THE AFL Commission has requested more data before making a final decision on whether or not to cap interchange rotations in 2014.
It is understood the issue was discussed at Monday's AFL Commission meeting, with AFL football operations manager Mark Evans making a presentation.
The Commission will meet again next month with more data available from the AFL's football operations department.
As AFL.com.au reported previously, the number of interchanges has levelled out this season, with the average after round 16 being 132.1 - up from 131.3 in 2012.
At the same time, the number of stoppages per game has barely changed in recent seasons with 63.4 stoppage per game so far in 2013, down from 63.8 in 2012 and 64.4 in 2011.
On the weekend just passed, however, average interchanges per team per game sat above the season average, with Hawthorn recording 158 interchanges against Port Adelaide.
The debate has shifted gear in recent months as rule changes start to take effect and interchange numbers stabilise.
The main question now is whether capping interchanges is the best way to reduce rolling mauls and congestion around the ball.
While evidence shows the introduction of a substitute has made it fairer for teams that lose a single player to injury during the game, it is understood previous claims connecting higher injury numbers to increasing interchange rates is now accepted as being debatable.
Industry observers believe that if a cap is introduced, it will not be near the level of 80 first suggested to the AFL Commission in October 2012.
At that time the AFL Commission deferred its decision until further evidence was gathered, while accepting in principle the cap should be introduced.
With interchanges levelling out and rule changes such as throwing the ball up immediately and kicking the ball back in quickly appearing to have an impact, the question was being re-examined.
Coaches spoken to by AFL.com.au also reported that players believe such rule changes have reduced top speeds.
While AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said in March the cap was in no matter what - "the fact of the matter is unless people have got amnesia the AFL Commission has already passed the rule, which it said at the end of the year the cap's coming in" - several changes have occurred since.
Evans joined the AFL after a long stint at club level with Hawthorn and Melbourne.
The most recent Laws of the Game Committee meeting included a coaches viewpoint for the first time with Rodney Eade representing coaches and recent player Tom Harley contributing to discussions. Eade attended the most recent Committee meeting and Harley contributed from Sydney by phone.
That meeting was held the day after Evans and AFL game analysis manager Joel Bowden met with the AFLPA board to consult players on the issue.
Evans is understood to have met Demetriou soon after the CEO returned from his short break to discuss the issue.
Clubs have praised Evans' approach to the issue and seem willing to trust the process will lead to a sensible decision.
There is less sense that the decision needs to be rushed to support recruiting or fitness planning than there was earlier in the season.
