RICHMOND coach Damien Hardwick has slammed the VFL\u2019s new controversial anti-density rules.<\/p>\n
The rules require three players from each team to be inside both 50-meter arcs at boundary throw-ins and kick-ins, including one from each side in the goal-square.<\/p>\n
The idea for the rules is to open up play and reduce congestion, while promoting individual contests.<\/p>\n
Richmond and Hawthorn played a VFL scratch match at Punt Road Oval on Sunday morning, and Hardwick described what he saw as “laughable” and “non-AFL like”.<\/p>\n
“The free kicks today at VFL level were laughable,” Hardwick said after Richmond and Hawthorn’s Round 2 AFL clash.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe game unfortunately at the lower level with the rules, is very, very challenging.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is hard to prepare them (VFL players) for AFL level, because it is so non-AFL like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardwick said the new rules result in players running fewer kilometres than they would at the top level, ill-preparing those who could make the jump to AFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be an enormous challenge,\u201d he said. \u201cThey\u2019ll have to do top up running because it\u2019s nothing like AFL at the minute.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hardwick confirmed that he has expressed his displeasure with the AFL and hoped that \u201csanity would prevail\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have, we\u2019ve expressed our concerns so it\u2019s over to them really,\u201d he said. \u201cWe probably need to have a lower league with the same rules, that\u2019s my thoughts.<\/p>\n
“I think sanity would prevail at some stage, would it not?”<\/p>\n
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