PORT Adelaide defender Tom Jonas is throwing his support behind the AFL's latest rule change, which will see umpires look to penalise players who lead into tackles with their head.
The tendency of some to duck into tackles to draw a free kick has drawn widespread criticism in 2015, but the League's football operations manager Mark Evans said the stricter interpretation was introduced to protect the 'ducking' player's safety.
At a size (188cm) where he's regularly asked to man both tall and small opponents, Jonas is the type of player who might be targeted by an ingenious small forward looking to draw a free kick.
Click here to read the AFL's media release on the new rule
He didn't see the practice as a major issue in the modern game, but said the new interpretation could help reduce the number of dangerous head clashes.
"I think a lot of the time if there was that particular scenario (a player looking to draw contact) they'd be quite good at not giving away the free kick," Jonas said of the League's umpires.
"There hasn't been so much an increase in people ducking this season in particular, maybe in the last three or four years…but there seems to have been an increase in head clashes.
"That's probably the main area they're trying to address."
Jonas and his fellow Power defenders will have their work cut out for them on Saturday night against a Western Bulldogs outfit confident after its win over Greater Western Sydney last week.
Tory Dickson booted four goals in the Bulldogs' victory and seven in the club's loss to Fremantle in round seven, while Tom Boyd and Stewart Crameri are also significant threats.
Jonas said the Power would avoid focusing its attention on just one target.
Preview: Power v Bulldogs
"They've got a few forwards in pretty good form, they've got Crameri down there and Tory Dickson kicked a fair few goals last week – so it's going to be a team effort," he said.
"Everyone's dangerous, when you're playing AFL football you've got to respect everyone or they can hurt you."
Fans attending Saturday night's game will also be given the opportunity to experience what it's like to run out onto Adelaide Oval as a player, through the Power's AFL-first virtual reality technology.
By wearing a headset in the Renault Virtual Reality Zone, a fan will be able to see and hear everything a player does as he runs out through the players' race and onto the field.
Developed by Adelaide-based company Jumpgate Virtual Reality, the experience was filmed using 3D technology during the club's round two game against the Sydney Swans.
"The technology is amazing and is difficult to describe unless you’ve actually used it," Power CEO Keith Thomas said.
"I encourage as many supporters to head to the Renault Virtual Reality Zone in the Southern Plaza before our upcoming home games to enjoy this rare opportunity.”
