CHANGING the timing and location of the coin toss before games was just one of several radical ideas floated at the AFL Fans Summit that concluded on Tuesday.
Turning the lights off at Etihad Stadium to build atmosphere before players run out on the ground was also discussed, as was the potential for changing the interval between when players run out on the ground and when the ball is bounced.
The AFL's general manager of clubs and operations, Travis Auld, said the AFL was prepared to put everything under the microscope as it assessed where opportunities existed to improve the match day experience.
"Everything is open to being challenged," Auld told AFL.com.au.
Auld said although mistakes would be made, the AFL and its clubs were prepared to wear them in the interests of improvement and any moves would need to be "genuine, authentic and connect back to your footy club."
"We're not trying to eat away at all the tradition. We have created that for a reason. What we are going to do is say 'can we enhance it in some way and ask why do we do things the way we do?'" Auld said.
The coin toss has traditionally been held in the middle of the ground between captains just before players' head to their positions but AFL.com.au understands attendees questioned whether that tradition was set in stone.
It takes at least eight minutes for the lights to go on and off at Etihad Stadium and an Etihad spokesperson told AFL.com.au that the safety of patrons would be the number one consideration when assessing any such ideas.
Auld said it was worth questioning however why certain things happened the way they happened.
He said the AFL would not compromise the performance of clubs but was prepared to examine in fine detail what could be done to improve the match day experience.
Along with clubs having access to one kilometre of LED signage at Etihad Stadium and the introduction of wi-fi for fans, teams are also expecting to be able to connect with supporters using IPTV that will be available on 1600 high definition screens around the venue.
Auld said such technology gave clubs the opportunity to create more of a home ground feel, something fans had communicated was lacking at Etihad Stadium.
"There are a whole range of things we do now at games that we didn't do 20 years ago that the fans love," Auld said.
"We've got to continue to find that."
The success of Adelaide Oval in 2014 has upped the ante and made all clubs and venue operators keen to deliver a similarly strong fan engagement experience.
The AFL has already moved to re-introduce kick-to-kick after certain games, to bring back curtain raisers and will continue to discuss a range of initiatives with clubs, venue operators and fans.
"We'll try to do what we do really well," Auld said.
