The AFL has announced five new rules to be trialled during the 2011 NAB Cup which include the awarding a free kick against the last team to touch the ball before it crosses the boundary line.
As well, video replays will be used to assist the goal umpires and boundary umpires will have the power to award free kicks for holding and high contact at stoppages.
The rules to be trialled are:
* A player awarded a 50m penalty which takes him inside the 50m area can elect to kick from outside 50 for nine points or from inside 50 for six points
* The goal umpire can consult with the official scorer to determine the correct decision in situations where a video replay is immediately available
* Boundary umpires will be empowered to pay free kicks for holding and high contact at stoppages
* A free kick will be paid against player who drags or holds the ball under his opponent
* A free kick will be paid against the last player to touch the ball before it went out of bounds.
This last rule will apply for the first round of NAB Cup matches only when each of the 18 clubs will be broken up into six groups of three.
A free won't be paid if the umpire is unable to determine who touched the ball last, if the ball goes out of bounds from a spoil after a marking contest, or if the ball goes out of bounds as a result of a defensive smother to a kick or a handball.
AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the league was keen to trial the use of technology to assist in scoring decisions and felt that boundary umpires could play an important role to ensure that ball-players are protected.
"Boundary umpires can be in a good position for viewing these situations and this trial, which was first used last year, allows them to award free kicks when holding or high contact infringements are detected," Anderson said.
"Boundary umpires will again be trained up on this skill over the pre-season."
"In 2011, the AFL will again trial an extension of the holding the ball rule as an attempt to reduce the prevalence of players dragging or holding the ball underneath their opponent in an attempt to gain a free kick."
"This tactic is against the spirit and intent of the holding the ball rule," Mr Anderson said. Anderson said the rationale for trialling the 'last touch' rule emerged in consultation with the clubs as a way of creating a point of difference for the competition in Round 1 only.
