MININERA footy fans are going to notice sweeping changes with seven new rules to be introduced when the season starts on April 13.
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All but two of the nine new rule interpretations adopted by the AFL will be implemented into south-west leagues, including the Mininera and District Football League.
AFL Western District senior operations manager Brad Pole confirmed the traditional centre bounce (six-six-six) and the water carrier-runner rules wouldn't feature in the new changes.
The kick-in, marks-free kicks deep inside defensive 50, hands in the back, post-siren kicking for goal, 50-metre penalty, ruck contest prior opportunity and umpire contact at centre bounce rules will be enforced by umpires.
The AFL unveiled the changes and interpretations on October 11 last year with the goal of producing more free-flowing, instinctive football and more one-on-one contests across the sport's multiple levels.
The new defensive-50 rule means players have more space to take their kick after marking or receiving a free-kick deep inside their own defence, while the new 50-metre penalty interpretation gives them the freedom to play-on after receiving a 50-metre penalty.
Players are now also allowed to take around-the-body set shots after the siren. The hands-in-the-back at marking contests and prior opportunity at ruck contests interpretations have been relaxed. Ruckmen are now allowed to take possession of the ball at a stoppage.
Also under the changes, the man on the mark at kick-ins will be positioned an extra five metres back to give players more space to kick or play on. They also no longer need to kick the ball to themselves to play on from the goal square.
"I don't think the rule changes will have a great impact in country football," Mininera and District Football League president John Box said.
"I think the confusion of the 50-metre penalty will take two or three weeks for the local players to get used to. Players will come on board with the changes fairly quickly."
The league will host a forum with all the clubs to discuss the new rules and junior football on Wednesday.
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