Archaeologists from the University of Melbourne have discovered a long forgotten Australian football rule known as ‘incorrect disposal’ while excavating a site in suburban Melbourne.
“It’s an extraordinary find,” said the team leader Dr Erin Fitzgerald.
“We’d heard rumours of such a rule existing but its exact wording was lost to us.”
The rule, written in an ancient text that is months, if not years old states:
When the football is in play, a Free Kick shall be awarded against a Player who hands the football to another Player or throws the football.
Former AFL umpire Ray McMartin said there had always been apocryphal stories about umpires paying free kicks for breaches of the rule in the distant past.
“I’ve never seen it paid myself but old Jack Thompson said he once saw it paid against University.”
“I always had my doubts though, I mean if this was a rule they’d be paying it every few minutes in the modern game.”
AFL umpires chief Wayne Campbell said the rule was technically still on the books but the league had no plans of enforcing it.
“We’re not that interested in old rules unless it’s tinkering with them.”
“The league is focused on introducing silly new rules that make umpires’ jobs harder and confuse fans.”
COMMENTS
Pugs22
Jul 28, 2015
GOLD
Billious
Jul 28, 2015
If they keep digging they might uncover Demetrio's sense of fairness and humour. Rumour is they disappeared around the same time.
Kurt Mason
Jul 28, 2015
Trent Blight Chris Hayes
Andrew Buckis
Jul 28, 2015
Dane Balodis
Trent Blight
Jul 28, 2015
Not a baddie!!!!
Brendan McMahon
Jul 28, 2015
Steve Gosden we have been talking about this for years
Olivia D'Arrigo
Jul 28, 2015
Jeremy Thomas
Ben Neumann
Jul 28, 2015
Throwing and incorrect disposal are two different rules. Incorrect disposal requires prior opportunity, a throw doesnt. It's not that hard to understand....
Ryno Neil
Jul 28, 2015
Objectively you just ask "how did he get rid of it?".
This "knocked out in the tackle" is BS There is no reward for the tackler
Peter Jaeger
Jul 28, 2015
Sharon Richards good for a laugh
Noni Primrose
Jul 28, 2015
I knew it wasnt just me!
Megan Townsend
Jul 28, 2015
So bloody annoying
Mitch Burgess
Jul 28, 2015
Aaron Ballantyne Aaron Dimasi
Jeremy Thomas
Jul 28, 2015
Hahaha gold. Tim McInnes
Mitchell Powell
Jul 28, 2015
Agreed. Happens all the bloody time from local footy to AFL
Dan Walden
Jul 28, 2015
Darren McCall Ben Scambler
Andrew Taylor
Jul 28, 2015
Andrew O'Leary
Bradley McLeod
Jul 28, 2015
Joe Bland
Jean-Paul Stannus
Jul 28, 2015
When excavating this site... BEWARE the curse of Demetriou!!! BEWARE!!!!!
Joe Bland
Jul 28, 2015
Finally someone is talking about this... Everyone is complaining about congestion and stoppages I reckon if they started paying this when they should there would be less stoppages and it would be more free flowing
Harry Kent
Jul 28, 2015
spot on Mitch Courtney
Sam Bowen
Jul 28, 2015
Travis Stribley
James Briffa
Jul 28, 2015
Peter Briffa
Bruce Bell
Jul 28, 2015
About bloody time too
Dane Balodis
Jul 28, 2015
Thank GOD someone dug it up!
Erin Strong
Jul 28, 2015
Hunter J. Thompson
Joel Cuming
Jul 28, 2015
Strongly disagree, the player who gets the ball should be the number one priority. If that player has had prior opportunity (this is the key) then yes, they should dispose of it correctly. But if they just pick the ball up, get tackled straight sway and the ball is knocked out then it is play on (which is what the rule states by the way).
Jordan Scardetta
Jul 28, 2015
gotta have prior opportunity to dispose of it, because the alternative is a bunch of dudes too afraid to grab the footy, have it knocked out of their hands and get a free against for incorrect disposal. Difference between knocked out in the tackle and a throw.
Joel Cuming
Jul 28, 2015
Sadly, most of the football public and media/commentators do not understand this.
Ben Neumann
Jul 28, 2015
Nor do they seem to want to :/
Ryno Neil
Jul 28, 2015
Yeah I agree. Don't want blokes holding back or the other option is knock or soccer on. I think if it's an instant tackle fair enough, otherwise "knocked out in the tackle" is incorrect disposal.
Dodgi Robi Cvitti
Jul 28, 2015
Davidos Anthony Limoli
Davidos Anthony Limoli
Jul 28, 2015
Interpretation for the tip
Dean Cherry
Jul 28, 2015
Matt Cherry
Jordan Scardetta
Jul 28, 2015
yeah agree, prior opportunity is key. If we can get that right it'll go a long way.
Luke Trewartha
Jul 28, 2015
Ben Trewartha
Brad Martin
Jul 28, 2015
Dan Wilson
Nick Burgess
Jul 28, 2015
While they're at it, see if they can find 'kicking in danger' also. Hasn't been seen in a decade now, dangerously close to extinction.
Gary Coutts
Jul 28, 2015
Danny Smith
Rick Healy
Jul 28, 2015
But will they take notice
Bruce Bell
Jul 28, 2015
Mate it shits me to tears every bloody game I watch - dispose of the bloody ball
Rick Healy
Jul 28, 2015
Fkn oath...y they overthink the game is beyond me
Bruce Bell
Jul 28, 2015
u should see what they are doing at Junior level mate - we will have a whole generation of kids that can't defend as all the modified rules designed to promote 'skills' allow the ball carrier to do as he pleases!
Josh Barnes
Jul 28, 2015
Daniel Barnes
Rick Healy
Jul 28, 2015
I know went 2 watch a mate who coaches juniors last year....he no coach this year....can't stand it
Mitch Courtney
Jul 28, 2015
Truer words have never been written
Joel Cuming
Jul 28, 2015
The problem is that it's rare these days that players do have prior opportunity because there is so much congestion around the packs.
Christopher James Ryan
Jul 28, 2015
Remember when the look away over the head handball was a throw. See that not get paid every week too
Ben Turner
Jul 28, 2015
Marc Ohlmüs
Peter Moore
Jul 28, 2015
Kyle Halbert Rebecca Williams this is what I was talking about sunday! Haha
Frank Nac
Jul 28, 2015
Jamie Woolway
glamjunkie77
Jul 28, 2015
TitusOReily pity the picture you used was a trip or "legged"
Mike Teakle
Jul 28, 2015
Scoot Umpire
Tom Emery
Jul 28, 2015
Quentin Mitchell, exactly what we were saying the other night.
Tom Emery
Jul 28, 2015
Blokes can clean drop the ball in a tackle now and not get pinged.
Michael Ackers
Jul 28, 2015
Evan Young
Scoot Umpire
Jul 28, 2015
Its a crowd fave in the Barossa Mike Teakle
Mike Teakle
Jul 28, 2015
I thought you'd get a chuckle out of this
Scoot Umpire
Jul 28, 2015
Lovr titus hate the AFL senior panel
Moses Williams
Jul 28, 2015
Jonny Aston Kevin J Currell
Joanne Everett
Jul 29, 2015
Laugh! We (the fans) once did! Now nobody has a clue!