COACHES and players share their thoughts on the Laws of the Game committee's interchange and scoring proposals.
Essendon coach Matthew Knights
Interchange: (i) the bench to comprise three interchange players and one substitute player; (ii) the bench to comprise two interchange players and two substitute players, or (iii) cap of 80 interchanges per match (including changes at breaks).
"The interchange, the 80, I think it's real skinny. Too skinny. I would prefer to leave it as it is right now, because I think there is a natural ceiling for interchange rotations, which I think is around the 130, 140, 150-mark."
Scoring system: if a ball hits the posts inside the goal-scoring area and goes through, it remains a goal. If ball hits the posts inside the point-scoring area and goes through, it remains a point.
"I can't have a bar of that, hitting the post and a goal awarded. Tradition and history is a fundamental part of this game although ... I understand the game needs to evolve."
North Melbourne coach Brad Scott
Interchange
"There's zero correlation between injury risk and rotations. The AFL admits that there's no correlation. There might be a cause and effect, but there's no proof.
"I think to make a rule change you've got to have absolute proof. I think it's a massive decision to change any rule.
"Any cap could be disastrous. If we had 80 rotations or 20 a quarter, and we had 18 rotations and we were at the 25-minute mark and two or three guys get injured, do we take two off and leave an injured guy out there? It doesn't make any sense."
Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade (courtesy SEN)
Interchange
"Collingwood and us had the highest rotations in 2009 and had the least amount of injuries. Collingwood has gone on record with that as well. We're not too sure whether the cap on interchanges will actually decrease injuries.
"If they do cap it, I think the cap should be about 100. If they cap it at 80, I think there should be four interchange [players] and a substitute. It's not going to increase the pace of the game having a substitute, because you've got the cap on rotations but you're more chance of protecting clubs if they get an injury.
"Any of those options [could see] the second ruckman in danger. You're actually changing the position of one player and he may struggle to get a game because you may go for a running type rather than a second ruckman."
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon
Scoring system
"It's interesting. I think anything that makes anyone's job easier I am all for. I think it is still a clear outcome but I suppose if it hits in the middle and bounces back in, what do you do then? Is it a point then? There have been a lot of rule changes over time and the aim is to make the game better and entertain the fans. Anything that can do that is good but I really haven't got the luxury of time to devote attention to it. You keep a loose eye on it but they've got a committee and plenty of time. They put it forward and ultimately get an opportunity to present."
Richmond coach Damien Hardwick
Interchange
"I'd prefer there'd be no cap. The rule change I'd like to bring in is the rock off at the start instead of flipping the coin. Imagine the excitement of Chris Newman v Sam Mitchell in paper, scissors, rock at the start of the game. The crowd would love it. It's a good conversation to have but my preference would be the three [interchange] and one [substitute]."
Port Adelaide caretaker coach Matthew Primus
Interchange
"The cap on rotations is going to have an impact on structures and your tactics in games, but we've got to wait and see which one the AFL are going to bring in and which way they're going to go. Somewhere along the line it's going to impact on your tactics and also your recruiting.
"It's a holistic point of view, rather than the AFL looking at teams that rotate 130 times a game. I'd be against a move to 80. I've got no problems with the amount of rotations going on at the moment, but the welfare of the players has got to be the number one issue."
Adelaide coach Neil Craig
Interchange
"As a coach I say leave it the same. It gives us great flexibility from a coaching perspective to do what we like and even increase the rotations, if we want to.
"As a keeper of the game, I'd be very diligent in looking where the game is going and be responsible. If I was trying predict where our game is going before we get some serious things starting to happen I'd keep throwing up the adage that speed kills. Either you want to be responsible, look at the game now and and try and predict where it could go and some things that might happen, or you sit and wait until something happens before you make a change.
"I personally think the AFL are being very responsible. They are the keeper of the game, so they have to make the decision. Whatever decision they make they will be criticised for. Will they make a right decision? I don't know, but at least they're in there looking at it and not closing their eyes saying, 'This game is going along beautifully'."
Scoring system
"It would change a lot of records, wouldn't it? But we've put the centre square in ... a whole range of things have happened in the past. I'm pretty open-minded about all that. I welcome change and innovation. When people try and change something or do something from an innovation point of view, you will always get debate and criticism and there's nothing wrong with that."
Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell
Interchange
"Leave it as it is - that's our preference, but I think we know the AFL are going to come back and speak to the clubs and speak to them again and get their opinions. We'll wait for that to happen and then go from there."
Scoring system
"I reckon people will be going through the record books, and Peter Hudson might be trying to see how many goals he would have had on top [of what he kicked]. I think it would just change everything, so it's interesting. It might be a NAB Cup thing, but I don't know about changing it for the normal season."
West Coast ruckman Dean Cox
Interchange
"It has its advantages and disadvantages. I think it'll prolong careers by allowing them, if they're not capped, to rotate a lot more off the bench. But it'll also take away from your real endurance athletes that want to play one-on-one against a particular opponent when they can get rotated off so often.
