AFL great Gerard Healy has panned the “hysteria” surrounding the league’s controversial new man-on-the-mark rule.

He said many “knee-jerkers” were jumping the gun in criticising the rule.

Richmond and Melbourne had 45 scoring shots between them in a practice match on Friday.

“The game may have just stumbled on a way to set the Sherrin free without zones and may have found a way to make star full forwards the stars they were of yesteryear,” he said.

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