AFL footy chief Steve Hocking insists there’s no rush to implement radical rule changes

AS debate raged over the possible introduction controversial new measures to combat congestion, AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking says some might not happen in 2019.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking has insisted the league won’t rush through controversial new measures to combat congestion in the game, saying some of the proposed changes are not guaranteed for next year.

It comes as at least two more AFL coaches — St Kilda’s Alan Richardson and Richmond’s Damien Hardwick — joined Collingwood’s Nathan Buckley in urging AFL headquarters to extensively trial options before agreeing to implement significant change to the game.

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As debate raged over the possible introduction of starting positions at stoppages, an increase in the kick-in area size and reduced interchange rotations as early as next year, Hocking moved to allay growing industry fears that things were moving too quickly.

“Let’s understand that we’re not talking potentially of this happening in 2019,” Hocking said on SEN.

“It has to go through the competition committee, it’s got to go through the AFL executive, it’s got to get to the Commission.”

“Having spent 10 months with the Commission, they’re super impressive people. There’s no way known on (chairman) Richard Goyder’s watch that he’s just going to pull a lever and go, ‘Right, let all this roll through’.

“There’s going to have to be so much work and evidence and also understanding, and everyone’s got to be ready for it. It may not be next year, it could be the year after, it could be the year after that.”

Buckley maintained his concerns centred on the unintended consequences of the proposed changes.

On Wednesday, the Magpies coach said the starting points requiring three players to start inside 50m at a stoppage would be “a blight” on the game.

On Thirsday, he was more conciliatory, clearly after hearing Hocking’s comments.

“I am pretty confident that the look of the game committee and the people that are making those decisions are actually really conscious of those unintended consequences and are keen to explore them before making any moves,” Buckley said.

He wasn’t miffed Collingwood was one of the clubs yet to have a detailed briefing with the AFL, saying he was immediate focus was fixed on Saturday’s clash with North Melbourne.

Richardson said trials in lower leagues such as VFL or NEAFL would not be sufficient.

“I think it needs a bit more than just that,” Richardson said.

“Using AFL players, athletes (is essential), not wanting to be disparaging at all to lower levels, but there is a difference.

“There needs to be a lot of trialling at AFL level through JLT, through the AFL liaising with footy clubs … to get as much information as they can to make a really thorough decision as opposed to rushing something.”

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Hocking said Buckley, along with the other Victorian-based AFL coaches yet to be fully briefed about the changes, will get more clarity in coming weeks.

“We embrace it, what Nathan had to say (and) what others have had to say, and continue to talk about is only strengthening our resolve to make sure that we really care at the level we need to,” Hocking said.

“Has he (Buckley) actually seen it? No, he hasn’t.”

“At no stage are we going to make a decision whereby it’s contrived or whereby Nathan Buckley feels like it’s a blight on the game.

The AFL plans to conduct further trials and research into the potential changes, with a view to unveil any changes for 2019 in October.

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