AFL players caught striking opponents off the ball next season can expect heavier penalties from the tribunal.
The league's annual tribunal review includes a provision that any striking incident away from the play will be classed intentional, unless there is clear evidence that was not the case.
The rule amendment will cover any strike off the ball, behind play or during a break in play.
Earlier this year, Gold Coast defender Campbell Brown only received a two-match ban for striking Western Bulldogs midfielder Callan Ward off the ball.
At the time, AFL operations manager Adrian Anderson admitted that Brown was "a little bit perhaps fortunate".
In other changes to the tribunal guidelines, any strike with a raised forearm or elbow will also now carry an "intentional" classification.
Again, the only exception will be if there is clear evidence that the blow was not intentional.
There will be a higher impact rating for reckless or intentional strikes that "are inherently dangerous and/or have the potential to cause serious injury".
Those strikes can no longer carry a "low" impact rating and this again will mean a stiffer penalty.
The AFL wants to better distinguish between negligent and reckless dangerous tackles by including factors such as lifting an opponent off the ground or using a double action in the tackle.
The league also wants tougher action in the controversial area of staging, with the match review panel instructed that "excessive exaggeration of contact in an unsportsmanlike manner (will) be a reportable offence in addition to feigning contact".
While the current tribunal system continues to attract fierce criticism, the AFL is pleased with the results.
The AFL reported 92 per cent of players accepted their match review panel charges, the highest percentage since the system started in 2005.
There were only 15 tribunal hearings this year, compared to 123 in 2004.
AAP
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 08, 2011 19:06:43