The AFL has declared that its new rules are beginning to have an impact, with the league stating they are leading to closer and more unpredictable games.
AFL football boss Steve Hocking delivered the numbers to club heads of football late last week when the group caught up at league headquarters.
Data shows that, in comparison to this time last year, 16 more games have been decided by four goals or less, while six more games have had a margin of one goal or less.
A host of new AFL rules or modifications came into effect this season.Credit:The Age
Hocking also told club officials that of total game time across all matches this year, the margin between the two teams has been 12 points or under 76 per cent of the time.
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“Rule changes broadly are delivering a close and unpredictable competition, Hocking said when contacted by The Age.
“Were seeing teams down to 14th on the ladder are only one game outside of the top eight.
“Normally by this stage of the season the ladder is set, and we see movement inside the eight, not outside.
“Games are alive for longer and we saw that on the weekend in the Fremantle v Carlton game.
In the final game of round 15 there were three lead changes in the final few minutes, with Marc Murphys snap in the dying stages winning the game for Carlton.
The AFL believes that multiple lead changes late in games wouldve been far less likely in previous years, because teams wouldve put several extra numbers behind the ball.
Now with the six-six-six rule, both teams must start with even numbers in attack and defence after goals are kicked.
Empirically, games are getting closer as well, which the AFL also believes is a direct result of the new rules being implicated ahead of this season.
Of all the games this year, 54 per cent have been decided between 0-24 points, a 13 per cent increase from last year.
And even closerRead More – Source
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