From zones to interchange caps and bonus points, check out 30 rule changes the AFL can look at

THE AFL is looking at as many as 30 rule changes for the coming seasons. That’s right, 30! From the no-brainer changes to the downright crazy and everything in between, here are the changes we might see. Which do you like?

AFL fans want to see goals! Picture: Getty Images

STEVE Hocking is a busy man.

Not only is the football operations manager monitoring the score review system, setting up “look of the game” committees and overseeing all aspects of what happens on the field, he is also weighing up potentially 30 rule changes for future AFL seasons. That’s right … 30!

It may sound like a massive task for those at AFL HQ but fear not, we are here to help.

From the no-brainer changes to player movement and the downright radical, here are the 30 potential rule changes we’d like to see.

SUPER RANKINGS: WHO IS WHERE AFTER ROUND 12?

SUPER RANKINGS: SEE SAM AND ROBBO’S TOP 20 FOR R12

CHANGE THE LOOK OF THE GAME:

— Play on after kicking backwards

— Last touch out of bounds

— Abolish the bounce

— Abolish the runner

— Softening the prior opportunity interpretation

Is it time to ditch the bounce? Picture: AFL Media

OUR TAKE: The AFL has come close to restricting the use of runners in the past, only for Luke Beveridge and Alan Richardson to come to their defence. But their days may still be numbered. Abolishing runners would limit in-quarter strategy and make the game less structured.

If the AFL wants to break up congestion, softening the prior opportunity interpretation could be the way to go. Too often umpires are giving players far too much leeway which results in stoppage after stoppage after stoppage. This also helps in tightening what a correct disposal is when a player is being tackled. Alastair Clarkson is a big fan.

ARE ZONES AND INTERCHANGE THE ANSWER?

— Minimum number of players inside 50 at all stoppages

— Make all games 16 per side

— Cap interchanges at 10 per quarter

— Four umpires on the field

— Introduced a concussion sub

— Abolish the bench

OUR TAKE: AFL boss Gillon McLachlan is a fan of starting positions, which means there is a fair chance they are on the way. Last weekend’s secret trial involving Hawthorn had clubs with six in the backline, six in the forward line and six in the middle at centre bounces. Does it need to go further though with players sent back to their starting spots at every stoppage? A fourth umpire would help, allowing the whistleblowers to monitor where every player lines up.

The other big one is capping the interchange. Earlier this year, John Worsfold backed 60 per game while caps as few as 20 and 40 have also been suggested. AFL great Kevin Bartlett has even suggested scrapping the interchange altogether and introducing soccer style subs. Either way, 80 is too many.

HOW TO INCREASE SCORING:

— Bonus point for reaching 100 points

— Bonus point for winning a quarter

— Nine-point super goals for kicks from outside 50

OUR TAKE: Scoring, scoring and more scoring! Footy fans like seeing goals. So let’s give the people what they want. Are you sick of watching a Friday night blowout and switching off the TV at three quarter-time? This year Super Netball has introduced premiership points for the winner of each quarter on top of the game winner, making every minute of every game worth something. Imagine the drama of needing to win the last quarter of a Round 23 clash to book a spot in the finals. Sign us up.

LIVEN UP PLAYER MOVEMENT

— Mid-season trade/draft

— Live pick trading at the AFL draft

— Lift the draft age to 19/20

— Trade future draft picks beyond two years

— Players under contract can be traded to any club

— Have a ‘marquee’ player who can be paid outside the salary cap

— One-game minimum for father-son rule

OUR TAKE: If your team is out of the finals race, the biggest thing on the agenda is the trade period. So let’s make player movement even more exciting. At the moment, players have all the power but why not give some back to the clubs? If a contracted player wants a trade, that’s fine but they no longer get to pick their destination. How exciting would it be if 10 Melbourne clubs were bidding for one star looking for a fresh start?

One of the best things we have in the AFL is the father-son rule. But let’s make it even better. The 100 game-limit is too many, so let’s drop it to one game. Open the father-son floodgates. Is there a Relton Roberts Jr?

Is it time for live pick trading at the AFL draft? Picture: Getty Images

LET’S GET RADICAL

— Night Grand Final

— Give the winner of the pre-season cup a bonus first-round draft pick

— Call play on if the ball rebounds off the goalpost back into play

— Make the goalsquare bigger so clubs can clear the zone from a kick-in

— Punishments for clubs lying about injuries

— Introduce a sin bin

— Introduce a powerplay for 12-point goals

— Floating fixture to ensure best games are played in prime-time

— Bring in a 17-5 fixture system

The AFL tried some pretty out-there rules in AFLX. Could Zooper goals become a regular feature of our game?

OUR TAKE: OK, some of these might be a little out there but stick with us. After Tom Bugg punched Callum Mills last year, the Swans were down a player for the entire match. Should he have been forced to spend a set amount of time in the sin bin?

Patrick Dangerfield recently explained why clubs lie about injuries. But do fans who are paying their money for a ticket deserve to know who they will be seeing?

And now we get really radical. Ice hockey has powerplays which involve the opposition having fewer players on the ice. How excited would you be to watch a three-minute powerplay with goals worth 12 points?

And lastly, we’ve had enough! No more Carlton games on Friday nights in 2018. In fact, 2019 and 2020 as well. We need the best games in prime time so it’s time for the floating fixture.

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Originally published as From zones to interchange caps and bonus points, check out 30 rule changes the AFL can look at