THE AFL has written to the eight clubs competing in the finals series to clarify a highly unlikely scenario in its revamped extra-time process.
The AFL Commission voted in April to eliminate Grand Final draws, and the same extra-time procedures will apply to all nine finals games.
Under the new extra-time rules, if scores remain tied after two periods of additional time, the siren won't sound and play will continue with the next score winning.
However, this scenario wouldn't work if the siren sounded after a mark had been taken, and then a kick after the siren tied the scores.
"If the circumstances were ever to apply that scores were tied after extra time with a post-siren shot at goal, with the siren having sounded, in this circumstance the ball would immediately be returned to the centre square with no break and play would immediately resume with a centre bounce," AFL football operations general manager Mark Evans said.
"The players would be told the next score wins the game and the siren would sound immediately after confirmation of the next score," he said.
A League spokesman confirmed the ball would be returned to the centre square regardless of whether the tying score was a goal or a behind, to start both teams in a neutral position.
THE NEW LOOK FINALS EXTRA-TIME
If scores are tied at the end of normal time, there will be two periods of additional time played of five minutes each way, plus time-on.
Teams will have a new rotation cap of 15 interchanges.
If scores remain tied at the end of additional time, the siren will NOT be sounded and play will continue until the next score has been confirmed.
The siren will then immediately sound to end the match.