Not withstanding the almost universal condemnation of 'staging' for free kicks - the plague of the world game - the expert commentary provided by past AFL players that goes along with broadcasting every game will inevitably contain congratulations to the player who manages to deceive their way to obtaining an advantage. Well disguised is the usual commendation. Whether it be a false claim to have touched the ball in flight, doing a 'Selwood' to obtain an around the neck decision or attempting to bring the defender's friend into play and get the ball out of play without being adjudged to have done it deliberately the past player is always on the lookout for the well disguised deceiving of the umpires. Umpires are there to ajudicate and if they can be deceived into ajudicating to your advantage then that's all part of the game.

This season (2016) has seen a cracking down on deliberate out of bounds and so far it has been widely accepted the crackdown has improved the game. It is faster and more free flowing. There are many occasions where the opposing team has an advantage and it suits the team on the back foot for the ball to go out of bounds. Play is reset and the advatage can be neutralised.

Prior to this season there was open disregard by players for there being a rule against deliberately causing the ball to go out of bounds. Everyone knew players were doing it and this was confirmed by the chorus of past players intoning 'well disguised'. Umpires were condemned for applying the sanction of a free kick to the opposing team in all but the most blatant cases. Not this season.

All the evidence is that at least 9 out of 10 cases where the ball goes out of bounds it is due to a deliberate attempt to achieve this end. There are some complaints starting to be heard about how umpires are ajudicating this aspect of play. It comes from the false expectation of perfection. Perfection is not possible and one or two mistakes a game for the greater good of a free flowing spectacle is a great outcome. The stamping out of pernicious acts of deception is also welcome. Let's hope the powers that be hold their ground on this one.

p.s. Round 7. The Bulldogs playing against the Crows received at least three free kicks for over the shoulder tackles where the player with the ball drops down and raises their arm forcing the tacklers arm to slip up over the shoulder; henceforth to be called a selwood after the Joel Selwood who first perfected the technique. Two of these free kicks went to Toby McLean, who has regularly been executing this technique this season and profiting with goals from it. Another went to Bailey Dale late in the fourth quarter. It would appear the Bulldog players have realised the effectiveness of this technique. Interestingly none of the commentators made comment during the game even though there was lots of comment on the free kick disparity in the Bulldogs favour. 

Not so when during the Dockers v Giants game early in the second quarter Nick Suban received a free kick against Tom Scully for a selwood. When the action was replayed it was clear what Suban had done and the commentators murmured their approval. Tom Scully was aggrieved. No doubt, if this isn't nipped in the bud, he will do likewise when his chance comes.

What will nip it in the bud is giving a free kick the other way. If a player has time and the wit to execute this technique, they have had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball.

p.s. At it again and being recognised as the best in the game. Round 8 Bulldogs v Demons and Toby McLean milked yet another over the shoulder decision. The expert commentator described what had happened. He ducked into the tackle at the same time raising his arm forcing the tacklers arm over his shoulder. The commentator then recognised Toby's outstanding proficiency. It has been noticed how good he is.