No standing still in the North West

Photo: Tamworth Swans

THE AFL North West in 2025 will step a few years back in time. The ‘6-6-6’ starting positions and stand rule will not be part of the match rules during next year’s competition.

The move has been made to assist umpires in making their role easier as well as easing confusion among players who are relatively new to the code.

While the two rules are part of the Laws of Australian Football, not having them at a local level is not that unusual.

Other Leagues in New South Wales that don’t have the ‘6-6-6’ starting positions as part of their matches include the Riverina, Broken Hill, Hume and Northern Riverina Leagues.

“There were a variety of reasons why the change was made at the AFL North West level including the fact that stopping a centre bounce to give a warning to teams eats up valuable time,” Community Football & Competition Manager Brad Greenshields said.

“Also club volunteers acting as a goal or boundary umpire shouldn’t be asked to help police this rule as well as rule on what’s a goal or behind or out of bounds.”

Players will not be required to stand on the mark or need to move outside of a five metre area as they have in recent seasons.

Any player though though who moves over the mark will still be penalised as they have been for more than 100 years.