The AFL has written to clubs to remind them of existing standing the mark rules as umpires appear set to crack down on infringements this weekend.
Players have been sent a minute-long educational video package explaining why 50m penalties can be paid on the spot when players go over the mark in general play, and particularly deep inside the forward 50.
The league said in a statement on Wednesday the reminder had been issued due to “an increase in instances” of players infringing on the mark.
“Where a defending player is awarded a mark or free kick the mark will be set at the nine metre mark as per the following diagram,” the statement read.
“If the attacking player is in the marking contest they will be instructed to ‘come back to the nine’. If they are outside, they are not permitted to enter the 9m area and if so a 50m penalty shall be awarded.”
The reminder comes in a bid to stamp out time-wasting by players deliberately encroaching on the 9m zone to force the umpire to stop play and call them back to the mark.
Collingwood forward Jack Ginnivan was penalised for entering the zone in last year’s preliminary final against Sydney, with the 50m penalty one of the examples included by the league in the video package.
Another showed a similar incident involving Sydney’s Justin McInerney crossing into the zone against Fremantle after not competing in the marking contest, while the first example showed how a forward competing for a mark with a defender could be called back to the 9m mark without giving away a 50m penalty.
It comes after the AFL’s umpire dissent rule appeared to be interpreted more strictly in Friday night’s blockbuster between Carlton and Collingwood than it had through the middle of the season.
Former Melbourne great Garry Lyon called the change “bizarre” after two players were penalised for gesturing at the big screen after giving away free kicks.
“We looked like we found the right common ground and then out of the blue, round 20 – they go bang, bang! What is that?” Lyon said on Fox Footy.
“If there’s another dissent given tomorrow or Sunday because a player points then they’re knuckleheads because you’ve just been given the greatest heads up of all time.
“The problem is … I bet no one gave Carlton or Collingwood the heads up. It’s just bizarre stuff.”