ADELAIDE coach Don Pyke has cautioned the AFL about making drastic rule changes, concerned it has the potential to alter the fabric of the game.

Pyke said changes made in the past – including the interpretation around prior opportunity in holding the ball decisions – had inadvertently contributed to more congestion.

Possible rule changes include introducing starting positions, a bigger goal square and reducing interchange rotations.

"The concepts of zones and other bits and pieces is one of those ones which changes the nomadic nature of the game," Pyke said.

"I understand the issue that's confronting the industry around congestion and concerns about that, but I'd still argue there's still more really good games of footy than the other way.

"Some of the changes made in the past have had an unintended consequence, which have actually changed the way the game is now played, which has created some of the issues we're now confronting.

"How we actually trial it is probably the biggest issue, because a 20-minute trial at training gives you some information, but it won't give you a broad enough view to decide what change is going to create what effect.

"That's the challenge."

On Friday, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said the AFL is unlikely to trial any rule changes in games this season as a result of negative feedback.

The AFL Commission must sign off any proposed rule changes made by Steve Hocking and the competition committee should they be raised.

"I'd probably look at it and say, what does the process around what changes are going to be made and really be clear what it looks like and what you want to achieve," Pyke said.

"I think that's what the AFL is going through, and the pleasing part is they're giving a whole range of input from players, coaches, stakeholders within the game to reach those conclusions.

"It's probably beholden on them as the custodians of the game to make a decision that is a smart decision, which is going to achieve what ultimately the game requires.

"That's really quite a big issue, because some of the changes maybe in the past have led us to a point where we've got a slightly different look to what we otherwise would've wanted."

Pyke used the interpretation around holding the ball decisions as an example of how play has become more congested.

"The umpires want to keep the game going and they've been almost encouraged over the years to have less stoppages," Pyke said.

"They'll keep that rolling until the ball comes out.

"But often, the ball's not really moving in any formal fashion in kick or handball, it's just spilled ball on to spilled ball on to spilled ball.

"That's probably what happened when we went down the path of saying, let's have less ball-ups, so you're either holding the ball, or let it out and let it go.

"The key is to accept there's going to be some change, but at what speed that change needs to take place is really the challenge."