The League wrote to all clubs to confirm there would be no rule changes for the 2012 season, meaning the interchange rule and advantage rule will remain unchanged.
Last month, the AFL Commission accepted a recommendation from the Laws of the Game Committee that the interchange and advantage rules should remain the same.
However, at its meeting in Sydney this week, the commission approved a further set of interpretation changes - including minor adjustments to reduce the length of the game by instructing umpires to reduce the time taken to re-start play after throw-ins and goals - along with a continued strict interpretation of deliberate out of bounds, including penalising ruckmen who deliberately knock the ball out of bounds from a ruck contest even when it is not on the full.
AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson said the growing length of games, which had increased by more than three minutes since the 2008 season, had prompted the amendments to current process.
"Boundary umpires will be asked to reduce throw-in time by one-to-two seconds, and the gap between a goal being kicked and the re-start of play will also be reduced by up to five seconds, to stop delays in the game," Anderson said.
"The number of throw-ins has been rising steadily for several seasons and the current law for deliberate-out-of-bounds will continue to be strictly applied."
In the 2012 NAB Cup, the official scorer will again be able to participate in the consultation process for scoring decisions. If the trial is successful, it may be introduced for the 2012 premiership competition.
There will be no delay to the game over and above the current consultation process, and if play has resumed then the opportunity to correct a score has passed.
Last month, the AFL notified the 18 clubs that the interchange would remain as three interchange players with one substitute while the advantage rule would remain in the hands of players, and not the umpires, to decide if advantage should be taken after receiving a free kick.
"The commission's decisions have been that it was time for a year of consolidation in the rules," Anderson said.
"The key statistics in the game from the 2011 season tell us there has been an increase in long kicking, contested marks, scoring and clearance rates, especially late in games and in last quarters as the game opens up. In addition, there has been a decrease in the numbers of disposals, handballs, short kicks and backwards kicks.
"As part of the laws process, the AFL will continue to monitor a number of topics, including the interchange and interchange infringements, the advantage rule, ruck contests, illegal contact in marking contests, umpire contact, boundary line play and player safety."
As part of the annual Laws of the Game process, the AFL's Football Operations Department met widely across the football industry, covering club coaching staff, player leadership groups, the AFL Players Association, the AFL Umpires, the AFL Coaches Association, the AFL Medical Officers Association, the AFL Physiotherapists Association, club fitness staff and state and community football bodies.
The Laws Committee comprises Anderson (chairman), Kevin Bartlett, Leigh Matthews, Matthew Pavlich, Luke Power, Rowan Sawers and Michael Sexton.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
