ESSENDON'S Alywn Davey has revealed he expoited the new 'sliding rule' - designed to reduce lower leg injuries - by using a dangerous tactic of planting his feet, then falling over, when a player crashed into his legs.
Davey was awarded a free kick when Adelaide defender Brent Reilly crashed into his lower leg on Friday night. And the decision gave him a valuable set shot in front of goal.
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But he told Essendon's television program The Hangar, that he saw an opportunity to draw the free kick.
"I planted my feet and as soon as he hit my legs I sort of just went with the roll over," Davey said.
"We've been training the last two weeks with tackling and the sliding rule as well, so yeah, it's paying off."
On Tuesday, AFL umpires boss Jeff Gieschen threw his support behind the decision.
"The Reilly and Davey one resulted in a set shot for goal, and I think people get excited about that," Gieschen said.
"But I think everybody who saw it knew that was exactly why the rule was brought in - to prevent players from electing to go to ground and crashing into the lower legs of their opponent."
Overall Gieschen was satisfied with how the rule changes were received, and how they were adjudicated, in the two opening games of the round.
"We had two games, three free kicks, an average of 1.5 a game," Gieschen said.
"It's not as though it's in gigantic proportions at the moment, and we think the players and the clubs have adapted really well."
