THE PERCEPTION of tanking in the AFL is worrying coaches enough that they will officially approach the league to discuss the problem.

The coaches insist that tanking does not exist in the game, but they are concerned too many people think differently.

Tanking was a major issue at Thursday’s AFL Coaches Association (AFLCA) meeting, where former Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy was elected president.

“The coaches were unequivocal that we coach to win - we believe, in reality, that tanking doesn't exist with coaches," AFLCA chief executive and former Melbourne coach Neale Daniher said.

“When clubs lose games, coaches lose jobs - and I can bear testimony to that - players lose jobs, everyone loses jobs.

"What we spoke about today was the perception ... it has a serious enough impact on the integrity of the game and the reputation of coaches ... that we want to raise the issue with the AFL.

"They wanted to make that point (about coaching to win) forcibly, because in a sense they feel slighted or defamed."

Daniher said no suggestions for a solution were offered at the meeting.

Adam Simpson of the Kangaroos and Geelong's Tom Harley were two captains on Thursday who called for the priority pick system to end.

"It's something that's causing a bit of conjecture and it's not something you need to be talking about," Harley said.

"Football is a competitive beast and we should create an environment where the game is absolutely cut-throat, regardless of the result from a draft pick ... it's a perception."

The AFLCA also strongly supported Sydney coach Paul Roos after the league investigated him under rule 9.3 on the potentially-serious matter of not coaching the Swans to their merits.

The league looked into an boundary-line incident near the end of their round-one NAB Cup loss to Hawthorn, but cleared Roos of wrongdoing.

"Paul's reputation was thrown around and we believe there could have been a speedier resolution," Daniher said.

 "The rule in 9.3 talks about coaching to your merits and we want clarification - what does that mean?

"We believe we think we know what it means ... we have got some concerns and we think they'll be cleared up, we want further clarification.

"I guess with the investigation of Paul Roos, I'd have to admit some of the coaches are a little edgy about it."

In other items at the meeting:

• WHAT Daniher called "spy versus spy" will continue, with the coaches agreeing there should be no policy on monitoring opposition training sessions.
• HAWTHORN coach Alastair Clarkson had sought clarification on whether there was a gentleman's agreement on the issue.

"You'll be happy to know, it's gloves off - Carlton spies will be after Collingwood spies, etc, etc," Daniher said.

"We're also mindful of not having altercations ... there's no agreement among the coaches, (but) there may be club-to-club arrangements.

• DANIHER said coaches "overwhelmingly" support the NAB Cup format, but wanted to reiterate it is a "preparation" competition.
• THE much-criticised pre-season experiment on limiting the amount of interchanges "obviously didn't get too many thumbs-up".
• THE interchange issue also highlighted the need for the AFL and the coaches to work better together. "Obviously we didn't make a good start to the year with interchange ... we (the association and the AFL) have got to lift our game with regards to making this partnership work better," Daniher said.