AFL Icon Kevin Bartlett Expresses His Discontent with the ‘Most Frustrating Rule in Sports History’

Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett has made his strong feelings known about the AFL’s stand rule, labelling it “the worst rule in any sport across the globe.”

Implemented in 2023, this regulation mandates that any player on the mark must remain absolutely stationary, taking away their ability to effectively guard the mark, obstruct the corridor, or hinder a player receiving a handball.

The intention behind introducing the rule was to reduce congestion and promote faster ball movement, following extensive discussions about the state of the game.

Nonetheless, after several seasons, Bartlett finds it intolerable to witness.

“I’d be keen to hear from fans regarding the stand rule and whether they support it or not. I’ll share my devil’s advocate opinion once more,” the AFL Hall of Fame Icon remarked during a segment on 3AW.

“The most atrocious rule in any sport is the stand rule. It essentially turns the match into 18 against 17.

“Australian rules football was never intended to feature that setup.

“This is precisely why we introduced the 19th and 20th players, along with the interchange system; we aimed to avoid an 18 versus 17 scenario.

“Yet, we’ve implemented a rule that creates an 18 against 17 dynamic, leaving the player on the mark as nothing more than a statue.

“He watches as someone runs past to take a handball but can do absolutely nothing about it. It’s a total farce.”

While the rule has received praise for enhancing ball movement within the game, Bartlett dismissed such claims, calling it a negative contribution.

“I don’t believe it has improved the game in any way—if anything, it has reduced it to a joke,” he stated.

“A player can twitch his toe and be penalised with a 50-metre free kick. What kind of game are we running here? This is simply the most disgraceful rule in the history of football.”

“Guarding the mark used to be a real skill. Players would train to intercept kicks. That aspect has vanished now. What was once an art form is now entirely lost.”