THE AFL is cracking down on players deliberately wasting time before taking their kicks for goal.
Umpires are being instructed to call play on if a player is deliberately wasting time before beginning his run in towards goal, a tactic that has crept into the game as clubs try to hold a lead in the dying stages of close games.
Players are granted an allotted time of 30 seconds as part of their goalkicking routines – which is displayed on the scoreboards at AFL venues – before the umpire blows his whistle to call play on.
"The umpire has the capacity to call play on if he feels a player is seeking to just deliberately waste time," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane told AFL.com.au.
"If a player is preparing his goalkicking routine, he is given the time to get ready and kick for goal."
Bomber Jake Stringer milked at least 20 seconds off the clock in the final quarter of the Essendon-North Melbourne clash in round 15.
With the Bombers holding onto a 14-point lead with less than two minutes remaining in the match, Stringer stood at the top of the square to run the clock down and even waved at opponent Jamie Macmillan as a chorus of boos rang out around Etihad Stadium.
Geelong's Jamaine Jones was also told to move the play on by the umpire as he got ready to take his set-shot in the final quarter of Thursday night's clash against Sydney.
There have also been several instances recently where a player has told the umpire he is lining up for goal before trying to hit a pass to a teammate or to the top of the square.
"If the umpire is of the view that the player is simply trying to run out time, by looking at the screen or whatever, because he is ready to kick, he can whistle play on," Keane said.
Meanwhile, the AFL has been comfortable with how the protected area rule has been adjudicated this season despite heavy criticism levelled by commentators.
There has been a noticeable spike in 50m penalties paid for players encroaching in the protected area this season, with two notable ones paid in the Cats-Swans clash.
Geelong midfielder Tim Kelly was penalised in the second term which led to a shot at goal for Swans youngster Tom McCartin, while Dan Hannebery was also pinged.
According to the instructions sent to clubs, the attacking team has the right to use the ball as they wish and opposition players must clear out from either side of the mark.
"The opposition players must either be with a player who they are marking, or actively seeking to move out of the area, left or right, to take themselves away from the player with the ball," Keane said.
Cats superstar and AFL Players' Association president Patrick Dangerfield said the rule needs to be reviewed.
"I understand the reasoning behind it in making sure the game is free flowing," Dangerfield told Fox Footy.
"But I think we can do that in other ways. I don’t think necessarily we need to use that protected zone as a means to speed the game up and make sure it's free flowing."
