AFL coaches confused over deliberate rushed behind crackdown ‘memo’

There’s confusion among AFL coaches and the question of a ‘missing memo’ after a weekend crackdown on deliberate rushed behinds.

Two players were penalised for deliberating running the ball through the opposition goal at the weekend, leaving plenty scratching their heads over a rule rarely enforced.

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he was made aware umpires would be more strict with the rule leading into the round, but Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch said he was left in the dark.

‘There seems to be a new rule in overnight ? I didn’t get that memo,’ he said following the Lions’ loss to Melbourne.

Demons coach Paul Roos said the two players penalised for deliberate rushed behinds were ‘really stiff’.

He said he wasn’t aware of a ‘memo’ either.

And he’s voiced his concern over mid-season rule crackdowns.

‘I thought we were going to look at it at the end of the year,’ he said.

‘I was confused.’