Everyone is perplexed. Players, umpires and fans are turning up to games unsure of what to believe or expect. Don’t be surprised to see Led Zeppelin’s ‘Dazed and Confused’ as the most played song on their iTunes this year.

The AFL introduced a new rule this season, which now allows players to decide whether or not they have any advantage following a free kick call. In previous seasons, the decision was made by the umpire.

However, the new rule has only confused players, fans and umpires alike, even more. Some even believe the advantage rule is quickly turning into a disadvantage.

Cast your mind back 11 days ago to the top-of-the-table clash between undefeated Geelong and undefeated Collingwood. Despite the thrilling game and close margin, most could only talk about an isolated umpiring decision at a crucial stage.

Collingwood trailed Geelong by two points with three minutes left in the final term. Pies ruckman Cameron Wood was illegally thrown to the ground by his opposite number Brad Ottens from a boundary throw-in. Umpire Shaun Ryan blew his whistle and awarded the free kick to Wood.

When players around the stoppage heard the whistle, most turned their attention to the umpire to find out what the free kick was for and who would be the recipient.

One player didn’t get distracted. Gun midfielder Scott Pendlebury ignored the whistle and pounced on the loose ball. Assuming the whistle was for a Collingwood free kick, he took the advantage, ran to 40 metres out from goal and slotted it straight through the big sticks to put the Pies four points up.

Collingwood fans went crazy. Against the odds, their side had hit the front with little time remaining. The Pies’ undefeated run would continue.

Not so fast.

Ryan called the ball back. He claimed he had blown time on and deemed there was no advantage to the midfielder.

Big consequences. No goal to Pendlebury and no lead for Collingwood. The Cats win by three points and keep their undefeated streak alive.

Hang on. Under the new rule, doesn’t the player determine the advantage, not the umpire?

While he didn’t admit it publicly, Collingwood coach Michael Malthouse implied the decision had a massive bearing on the result.

‘That’s the fastest whistle in history,’ he said. ‘I’m not here to say it was right or wrong, all I’m saying is it’s remarkable given what we’ve been told – that players’ make up their mind.

‘So somebody has clearly got it wrong — us, them or whatever.’

Full credit to umpires director Jeff Gieschen, who admitted Ryan’s interpretation was wrong after the weekend’s round of action.

Ryan, considered one of the best umpires in the league, had lost sight of the footy and made a decision based on the old rule. The play was continuous and the player had every right to take the advantage. Pendlebury was in the right — he should’ve had a shot for goal.

This decision summed up everyone’s feelings over the first two months of action — no one knows who has the advantage under the new rule.

There have been a few other laughable moments this season, where players have stopped, looked back and then went on with it as teammates and rivals watched on.

The night after the Pendlebury incident, there was a similar occurrence in the Sydney-Port Adelaide contest. This time though, the umpire allowed the players to take the advantage.

With the Swans up by 17 points midway through third, second-gamer Nathan Gordon was illegally shepherded out of the contest. Like the night before, the umpire blew his whistle and the players stopped — except one. Ben McGlynn took the advantage, passed the ball to Andrejs Everitt who ran into the open goal.

Another controversial call occurred the weekend before during the inaugural ‘Q-Clash’ between Gold Coast and Brisbane. Emerging ruckman Zac Smith copped a high tackle from veteran Simon Black inside the Suns’ forward 50. Same process — whistle goes and players stop except for one. Brandon Matera picks the loose ball up, runs into the open goal and drills between the big posts.

Those two passages of play were just as disjointed as the Pendlebury one. In fact the umpires had more reason to call the ball back.

No doubt the new advantage rule is a good rule. To put the onus on the player means the umpire is less likely to make a questionable decision.

It’s certainly good for the long run. However there are some immediate flaws.

All throughout their junior football days, players are taught to listen to the whistle. As soon as the whistle goes, you must stop to see what the umpire’s decision is.

Today’s AFL players are still stuck in this mindset. It’s difficult for them to adapt to a new rule in such a short space of time. However, like the introduction of the controversial hands-in-the-back rule a few years ago, things become clearer with a bit of patience and time.

If the footy community is still confused by the end of the season and the AFL wants to change the rule again, the best solution is to not pay advantage at stoppages.

Centre bounces, boundary throw-ins and ball-ups are all significant parts of game, especially today. It’s not uncommon to see 15 to 20 players huddled around a stoppage, so no wonder most are distracted when a whistle is blown because anyone could’ve given away a free kick. Therefore the umpire must ‘put the whistle away’ at stoppages.

If the advantage rule stays, umpires must be more lenient on 50 metre penalties. When a free kick is paid and an opposition player assumes they have a right to clear the ball away from the contest, umpires are very quick to award 50 metre penalties. It’s too harsh to pay a 50 in the context of the new advantage rule.

But before we develop a strong opinion or even call for the AFL to trigger yet another rule change, let’s take a deep breath.

Let’s give this rule some time. Let’s give players and umpires an opportunity to adapt to the rule.

Until it clicks, all we want is some consistency.

Ben Waterworth is a third-year Bachelor of Journalism student at La Trobe University and is upstart’s sports editor. You can follow him on twitter: @bjwaterworth