TRADITIONAL rivals on the field, Hawthorn and Essendon coaches met common ground after the weekend’s AFL Women’s matches with both Daniel Webster and Natalie Wood airing some concerns when asked about the new holding the ball free kick interpretation.

Last week a number of coaches were asked about how they felt the stricter interpretation was impacting the game, with Carlton coach Matthew Buck being the most vocal about the new rule, while reigning premiership coach Darren Crocker also described the rule as needing to “find balance”.

At the end of week two, concerns around the interpretation were back in the spotlight, particularly during the Hawthorn-Carlton slog at Frankston where 42 free kicks were paid in 75 minutes of action. Unsurprisingly, Hawks mentor Webster was clearly frustrated with how the current iteration of the rule was being adjudicated.

“I kind of understand what the AFL are trying to do with it, and I understand that umpiring’s very difficult,” Webster said qualifying his thoughts. “I don’t like it when the ball carrier is not getting rewarded when the tackler’s now getting rewarded, I really don’t like that and some of those decisions today were way too hot.

“I think what we’re asking the players to do in that sense, like we’re better off not trying to win the ball sometimes now, just tap it on and I don’t think that’s the way the game should be played. There is a contested part of the game and I understand they’re trying to get the ball moving, but at the moment I think it’s gone too far one way and I’d like to see it pulled back a little bit.”

Webster said while the idea was right, the overpaying of free kicks was having a detrimental effect at times in terms of the free-flowing nature.

“A lot of times today it’s out and trying to get it in motion and then free kicks are paid to slow it back up again, we’ve got to bring the ball back and go again,” he said. “I think there’s elements where yes it’s really good, but as I said I think it’s just gone a little too far the other way. When you’re at a point as a ball carrier where you almost reluctant to grab the ball and try and take on the tackler in any way, shape or form now.

“Like what do they expect just grab the ball and just throw it out of the contest? I don’t know, I don’t like the look of it at the moment, and again I do understand what they’re trying to do with the game, but as I said when you’re not rewarding the ball carrier, I’m always not a fan.”

The following day, 38 free kicks were paid in Essendon’s narrow win over West Coast in around the same amount of time. Bombers coach Wood agreed with Webster’s sentiments that the idea was right, but the execution needed tweaking.

“We’re trying to find the line with it as well as I guess the AFL are trying to find their line,” Wood said. “We respect and understand the want to open the game up, but I’ve got players coming to me ‘should I not go as hard to win that ball and put myself in that situation when there’s a lot of pressure around?’ and I don’t want to coach the players (that way) so I’m asking them to still step in and try and really win that hot contested ball and we’re going to have to find ways to exit out of it.

“But also hopefully by the time the end of this round’s played there will be 18 pieces of evidences for the AFL to look at, so hopefully we can find a way where it’s not too hotly adjudicated so the ball winner is still taking priority.”