“Last touch rule” introduced for 2022 SWFL women’s competition

A “last touch” rule will be introduced in the 2022 SWFL women’s competition after club delegates endorsed the change last Thursday night. Under the new guidelines, if the ball goes out of bounds between both 50-metre arcs, the player who touched the ball last will concede a free kick to the opposition. However, if the ball goes out of bounds inside a 50m arc, the ball will be thrown in irrespective of which team touched the ball last. The SWFL had recommended the change be introduced in 2023, but a motion from Carey Park delegate Kevin Lynn for it to begin in 2022, seconded by Busselton’s Jock Embry, was supported. SWFL treasurer David Wedderburn said the SWFL women’s football sub-committee felt the rule would make the game faster. “That aside, it is a rule being implemented into the AFLW and WAFLW,” he said. “It is likely our girls will be asked to play under this rule at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships this year and certainly in the future they will be. “So if we are able to come into line (with the other competitions), I think this is a strong enough argument by itself, although the players also felt it would speed the game up. “You will notice we have recommended it be implemented in 2023. Obviously if you were to decide to go ahead and do it immediately, that would be fine, but the 2023 date was given to get everyone used to the idea and umpires time to train for it.”