fixed at the start of each season (although there have been occasional changes during seasons).  The penalty for 19 players has been fixed at a free kick and 50m penalty for years.

It seems that my “earpiece” theory was wrong; an umpire counted seven players in a zone and it was assumed that another zone only had five players.  It was an interchange steward error rather than an umpire error.  Although you could argue that the umpires who counted the players in the other zones should have twigged that there was an extra player on the ground.

Quote from: Lods – on March 21, 2025, 11:57:10 pm

https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2025/03/21/19a8bff6-8f49-45b9-b686-83a64db02fe0/LEGAL_2025_150532_Laws-of-the-Game_Booklet_Digital_FA.pdf

Rule 5.5 Counting of players

Rule 5.5.3 (d) basically says the controlling body can do whatever it likes in the situation. So that's the end of it.

They’re general rules Lods.  The controlling body in this case has determined that the penalty for 19 players is a free kick and 50m penalty … basically a gimme goal from a centre bounce situation.

The umpires are made aware of the extra player via their earpieces.  Surely the message should have been, “Hawthorn has 19 players on the field. That’s a free to Carlton and a 50m penalty.”

Not really.  The rules Lods linked are general rules that the AFL provides for all competitions and they allow for local modifications in some circumstances; 6-6-6, stand rule, etc.

The rules of the AFL are fixed at the start of each season (although there have been occasional changes during seasons).  The penalty for 19 players has been fixed at a free kick and 50m penalty for years.

Quote from: DJC – on March 24, 2025, 11:16:51 am

They’re general rules Lods.  The controlling body in this case has determined that the penalty for 19 players is a free kick and 50m penalty … basically a gimme goal from a centre bounce situation.

The umpires are made aware of the extra player via their earpieces.  Surely the message should have been, “Hawthorn has 19 players on the field. That’s a free to Carlton and a 50m penalty.”

Do you have a link for AFL specific rules for season 2025?
Are they different to those stated in the general rules?

I think section 5.5.3d) gives them the out for any decision 'headquarters' may make anyway.

But I'd like to think the rules are clearly available to help folks understand those decisions...and if they are different for the elite level and more general competitions we have a reference.