The AFL tweaked the ruck rules over summer, forbidding players from crossing the centre line before engaging with their opponent, in order to encourage both players to jump for the ball.
Coupled with the death of the centre bounce, this was all done to create more aerial ruck battles, given tossing it up effectively becomes a fight for who can get to it higher.
But the change has hit a speed bump in the very first official practice game, with Geelong star Shannon Neale left in pain after knee-on-knee contact in the ruck.
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Shannon Neale and Marc Pittonet make knee on knee contact in the ruck. Fox Footy
The AFL actually moved away from ruckmen running and jumping at each other at centre bounces in the 2000s due to a spate of knee-on-knee PCL injuries.
And the decision to move back towards that has been a controversial one. Melbourne captain Max Gawn has expressed his doubts throughout the pre-season.
Now, in the first official practice game, we have a knee-on-knee contact injury in the ruck.
Former Adelaide star Josh Jenkins took to social media to express his frustrations.
“Get the rucks jumping because it looks good they said,” he sarcastically posted on X.
Neale has been cleared of a serious injury, with the Cats icing up his knee and shin as he sat out the remainder of the game.
Shannon Neale holding his knee in pain. Fox Footy
That change also led to two questionable free kicks against Carlton on Wednesday night, with ruckmen Marc Pittonet and Liam Reidy crossing the centre line before engaging with their opponent.
However, on both occasions, the ball being tossed up leant towards the Geelong ruckman, meaning it would have been impossible for the Blues players to reach the ball without crossing the line. In Pittonet’s case, his opposition ruckman in Sam De Koning clearly jumps across the line first as well.
“This is comical. And will get worse as we go,” Jenkins said of the free kicks.
“These centre bounce ruck free kicks are diabolical.”
Former Adelaide ruckman Sam Jacobs replied to Jenkins, saying Neale simply needs better technique to protect himself in a jumping ruck battle.
“There are techniques to protect yourself from knee on knee!! Experience in there will win out and how to use the circle to your advantage,” Jacobs wrote.
The free kick paid against Pittonet for crossing the centre line. Note where De Koning is… Fox Footy
As for the free kicks, Jacobs added: “There will be a period of adjustment. Let’s give it a chance. Haven’t had one official game yet.”
During the game, Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall gave a grim assessment of the new rule.
“If you encourage the ruckmen to jump, that’s one of the unwanted by-products of the rule change, you get more knee on knee contact,” Dunstall told Fox Footy.
“That contact has created so many bad PCL injuries for ruckmen over the years.”
Speaking last week, former Adelaide captain Mark Bickley said the changes could reflect incredibly poorly on the league.
“We are one knee injury away from serious questions being asked of the AFL,” Bickley told SEN.
“The only reason is aesthetics, they don’t like wrestling. It won’t be long before we start to see the ruckmen looking at each other and stepping around.”
The AFL on Thursday issued a statement saying the umpire got it wrong in paying the free kick against Pittonet for crossing the centre line.
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