BUSINESS will continue largely as usual at the AFL Tribunal in 2008, with the AFL tribunal review committee recommending minimal changes after its examination of the 2007 season.

One new offence has been added in 2008: 'misconduct - instigator of a melee', where a player's conduct results in retaliatory action which leads to a melee. The new offence will carry an initial penalty of $2400 ($1800 for an early plea), rising to $3600 ($2700 for an early plea) and $4800 ($3600 for an early plea) for further offences.

In line with the introduction of this stricter new penalty for an instigator, sanctions for engaging in a melee for a first and subsequent offences have been decreased to $1600 ($1200 for an early plea), $2800 ($2100 for an early plea) and $4000 ($3000 for an early plea).

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the minor changes reflected excellent tribunal feedback from the AFLPA and the 16 AFL clubs at the end of last season.

"The AFL will continue to examine its tribunal system each year, to see if we can continue to improve our processes, but we have been extremely pleased with the support received from the clubs and the player group," Anderson said.

"It was determined that the role of an instigator of a melee should be recognised with more serious action against that particular player, and this now means that a player who starts a melee can be found guilty of both instigating it, and being involved in a melee, while there is a lesser penalty for other players," he said.

In other specific changes, Anderson said the words 'unreasonable and unnecessary contact to the face' had been added to the wording of the offence for 'misconduct - eye gouging', while the player rules and regulations have been widened so that the football operations manager or the tribunal chairman can take action against any person who does not co-operate with the tribunal.

Late last year, former Fitzroy and Richmond player Paul Broderick was appointed to the match review panel for 2008, replacing Nathan Burke, who resigned to join the St Kilda board, while Frank Costigan QC and Jeff Gleeson SC will replace Will Houghton QC, who resigned as tribunal counsel to join the  North Melbourne board. John Winneke, AC RFD QC RANR, has been appointed to the appeals board.

Anderson said he wished to again thank the clubs for their feedback and their support for the match review panel and tribunal system.  He also thanked the tribunal review committee: Andrew McKay (match review panel chairman), Andrew Dillon, Rod Austin, Jeff Gieschen, Scott Taylor and Shane McCurry.