ALTHOUGH Geelong skipper Joel Selwood has taken note of the changed interpretation for high tackles in 2017, he doesn't believe it will have much impact on him. 

The Cats champion wins more free kicks for high contact than most players in the game with opponents often catching him high as he tries to use strength to break free from tackles. 

He also receives high contact because of his ability to be first to the contested ball and put his head over the football.

Under the new tightened interpretation, if a tackle is reasonable and the ball carrier is responsible for the high contact via a "shrug, drop, arm lift or duck, play on should be called".

The AFL interpretation also reads: "if the tackle is not reasonable, a free kick should be paid against the tackler, regardless of the actions of the other player." 

Selwood said he understood the changes to the laws, but can't imagine his football will change. 

"You need to think about [rule changes] and what is in place and how it is going to affect the game itself and what is happening. But we're players, we just go out and if the whistle blows you listen to it," Selwood told AFL.com.au.

Selwood has received four free kicks in his two JLT Community Series after receiving 71 free kicks in 24 games in 2016.

As a team, the Cats conceded more free kicks on average than any other team in 2016, often being on the wrong side of the free kick count.

A strong inside midfielder, Selwood is often at the heart of congestion and only ever has eyes for the ball when competing for it. 

"My job is in and around contests. I can't run as well as some of the other players can in the League so some of my strength is just winning the contest and trying to be as strong as I can," Selwood said. 

The triple-premiership Cat said he was unflustered by any commentary that focuses on his free kick count and his propensity to be tackled high.

"I don't read too much into it. It's a fair bit of noise. I could waste a fair bit of time on it if I did. It is what it is," Selwood said.