I just sent this email to
[email protected]
Dear AFL Commissioners
As a 56 year old who has watched and loved our great game all my life I appeal to you to reject the current changes proposed for the game, especially the proposed 18 m goal 'square' and the 6-6-6 starting positions. The game is a great spectacle and does not need these ridiculous changes to improve it as a spectacle.
The only changes that will assist our game as a spectacle is to get rid of the rule that requires teams to nominate a ruckman at ball-up contests.This nonsensical rule slows the game down and actually increases congestion. If umpires were instructed to throw the ball up as quickly as possible teams would need to respond more quickly and less congestion would result.
The other rules that need to be 'clarified' are the' holding the ball' and 'incorrect disposal rules'. If umpires, coaches and players were given greater clarity around the interpretation of these rules I am sure it would result in better umpiring and greater flow of pay. Fans understand that our game is a hard, fast and often difficult game for umpires to always adjudicate correctly, but having fewer inconsistencies in umpiring decisions will help improve it as a spectacle.
I am a paid Richmond member and have seen my team go through many years of failure. We are now a top team and I find it extremely unreasonable that the "rule makers" all of a sudden want to change the game when Richmond is playing its best football. I am not a conspiracist but this is a little too coincidental.
I appeal to your common sense to leave our great game alone and allow it to evolve naturally by the teams that are most innovative and creative. Allow the best teams to lead the way - do not force them down a path of conformity to reactive, unnecessary knee-jerk actions from the game's hierarchy.
Please confirm that the AFL Commission has received my email.
