the afl introduced a range of innovations for this pre-season competition, the wizard home loans cup, to make the game faster and more exciting. five new rules changes were trialled in the competition, which in itself resorts back to a knock-out format after three years as a round-robin series. in the most notable innovation, players were awarded nine points for goals kicked outside the 50-metre arc in a move designed to bring the game’s longer kickers into play. the player must have his back foot on or beyond the 50m arc if kicking on the run and the player on the mark must be on or beyond the 50m arc if the kicker is taking a set shot. the ball can still bounce through for a goal. with a running shot at goal, the ball must leave the player’s back foot planted on or outside the 50m line.