McRae: The grey area in the AFL's rule changes

The AFL’s new interpretation of the stand rule has started to leave its mark on the game.

However, Collingwood coach Craig McRae isn’t quite sold.

As of 2026, footy boss Greg Swann introduced a tightening of the stand rule, with umpires enforcing players to freeze immediately if within the protected area following a mark or a free kick.

This was introduced as a means to speed up the game, allowing attacking players to propel beyond the man on the mark using run and carry, with the opposition unable to move until called play on.

While the rule change has certainly increased pace of play, McRae believes there remains some grey area in the adjudication of the call to stand.

“The man on the mark has been an interesting one for us,” McRae told SEN Crunch Time.

“We had umpires down during the bye week because we gave away two or three critical 50’s (against Adelaide in Round 1), getting a bit of clarity on that.

“I still think there’s a bit of grey… I’m not sure if we’re on the same page.

“When the umpires tell us to stand, our players are just freezing, literally freezing. But the mark is potentially two or three metres upward from where the ball has been taken!

“We’re trying to get a bit of adjustment on those things.

“They get called to stand… they just freeze. There’s two or three metres on the mark that they’ve frozen out.

“Maybe get rid of saying stand! Let the mark be the mark, and if you go back, give 50. It’s quite comical, really. In the early rounds, we’ve got guys standing backwards to the mark!

“Maybe that’s something we can work towards. It’s not the umpires’ fault, this is just the directive of the rule and how it’s being interpreted, but it’s probably gone away from what it’s been designed for.”

Listen to McRae’s full interview below: