The Rushed Behind is worth more than 1 point
July 23, 2008
The rushed behind is worth more than one point. Rushing a behind by a backline player is really an act of submission and defeat. He has decided that he is forced to bring an end to an impossible situation. The only way out is to concede. First edition 23/08/2007
Look at it this way. A team of forwards has attacked and worked extremely hard to get the ball into the goals area. The backmen of the opposing team, wanting to relieve the pressure, forces the ball through for a point - it’s their easy way out. The problem is that the attacking side is only rewarded in the smallest possible way for forcing the backmen to concede by taking the ball out of play. The backmen can then even use their defeat to immediately kick the ball out into play, thereby creating an advantage. It seems unfair that the attacking side has met with so little reward.
Let us make the rushed behind worth two points, perhaps even three.
A change like this would have the effect of creating even more intense and exciting forward play. Defending players would be in two minds about tapping the ball through, particularly if the game was close in the last quarter. Play in front of the goals would be fought out harder with the ball probably remaining longer in the goals area. Even more teamwork would be required of the backmen in trying to extricate themselves from a difficult situation. The forwards, too, would be encouraged to persevere with more intensity knowing that the ball is more likely to remain in play.
What we saw on the weekend was disgraceful (Richmond v Essendon) real sportsmanship, now maybe the rule will be looked at
What are your thoughts? Let me know because I believe this matter needs to be addressed by the Rules Committee.
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