Hands in the Back Rule - 1 in 3 gets paid per game, they pay hands in the back when the hand/push is on the side, yet do not pay it when there is a push with the forearm
Contact Below the Knees - overreaction rule to one injury where the player slid in FOOT first, players are not allowed to be more desperate than their opponents and are afraid to be first to the ball, other players are actually practicing planting their feet to draw the free kick which will lend itself to more injuries counter to what the rule is meant to do
Incorrect Disposal - Non existant rule, a player who is tackled is now allowed to drop/spill the ball to teammates advantage
Holding the Ball Rule - Linked to incorrect disposal where a player can have prior opportunity, get tackled, but if the ball is not held to the player then it is usually play on, a good tackle (where the ball is held to the player) is sometimes payed holding the ball even when the player has not had prior opportunity
Umpire Abuse - Being smart (not yelling, swearing or threatening behaviour) with the umpire is now apparently umpire abuse, umpires are allowed to be smart with players so why not the other way. Telling the umpire he is having a bad game is or that the decision was wrong (not yelling, swearing or threatening) is not abuse
50m penalty for Holding Players after Disposal - Comes into a 1 game every 2-3 rounds, every other game is allowed, although players have learned to mostly shepard now
Staging - The softest interpretation of a current rule, plenty of players have staged for free kicks (including Richmond players) yet only a few warnings have been issued, instead of giving warnings or fines for staging the umpires boss is too busy trying to convince everyone that the umpire made the correct call
Push in the Back - IIRC this rule was brought in for players safety but has become a rule in the mould of the Hands in the Back Rule where if you get into someones back regardless of force then it is payed, when a player on his knees can fall forward and get hands in the back there is something wrong, when players are actively trying to get other players to fall on their back by falling/diving forwards there is something wrong with the rule
Ruck infringements - unless it is a clear penalty to one player then just toss a coin to determine who's free it is, interpretations of other rules have crept into ruck infringements, also being the stronger ruck usually results in that player getting more frees against, time and time again you see rucks that are bigger beating smaller rucks or key forwards only to get a free paid against them for a push out or push in the back
Sheparding in a marking contest - So many times a player is not given a free run at the ball because his opponent has sheparded/engaged with him leaving a third man to take the mark, this usually starts well outside of the 'inside 5 meters of the ball', every now and then it will be payed usually to a player that is staging/acting rather than a genuine play
Free and 50m penalty for sub infringement - Massive overreaction to one game where there was an extra man on the ground for a few minutes who actually affected the game but instead of penalising that team a new rule was brought in, will cost a team a game at some point in time. Worst case scenario is that a team is 5 points up with seconds to go has possession of the ball in the middle of the ground, only for an eager first year player to take a half step onto the field of play just before his teammate comes off, sub infringement is called, siren sounds ball is turned over and 50m and the opposition slots it from 30m out. Of course if this happened then there would be a massive outcry and the sub infringement penalty would prolly be watered down to just a free kick but like usual the damage would already have been done
This was all just off the top of my head, could go on for ever about more BS rule changes ruining our great game
This along with Inequitable Fixturing, New Franchise Consessions, the Tanking saga, Salay Cap Cheating and the team on top of the ladder embroiled in a performance enhancing drug controversy really makes it hard to enjoy football ATM
Most of this boils down to the 'image' and 'growth' of the game, not the integrity, because that is what brings in the sponsors, the corporate dollars and the tv rights, which of course is all about money and...
...'Money is the root of all evil'
