WOMEN footballers are urging the AFL to be cautious when considering rule changes for next year's inaugural national women's competition.  

Western Bulldogs defender Phoebe McWilliams and Melbourne midfielder Alicia Eva told AFL.com.au's Trail Blazers podcast they would prefer the rules of the women's game to be modeled as closely as possible to those for the men's competition.

The League is considering tweaking the women's game slightly in a bid to make it a more entertaining spectacle for fans, but there are some reservations among the players.

There was a backlash on social media after three rules were trialed in the Melbourne-Brisbane Lions women's exhibition match a fortnight ago, with some players taking to Twitter and Facebook to vent their frustration.

The trial will continue on Sunday in the Western Bulldogs-Western Australia game, as well as the contest between South Australia and New South Wales at Adelaide Oval.

Watch Sunday's women's exhibition matches LIVE on AFL.com.au

Go to AFL.com.au from 12.30pm (EST) on Sunday for live video and audio streams of the Western Bulldogs v WA and SA v NSW matches

The three rules being trialed are 'last touch' out of bounds, straight 20-minute quarters, and a density rule aimed at reducing congestion.

The density rule states two forwards must always be in the forward 50 at all times, while a further five are required to set up in their forward half following a stoppage.

What are the three trial rules?

"I can see why the AFL is putting forward ideas because they want to make women's football attractive," Eva said.

"But girls are now coached to play exactly the same rules as the boys are, and taught the same philosophies."

"So if [the rules] can stay as close to the AFL (men's game) that would be fantastic."

McWilliams echoed Eva's comments, telling the podcast she hoped the AFL wouldn't tinker with the game she loved.

"Obviously that would be preferred because it's the game that we've played all our lives," McWilliams said.

The density philosophy is a concept used in the TAC Cup competition to reduce congestion.

Density rules are aimed at reducing numbers around the ball. Picture: AFL Media

It's a rule that Eva, who is also a development coach for the Calder Cannons, admitted was hard for umpires to police, but one she thought would create a more attractive brand of women's football.

"It's not a rule that's just being brought in for the women," Eva said.

"Obviously working at TAC Cup level I have seen this rule in play, and it's there because it is a development league. The reason they bring in this high density rule is because we want to avoid congestion and you want to avoid big numbers around the footy.

"There is some ambiguity around it – if all the defenders push up, then what do the forwards do? So it's more of a coaching philosophy. There's just an agreement that at every stoppage there will be forwards inside the forward half.

"It is monitored by every general manager of each TAC Cup club … but the onus is on the coach [to abide by the rule].

"I am not adverse to the rule because I've seen it in action and I think it will really showcase women's footy if there is more time and space."

Northern Territory's Loveth Ochayi in action in April's match against Tasmania. Picture: AFL Media

But McWilliams has reservations about the rule.

"I'm just a bit cautious as a defender and a forward that the defenders don't have to remain in their back 50 as well, so they can run off their forwards," she said.

"I'm not sure how that would work with an up-field press with the forwards forced to stay back."

Neither player had any problem with playing 20-minute quarters without time on, but the last touch out of bounds rule remains a contentious one, with the players concerned it would not work on a smaller-sized grounds.

Want more women's footy news?

• Meet the future stars of the women's game at the AFL women's football hub

• 2016 women's exhibition games: latest fixture and results