Sprawling

[JK]

Those of you who watch "Footy Classified" will be familiar with the term ... For those who aren't, it's a term they've given to the act of a ball carrier buckling the legs and falling/diving forward in a tackle, usually resulting in a free kick for "Push In The Back".

I reckon it's a blight on the game, and can potentially lead to more head injuries, as the player getting tackled is deliberately attempting to fall chest (and in essence, face) first.

Whilst it's before my time, I would liken this current act/trend to players ducking their head years ago to earn cheap free kicks for high tackles ... The evolution of football saw this stamped out in the main by a change of interpretation, which penalised, rather than rewarded, those who were deemed to have ducked their heads - Whilst that action still happens, it's far less prevalent than it was when it was easily rewarded.

I think there needs to be another change in interpretation to lessen the impact of this "sprawling" - Our game is a tough game and shouldn't be rewarding soft free kicks (nor penalising a bloke thats busted his butt to catch someone), and I'd like to see any attempt at sprawling penalised for HTB to lessen it's effect/impact in our game.

Thoughts?

[silicone skyline]

I've been on both the receiving end of free kicks like that and the penalised end, I think the rule is fair.
By riding the player into the turf with your weight on top, it's just too dangerous.
It's hard to interpret those diving and those who aren't.
Leave the rule the way it is, much safer, and fairer to the ball carrier.

[JK]

I've been on both the receiving end of free kicks like that and the penalised end, I think the rule is fair.
By riding the player into the turf with your weight on top, it's just too dangerous.
It's hard to interpret those diving and those who aren't.
Leave the rule the way it is, much safer, and fairer to the ball carrier.

How is it safer if guys are deliberately diving forward once they've been pinned?

[silicone skyline]

I'm saying it's safer deterring anyone from even being in the position to crash into their back.
If you have half an ounce of awareness about you, as a footballer knowing the back is protected, you always try and go to the side.
Dem de rules, by tackling and riding the player forward, you're always going to be in trouble with a free kick.

[Mickyj]

CP this has been around since Hayden Button coached South and I remember him saying it was in the west aussie league before that .
Or rather the fall forward and be awarded a free kick.

There was also another one, in the showdown a few port players were throwing their heads back like they got a head high tackle. Of course the tackler was no where near their heads the umpires never paid a free for it .

[Golo#46]

A perfect tackle not only feels great (managed a couple), but you also don't have as much forward momentum (the momentum is directed at the ground). You're not "crashing into their back" with the textbook tackle, but they can be hard to do.
I wasn't aware of the issue, but it might be a media invention.

[Blue Boy]

I rekon they are takin the piss !!!

[blink]

Maybe the AFL can consult the master at milking free kicks, Gavin Wanganeen, to see what his opinion on "sprawling" is.

I think he would be devasted if they stamped this out when he was still playing - he made a brilliant career from doing that!

[JK]

OK, maybe I need to re-join the 21st century as it appears I'm the only has a problem with it ... *Looks in mirror - "Thou shalt not complain of this again"*

[RoosterMarty]

Nah I hate it too, sometimes it's so blatantly obvious yet the ump will always pay the free kick.

[Dirko]

Remember they only dive playing soccer