50-metre Penalty - History in The VFL/AFL

History in The VFL/AFL

The rule had existed as a 15 yard/metre penalty as far back as the 1960s, however it applied only to crude, late challenges on the player with the mark. In 1984, umpires began to apply 15-metre penalties for time-wasting. It was increased to 50 metres in 1988 when it was determined that the fifteen metre penalty was insufficient to deter such behaviour.