THE AFL is considering a NAB Cup trial rule that would see six forwards and six backs required to start within their own 50-metre arcs at centre bounces.
AFL football operations general manager Adrian Anderson said on Wednesday the rule could "potentially" come in for the 2013 NAB Cup, but stressed it was not on the agenda for the home and away season.
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The trial would be an attempt to reduce congestion around the football, which Anderson said was a growing concern among fans.
"We already have it to a certain extent with the centre square," Anderson said.
"That's a zone that you only allow certain players in.
"[The new trial rule] is one of the ones in the mix for the NAB Cup.
"Not to say that you must always have certain players in certain zones, but at the bounces."
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Among the rules under consideration for the 2013 home and away season is the 'no contact' ruck rule, trialled in this year's NAB Cup.
That rule, also aimed at reducing congestion, forbade ruckmen from making contact before the ball left the umpire's hand at a ball-up, and stated they must stand five metres apart.
AFL data said clearance rates from stoppages during the NAB Cup had been 4 per cent higher with the rule in place, and secondary stoppages 4 per cent less frequent.
AFL game analysis manager Joel Bowden said the rule might need to be tweaked.
"When it was brought back in from five metres to three, and then let go a little bit more, they (clubs and players) were happier," Bowden said.
"The discussion centres around there being no set distance, and clubs and players generally are receptive to that.
"I've spoken to a number of ruckmen about it, and they're divided.
"Some are against it."
Other possible rule changes designed to ease congestion currently being floated include:
- A move to a two sub and two interchange system, or to a cap of 80 interchanges per game
- Umpires to throw the ball up, rather than bouncing, at around-ground stoppages
- Stricter interpretation of the deliberate out of bounds and holding the ball rules
But Anderson said it is possible there will be no changes at all in relation to congestion when a final call is made in October.
"On the whole we think the game is in great shape, and we're not saying that anything has to change, but we're seeing [congestion] come through in supporters' feedback as an emerging concern," Anderson said.
"The right decision might be to sit on it, and it might be to do nothing.
"Three out of the last five years we haven't made any rule changes between seasons."
There is also a proposal for umpires to start enforcing a little-known rule that bans forceful contact below the knees, regardless of whether that contact is made by players sliding in feet-first, knees-first or head-first.
The proposal is aimed at increasing player safety, in response to serious knee or leg injuries suffered by Tyson Goldsack, Scott Pendlebury, Seb Tape and WAFL player Jamie Graham, all of which occurred as a result of a players sliding into them as they stood over the ball.
It is being supported by AFL medical directors and club medical officers.
In 2012, umpires starting paying free kicks against players who slid in feet-first or knees-first (but not head-first), which the AFL said had "reduced this dangerous practice".
Another idea being considered is for deliberate rushed behinds to be policed as harshly as deliberate out of bounds'.
