AFL's deliberate rule riles Lions coach

Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch says he can't understand the AFL's crackdown on the deliberate out of bounds rule.

Brisbane Lions coach Justin Leppitsch

Brisbane's coach says he can't understand the AFL's crackdown on the deliberate out of bounds rule. (AAP)

Confused by the AFL's crackdown on the deliberate out of bounds rule? So is Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch.

The Lions boss, like many, can't work it out.

"It's a funny rule isn't it, that one," Leppitsch said after numerous deliberate calls in Brisbane's 77-point away loss to Port Adelaide on Sunday.

"I can't work it out.

"I'm not saying each individual call was wrong, it's just you're not sure whether they are going to pay it or not.

"I'm talking both teams, not just us.

"It's just I'm a bit confused about what is and what isn't."

But the new-season stricter interpretation sits comfortably with Port coach Ken Hinkley.

"I know there was a lot in the game. I don't know that there were too many bad ones," Hinkley said.

"Everyone could sense that it was going to happen so that becomes easier to read, it does make it easier for players if it's quite predictable.

"And I thought the umpires made it, most of the time, predictable."

Hinkley said the tougher interpretation was "good for the game".

"It keeps the game alive, it keeps the ball in play," he said.

But the clampdown won't force teams to use the middle of the field more.

"Some of the explanations I have got in the past - `well, if you're under pressure so you have got to kick the ball back into the middle' - we're not going to do that," Hinkley said.

"We will try and keep the ball in but we're not going to be silly about it."


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world