Tex Walker Articulates His Frustration With The Holding The Ball Rule

Adelaide legend Tex Walker has explained his frustration with the holding the ball rule on his guest spot on Roo, Ditts & Loz for Breakfast this morning.

TEX’S FRUSTRATION WITH HOLDING THE BALL:

“I was taught as a young kid if you got tackled you have to dispose the ball correctly, which means you need to kick it or handball it,” Tex said this morning.

“Now I don’t think that that is the case.

“For example, the ruck rule now, at stoppage or boundary throw-ins, whatever it may be, if you take it out of the ruck and get tackled, it doesn’t matter whether you kick it, drop it, handball it, throw it.

“If you get it out, it’s play on.”

Never miss any of our best footy stuff with the Best of Triple M Footy playlist:

Tex said the players can feel fan frustration from the centre.

“Especially when I’m sitting on the bench, if there’s an incident where it should be paid holding the ball or there’s an incorrect disposal, the fans are getting so frustrated,” he said.

“You can hear it from the stands.”

MORE ON UMPIRING:

Mark Ricciuto echoed Tex’s sentiments, citing his confusion following umpire boss Steve McBurney’s explanation to AFL.com.au’s Sarah Olle about the contentious non-call on Charlie Curnow last weekend.

“Honestly, I can sit here right now and say I don’t know the rule,” he said.

Tex suggested the rule had been overcomplicated a bit.

“Sometimes we try and get a bit too cute… Hopefully we can tinker it a little bit and work what is holding the ball and what isn’t.”