Familiarise yourself and your club with the 2019 Eastern Football League rule changes ahead of Round 1.
This memo is to provide confirmation of the rule changes for the 2019 season;
Traditional Playing Positions at Centre Bounce
• Implementation of a traditional set up at centre bounces – teams must have six (6) players inside both areas from the back of the goal square to the goal line.
• Four (4) midfield players are positioned inside the centre square with the players on the wing required to be placed somewhere along the wing (outside the centre square, on opposing sides of the ground).
• If a team is found to have a player/s out of position, the umpire will award a 25-metre penalty against the infringing team from the centre circle and the free kick will be taken by the ruckperson.
Kick-Ins
• For kick-Ins from a behind, a player will no longer need to kick to himself to play on out of the goal square. Players will need to wait until after the goal umpires have waved the flags before taking their kick.
• Following a behind, the man on the mark will be positioned ten (10) metres from the top of the goal square. The umpire will position themselves five (5) metres from the man on the mark. Once the player leaves the goal square, the umpire must call play on.
• All players other than the man on the mark & the player bringing the ball back into play must not be in the area from the man on the mark back to the goal line
Marks / Free Kicks:
• For all defenders who take a mark or gain a free kick within nine (9) metres of their own goal, the player on the mark for the attacking team will be brought in line with the top of the goal square.
• All players other than the man on the mark & the player bringing the ball back into play must not be in the area and must be inline or behind the man on the mark.
Umpire Contact
• Players will be prohibited from setting up behind the umpire at each centre bounce.
25-Metre Penalty
• Stricter on the infringing player, allowing the player with the ball to advance the mark by 25 metres without the infringing player delaying the game.
• In addition, the player with the football will be able to play on during the advancement of the 25-Metre Penalty.
Ruck Contests – Prior Opportunity
• A ruckperson who takes possession of the football while contesting a ball up by a field umpire or a boundary throw in by a boundary umpire, will not be regarded as having had prior opportunity. Where there is uncertainty over who is the designated Ruck, the Ruck for each team will continue to nominate to the field umpire.
Runners and Water Carriers
• No changes have been made to the rules around movement of Runners and Water Carriers
- Runners will now be in pink attire
- Trainers will now wear black pants instead of white
