The next time Dean Gore tries to shark a boundary throw-in, he won't have to worry about giving away a free kick despite doing nothing wrong.
Gore's bizarre free during the pre-season was a catalyst for the AFL tweaking its controversial new third-man rule.
As umpires boss Peter Schwab forecast earlier this month, a player will no longer give away a free kick if he is hit by the ball at a boundary throw-in if he is not trying to contest the ruck.
Gore was at the feet of the ruckmen when the ball fell short and hit him on the back.
Under the rules, the umpire correctly penalised him.
"It was clarified that in any instance where a player is struck by the ball at a boundary ruck contest, but was passive and had no intention to contest or impact the ruck contest, play on would be called," the league said in a statement.
Also on Friday, the AFL announced it would stick with the hefty penalty of a free kick if a player is pinged for a deliberate rushed behind.
During the pre-season, the league trialled a ball-up near goal.
But as was the case last season, if a player gives away the free kick then the opposition has a free kick on the goal line, where the incident happened.
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