Carlton coach David Teague has slammed new rules in the AFL’s second-tier competition, believing the drastic changes are not in the spirit of the game.
New density rules in the VFL have already become a talking point in practice matches and Teague is the latest coach to criticise the move.
At boundary throw-ins and kick-ins, three players from each team are now required to be inside each 50m arc, with one in the goal square.
Teague is hoping the rules are scrapped before the VFL home-and-away season begins on April 16, especially given some of the rule changes at the elite level.
“I watched (Carlton’s VFL) game the other day and I didn’t enjoy them stopping the game all the time. It’s a different game,” he said on Wednesday.
“Hopefully some common sense will come into play and they might get rid of that for a while because there’s already been so many changes.
“I think it’s hard, some of the VFL guys haven’t played at all for 12 months (because of COVID-19 cancelling the competition last year).
“You’re sitting there waiting 14 ,15 seconds for each stoppage for the players to get back (into position).
“The players didn’t enjoy it, the fans didn’t enjoy it.
“Our players may adjust, but I’ve heard a couple of other coaches and I’m probably aligned with them.
“It didn’t feel like it was in the tradition of the game, the way the game should be played and the waiting around bit for our fans I don’t think they’ll enjoy that.”
Teague’s remarks come a day after Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge argued the rules would hinder the development of young players.
Even though the Bulldogs’ prized No.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan starred with five goals last weekend, Beveridge was concerned by how the rules would affect young players.
“Jamarra didn’t run anywhere near like he’s going to be required to run in an AFL game,” Beveridge said on Tuesday.
“So it’s actually going to hold a player like Jamarra back because we can’t get that match conditioning that he needs at AFL level.”