THE SANFL will introduce two significant rule changes in 2016 after the SA Football Commission endorsed the SANFL Laws of the Game Committee’s proposal.

From 2016, a free kick will be paid against the team which kicks or handballs the ball out of bounds without being touched, even if it bounces inside the boundary line.

Players who spoil, tap or carry the ball over the line will not be penalised, provided the action is not deemed deliberate under the current rules.

The new rule has been trialled several times in AFL pre-season fixtures over the years, but has never been introduced into the AFL premiership season.

Meanwhile, interchange rotations will be capped at 50 per game, with an additional three changes allowed at each of the three game breaks.

Average rotations at league level have risen from 34 to 90 over the course of the past seven seasons, and the SANFL cited a desire to reduce congestion as a key reason for introducing the cap on rotations.

Port Adelaide Football Manager Chris Davies said the club would assess the new rules.

“We are assessing the rule changes the SANFL has announced but won’t be commenting on what’s outlined until we consider them further,” Davies said.