The League's football operations manager Adrian Anderson has written to all 16 clubs summarising the results of this year's system, and seeking feedback for the annual tribunal review.
The statistics collected from this year show:
* The fewest tribunal hearings on record, and a decrease in overall charges from 150 last year to 128 in 2008;
* The fewest charges not sustained by the tribunal;
* A decrease in the number of players charged for contact with a player who had his head over the ball, and;
* An increase in the percentage of players accepting the match review panel's classification.
"This follows on from the most recent AFL injury survey showing the lowest number of head and neck injuries to players last year," Anderson said.
"The players have adapted well and the rule to protect players with their heads over the ball is making the game safer to play at all levels.
"The 2008 season saw the lowest number of tribunal hearings on record. It also saw a significant drop in fines and more than 80 per cent of players accept the charge laid by the match review panel.
"The results demonstrate that fewer players than ever are committing reportable offences, which can only be beneficial to the health of the game."
Anderson also said match review panel chairman Andrew McKay is currently in the process of meeting the clubs regarding feedback on dangerous tackles and late bumps.
"The clubs have been provided with a number of examples from the 2008 season where a player had his arms pinned in a tackle and was slung into the ground," he said.
"We will be reviewing the range of sanctions that apply for this offence.
"We are also seeking the views of the clubs whether further protection is required for a player who is bumped off the ball when he would not reasonably be expecting contact".
Any submissions made to the tribunal review committee, which comprises of Mike Fitzpatrick, Adrian Anderson, Rod Austin, Andrew Dillon, Andrew McKay, Shane McCurry and Scott Taylor, are due by November 6.
| 2004* | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Charges | 173 | 150 | 137 | 150 | 128 |
| Tribunal hearings | 123 | 26 | 32 | 42 | 22 |
| Number of cases not sustained at tribunal | 40 | 6 | 11 | 12 | 6 |
| Number of players accepting the penalty as set out by the match review panel | - | 124 | 105 | 108 | 106 |
| Percentage of players accepting the match review panel classification | - | 83% | 77% | 72% | 83% |
| Matches lost through suspension | 117 | 77 | 71 | 71 | 77 |
| Financial sanctions | $223,100 | $108,600 | $66,900 | $114,800 | $65,700 |
| Reprimands (includes offences < 100 points) | 0 | 21 | 36 | 38 | 31 |
* Please note that the MRP system was introduced in 2005, hence the asterisk for the 2004 year.
