Latest news with #SCG
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Kane Cornes blasts the AFL's ‘dumbest rule ever'
Kane Cornes has had an absolute gutful of what he calls 'the dumbest rule the AFL have ever brought in'. The 'stand rule' was first implemented back in 2021 and has had a number of tweaks since, all designed to speed up play and theoretically increase scoring in the competition. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The numbers don't reflect that intention, however, and the rule has led to instances just about every week of players, fans and commentators being left confused over 50 metre penalties related to the rule. Port Adelaide premiership player Cornes believes it's time for the rule to be scrapped. 'It's an absolute mess … and I've had enough,' he said on Channel 7's The Agenda Setters. 'I've had enough of the dumbest rule the AFL have ever brought in and that is the stand rule. 'I'm so sick of it, I've given it a chance, it's been four or five years, it is just not working and it is far too complicated for everyone.' The program played a number of examples of the rule being breached last weekend, including Collingwood's clash with West Coast and Sam Darcy coming out of the forward line to mark a Swans player at the SCG. 'How this is a 50 and a goal is just blowing my mind that we are asking our players to not move on the mark,' Cornes continued. 'Even when they do it well, like Sam Darcy here – what more could he do? What do you want him to do? And that's 50. 'How are we accepting of this as an industry? This is costing goals, (Darcy) couldn't believe it.' Callum Mills is also shown being pinged in the same match against the Dogs, along with Lions forward Charlie Cameron against Geelong's Mark Blicavs in round 15. 'It hasn't done anything for scoring. The reason it was brought in, OK it was going to fix ball movement and scoring, well it's not,' Cornes said. 'It has done next to nothing when it comes to scoring and improving that. 'The stand rule, I've had enough, players have had enough, I'm sure those watching at home are sick of it. 'Nice try but let's just get back to footy the way it should be played and make life easier for everyone.' On the same program, Lions veteran Dayne Zorko was asked what he finds the 'most frustrating element of footy right now' and he immediately mentioned the contentious rule. 'There's a number but I think guarding the mark is one of the hardest ones,' he said. 'Players normally nail most changes, I think we're still struggling with this one.' Fans were left pretty divided over the rule change and the way it is interpreted. Bill Williams wrote on X: 'In my opinion the stand rule is brilliant. Who wants to go back to watching the man on the 'mark' carrying on like a headless chook or the ball carrier having to constantly ask the umpire 'where's the mark' as the marker could be any distance from the actual mark. A great improvement.' Ben Cameron tweeted: 'The decision against Mills in this clip is everything that's wrong with the current umpiring, Kennedy marks but Mills has no idea if it will be paid or not … if he lets him go & it's play on he looks silly, why not blow the whistle & let him get back behind the mark.' Joyboy suggested: 'Why does it HAVE to be 50 metres? If the rule is so hard to follow, make it 10 metres or something.' Another wrote: 'The stand rule is fine, the 50m penalty is the problem.' One fan declared: 'Absolutely it is a joke and needs to go.' The rules are regularly reviewed by the AFL, with a clarification on the 'stand' rule dropping ahead of the 2023 season. 'An opposition player cannot run toward the mark (and enter the protected area) and then elect to change their mind and retreat outside of the protected 5m area,' the AFL said at the time. 'Similarly, an opposition player cannot elect to leave the protected area and then change their intent and choose to come and stand the mark. 'Further all other players from the opposing team must be positioned behind the mark or otherwise outside the protected area.' It seems it has all just added up to more confusion and some simplification – or in fact a scrapping of the rule – might be needed moving forward.
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- Climate
- News.com.au
Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy says SCG may be slippery but not unsafe to play
Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy has defended the state of the SCG surface, rejecting a claim from Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir that it's 'unsafe' ahead of Sunday's clash at the venue. The AFL has sent its own turf expert to Sydney, which was hit with a deluge of rain on Wednesday, to look at the surface that has failed to recover from a concert held at the ground in April. After his players were caught slipping badly last Friday, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said the surface would get worse before it got better because of the weather hitting NSW and would be 'extremely slippery' on Sunday. Longmuir, who watched last Friday's clash from the stands, didn't like what he saw and the Dockers have been in conversation with the AFL this week before heading to Sydney for a crucial clash with the Swans. It was even reported that Venues NSW, which looks after the SCG, was possibly going to ask the Swans to not wear football boots for training this week to help it recover. GWS captain Toby Greene also revealed that he wore metal studs during the round-8 derby at the venue because of the 'shocking' conditions, risking a $40,000 fine for players caught wearing prohibited studs. The Swans moved this week's SCG training session to nearby Tramway Oval and while Grundy conceded the surface wasn't at its best last weekend, he said it wasn't unsafe. 'We play on it, well not every week, but train on it most weeks and have been for the last six to eight weeks,' he said on Wednesday. 'It's our home, so we're pretty used to it. 'Was it ideal? No, but I'm looking forward to playing there this week.' Grundy said 'dewy' conditions contributed to the slipping last Friday. 'Looking back, there's little moments where people are slipping over and whatnot,' the star said. 'But that's going to happen when it's dewy and Friday night footy. 'I thought the contest, generally, was a real spectacle that I thought fans got to enjoy. 'And as a player, I certainly enjoy playing in that (sort of) game.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Turf war: Swans star responds to SCG surface grumbles
Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy concedes the SCG surface wasn't ideal in round 16, but is adamant his home turf is safe and ready to host Fremantle. The Swans' finals hopes were dealt a massive blow when they suffered a nine-point home loss to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night. It was a slippery evening for both teams, particularly down the Paddington End of the ground. The surface quickly became a national talking point, with Dockers coach Justin Longmuir expressing concerns about the "unsafe" conditions awaiting his team this Sunday as the leagued booked in a turf consultant to take a look. GWS captain Toby Greene revealed on the Ausmerican Aces podcast he wore metal studs during the round-eight derby at the venue because of the "shocking" conditions. Players who wear prohibited metal studs are at risk of a $40,000 fine. The Swans have moved this week's SCG training session to nearby Tramway Oval to give the ground an opportunity to recover, while recent heavy rain in Sydney has complicated the challenge for ground staff. Grundy has declared he has full faith in the club, SCG Trust and AFL to ensure conditions are "cherry ripe" for Sunday's date with the Dockers. "We play on it, well not every week, but train on it most weeks and have been for the last six to eight weeks," he said on Wednesday. "It's our home, so we're pretty used to it. "Was it ideal? No, but I'm looking forward to playing there this week." In one incident on Friday night, Bulldog Bailey Williams appeared to get his foot stuck in the turf during play. 🗣️ "It's getting to the point that's dangerous."- Dale Thomas on the SCG surface #AFLSwansDogs — 7AFL (@7AFL) June 27, 2025 But Grundy dismissed the various slip-ups. "Looking back, there's little moments where people are slipping over and whatnot," the star said. "But that's going to happen when it's dewy and Friday night footy. "I thought the contest, generally ... was a real spectacle that I thought fans got to enjoy. "And as a player, I certainly enjoy playing in that (sort of) game." The Swans have dropped to 12th on the ladder, three wins and percentage adrift of the top eight, while Fremantle are among the AFL's form teams with six consecutive wins. Set-shot accuracy continues to plague Sydney after kicking 4.10 from set shots to the Dogs' 8.5, which proved costly in a tight contest. Grundy said his side needed to leave no stone unturned this year to keep their finals' dreams alive. "There's a reality to where we sit right now and you've got to be frank about that," he said. "Having said that, there's tremendous opportunity for us, and we've got a lot of belief in what our best football looks like. "But it's about being ultra-consistent, and we're going to need to do that."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Beveridge addresses ‘unusual' SCG surface
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge expects the condition of the slippery Sydney Cricket Ground to worsen before improving. The surface, particularly at the Paddington end, was under the microscope during the Bulldogs' season-shaping win over the Swans last Friday. The SCG recently hosted a concert but was also the subject of a complaint from Port Adelaide earlier in the season. The league was unimpressed with the state of the surface and has sent 'Grass God' Bruce Macphee to assist in urgent repairs. Beveridge downplayed the significance of the slippery surface, saying both teams play on the same field, but thinks the impending weather will only degrade its condition. 'It was unusual but the level playing side of it, both teams are still playing on the same surface,' he said. The SCG playing surface has come under scrutiny as players slipped at one particular end of the ground. Credit: FOX SPORTS 'Obviously, the spectacle of last week's game didn't seem to be affected too much, it was still a pretty high quality game as far as the scoring went for a period of time. 'But you see that massive rain belt coming down the eastern seaboard of Australia and what's going to happen to the SCG. I don't think it would matter what type surface it would be, I think it's going to be extremely slippery. 'This week is one where I think it's sort of taken out of everyone's hands because it's Mother Nature.' The fear of injury has prompted conjecture as to whether the Swans should host finals aspirant Fremantle this weekend. The AFL has spoken to Fremantle and the AFL Players' Association about the risk of injury and a potential change of venue but remains confident the SCG will be fit for play. Beveridge believes a slippery surface typically heightens the risk of soft-tissue injuries over joint damage. He says the Bulldogs have moved on from the surface, insisting they're 'not in the business of complaining too much'. 'Our players aren't really talking about, it's obviously been identified that the end the concert was at that the surface down there was really shifty,' he said. 'That's where the majority of the falls happened, but I don't think it would have mattered whether we won, lost or drew, we would've just moved on. 'We're not in the business of complaining too much about things that both teams had to contend with. 'I think for the future, whoever is in charge of ground management up there will want to improve on it, that's a given, isn't it? It's definitely not a priority to me anymore.' The Bulldogs have a chance to consolidate their position inside the top eight by beating North Melbourne at the MCG this Thursday night.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Climate
- Sydney Morning Herald
AFL to inspect SCG after Freo coach's ‘unsafe' claims
The AFL's independent turf consultant is part of a delegation sent to inspect the SCG after Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir added his voice to growing concerns over the venue's playing surface. Sunday's Sydney-Fremantle clash could be moved away from the SCG following uproar over players repeatedly struggling to keep their feet during the Western Bulldogs' win over the Swans on Friday night. The surface has been below its best since a concert at the venue by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli in April, with particular concern over the Paddington end of the ground. Up to 90mm of rain is forecast for Sydney on Tuesday in what will further hamper hopes of having the SCG turf up to scratch. On Monday, the AFL said the independent turf consultant, members of the league's football department and AFL Players Association representatives would inspect the ground this week. The group will assist the ground's curator with ongoing management of the playing surface. Fremantle's finals hopes last year were torpedoed by a series of injuries to key players late in the season, and Longmuir fears his team will be put at elevated risk if they have to play at the SCG on Sunday. 'I watched the game on Friday night, and we'll be led by the AFL, but the moment my brain goes to, 'That's unsafe for players', I have a concern,' Longmuir said after his side's win over St Kilda on Sunday.
