We've wrapped up the 2011 AFL Season, but we want to hear what you'd like to see in 2012. Click here to give us your Feedback!
February 9: The humble boundary umpire is set to become the new best friend of superstar midfielders like Geelong champ and 2009 Brownlow Medal winner Gary Ablett during the AFL’s NAB 
Cup.
In a ground-breaking decision from the AFL, boundary umpires will be given the power to award free kicks for holding at stoppages during the pre-season competition which blasts off with West Coast taking on Essendon at Subiaco Oval this Friday night.
Desperately keen to keep footy clean and flowing, the AFL believes boundary umpires can provide an extra set of eyes at stoppages.
The AFL has been under increasing pressure to try and come up with an answer to the problem of superstar players being held off-the-ball by close-checking taggers without detection by field umpires.
AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson is excited by the experimental rule.
“If there’s less holding at stoppages, we’ll probably see better footy as a result,” he said at the launch of the NAB Cup.
“The boundary umpire is a extra set of eyes to help detect holding at stoppages.
“The boundary umpires have been trained up over summer. They’re looking forward to the challenge.”
The trial will be celebrated with gusto by the likes of Ablett and Western Bulldogs speedster and 2008 Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney, who have endured plenty of frustration at the hands of opposition players holding on in an attempt to prevent them from dashing away with the footy.
But the boundary umpire experiment during the NAB Cup will remain just that and it will not come into force when the AFL’s premiership season begins in late March.
Another trial rule that is certain to attract plenty of attention during the NAB Cup concerns the advantage rule.
Umpires will leave the definition of advantage up to players.
It occurs to some extent already, but there will be no second chance if the player turns the footy over or misses a shot at the big sticks.
The holding-the-ball rule will also be tweaked.
The tackling player who pushes the footy under an opponent in the hope of winning a free kick will be penalised.
An extension of the no-go zone behind field umpires at ball-ups all around the ground rather than just at centre bounces will also be trailled.
The experimental rules for the NAB Cup are:
1. Boundary umpires can pay free kicks for holding at stoppages.
2. Players, rather than umpires, will determine the application of the advantage rule.
3. Extension of the no-go zone behind umpires at ball-ups all around the ground.
4. Tackling player who pushes the ball under opponent seeking free kick will be penalised.
If you would like to be in our studio audience you can find out all the details here!
After Round 24
Collingwood 80
Geelong 76
Hawthorn 72
West Coast 68
Carlton 58
St Kilda 50
Sydney 50
Essendon 46
North Melbourne 40
Western Bulldogs 36
Fremantle 36
Richmond 34
Melbourne 34
Adelaide 28
Brisbane 16
Port Adelaide 12
Gold Coast 12
Grand Final
Geelong def Collingwood
Preliminary Finals
Collingwood def Hawthorn
Geelong def West Coast
1st Semi Final West Coast def Carlton
2nd Semi Final Hawthorn def Sydney
1st Elimination Final Carlton def Essendon
2nd Elimination Final Sydney def St.Kilda
1st Qualifying Final Collingwood def West Coast
2nd Qualifying Final Geelong def Hawthorn
Everything else fails to lure your mate from trouble in the pub? Run down the kebab shop, pack your pockets with falafel, he'll follow the scent like a puppy!
For more moves visit www.championshipmoves.com.au
You can now check out all your favourite segments from the Marngrook Footy Show right here on our website.
We'd love to know who you would like on the show in 2012.
Send us your ideas for future guests or anything else you'd like to see on your favourite footy show.
Click Here to let us know your thoughts
Got something to say?
Want to email something to the Marngrook Panel?
Do you have a photo to share with the Marngrook audience?
