Kane Cornes called for the AFL’s much-maligned stand rule to be scrapped, labelling it the most baffling and unnecessary change in the game’s history.
Introduced in 2021 to speed up play and improve scoring, the rule continues to cause weekly confusion among players, umpires and fans alike.
Cornes, speaking on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters, said enough is enough.
“Far too complicated for everyone”
“It’s an absolute mess … and I’ve had enough,” the Port Adelaide premiership winner declared. “I’ve had enough of the dumbest rule the AFL have ever brought in and that is the stand rule.”
Cornes pointed to several controversial 50m penalties from the weekend, including incidents involving Sam Darcy, Callum Mills and Charlie Cameron, as evidence that the rule is simply not working.
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“How this is a 50 and a goal is just blowing my mind,” he said. “Even when they do it well, like Sam Darcy here – what more could he do? What do you want him to do? And that’s 50.”
He added: “It hasn’t done anything for scoring… players have had enough, I’m sure those watching at home are sick of it. Nice try, but let’s just get back to footy the way it should be played and make life easier for everyone.”
Brisbane Lions veteran Dayne Zorko agreed, naming “guarding the mark” as the most frustrating part of the game. “Players normally nail most changes, I think we’re still struggling with this one,” he said on the same program.
While some fans defended the rule online, others echoed Cornes’ frustration, calling it “a joke” and suggesting a reduced penalty or complete removal.