In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news
- Carlton great Stephen Silvagni has once again linked up with his great mate Ross Lyon at St Kilda.
- Players will no longer be awarded a 50-metre penalty by fooling an opponent with a fake handball.
- And in case you missed it, the AFL’s new substitute rule will add even more intrigue to the game of chess in the coach’s box on game day.
Back to the future at St Kilda
Peter Ryan
St Kilda have confirmed the appointment of Stephen Silvagni as their new list manager, rejoining his friend Ross Lyon at the Saints as the club continues to move back to the future.
Silvagni left Carlton at the end of 2019 after joining the Blues as list manager and was responsible for recruiting Jacob Weitering, Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay to the club in 2015.
He had served alongside Graeme Allan at the Giants as list manager from 2011 as the club established itself in the AFL.
Carlton legend Steve Silvagni has been appointed list manager at the Saints.Credit:AFL Photos
Allan will officially take on the talent and acquisition role at the Saints alongside Silvagni, having worked in a similar role in recent seasons with former list manager James Gallagher departing in December. Hawthorn great Jarryd Roughead and national recruiting manager Chris Toce are also part of the Saints’ recruiting team.
Silvagni’s appointment – which was widely expected within the AFL – will complete the transition at the Saints that also saw Lyon replace Brett Ratten as senior coach, Dave Misson return as conditioning coach, and Lenny Hayes and Robert Harvey join as assistant coaches. They also appointed experienced football boss Geoff Walsh after president Andrew Bassat conducted a review of the club.
Stephen Silvagni in his first stint with St Kilda.Credit:Vince Caligiuri
Silvagni was an assistant coach at the club from 2007 to 2010 when they played in the 2009 and 2010 grand finals under Lyon.
Ross Lyon as back at St Kilda in his second stint as coach of the club.Credit:Getty Images
Saints CEO Simon Lethlean said the club was rapt to have such an experienced figure in the role.
“Stephen will be focused on developing the club’s overall list strategy, while supporting Graeme and the wider recruitment team with talent identification and acquisition as the club seeks to bolster and develop its list,” Lethlean said.
“Given the pair’s working history, I am certain they will be a great asset to the program, working closely with Chris Toce and Jarryd Roughead to continue to evolve the men’s list profile.
“St Kilda has seen significant change to its playing list over the past four years, and to ensure the program has every opportunity to succeed now and into the future, we need to continue to invest in our recruitment strategy with a focus on bringing in more elite talent, whether that be through trade or draft.”
The club just missed out on finals in the past two seasons, but sources suspect they will need at least two more years to get the list into shape to confidently contend for the club’s second premiership.
AFL reveals umpire ruling tweaks
Jon Pierik
Players will no longer be awarded a 50-metre penalty by fooling an opponent with a fake handball to break the mark under a tweak of the rules confirmed by the AFL on Friday.
The AFL has revealed three rule changes for season 2023, including two to the man-on-the-mark laws.
Umpires will no longer pay a 50-metre penalty if the man on the mark breaks the line, having been fooled into thinking an opponent was about to handball. Credit:Getty Images
Coaches and players had become frustrated with the ruling, which led to 50-metre penalties for players who broke the “stand-the-mark” ruling early because they had been tempted into believing their opponent was about to handball. While the penalty was seen as a way to help the flow of the game, it too often was abused by players, leading to change.
Players will also be forced to make an immediate decision as to who stands the mark inside the protected area. A player having conceded a free kick, or lost a marking contest, must now immediately leave the protected area or stand the mark. A player can no longer track backwards having initially shaped to stand the mark.
If a player enters the protected area after a mark is taken or free-kick given, they must remain there and stand the mark. If this player leaves the area, a 50-metre penalty will be awarded. This tweak is seen as a way to minimise time-wasting.
Umpires will no longer provide a warning at the 15-second mark for players lining up for goal. Players must still begin their routine inside 30 seconds, with a warning now only given at the 25-second mark. By then, it’s expected most players will be into their routine, meaning umpires have one less act to oversee.
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