WEST Coast coach John Worsfold will seek clarification on the AFL’s rushed behind rule being trialled this pre-season after a controversial late free kick cost his side its NAB Challenge match against Fremantle.

Young Eagle Scott Selwood was penalised by umpire Brett Rosebury for punching the ball over the line in a marking contest with a minute-and-a-half remaining.

The resulting Ryan Crowley goal left Fremantle one point behind, but a second major to the 25-year-old in a minute won the match, 17.9 (111) to 16.10 (106).

Worsfold said the free kick contradicted the examples his club had been shown over the pre-season regarding the new rule, which may be introduced for the 2009 season.

"I need to get clarification on it, for sure," Worsfold said after the match. 

"We would have assumed it was a normal behind, from what we've been told and shown and discussed.

"I think that's going to be one for the whole competition, everyone will be looking at that. We'll find out whether that's a free kick or not, that's what we’d like to know.

"I think the AFL would much rather have it happen here this week than in a few weeks time.

"[We understood] that if you're in a spoiling contest you can spoil the ball over the line."

Worsfold said he remained a fan of the new rule, which pays a free kick in the goal square against a deliberate rushed behind.

"If that was [paid] a point then I think it's a good rule. But if that's a shot at goal then I think they need to review it," he said. 

"I'm not supportive of the way it was paid, but I'm supportive of the rule. I think it's a good rule."

Fremantle coach Mark Harvey also stood by the trial rule his side’s thrilling five-point win.

He agreed that it was lucky the grey area had emerged in a pre-season fixture, and not at the height of the premiership season. 

"That's probably the best thing – that it's happened in a close game, in a practice game," he said.

"The AFL in time can sort it out and work out whether they need to press ahead with it, really.

"I'm a supporter of it. It keeps pressure on the game, the individual, the team and it'll keep the game alive. That means we see more contests."