AFL Players Association President Patrick Dangerfield is excited by the look of the starting positions after reviewing Hawthorn's trial run on Wednesday and says it could help improve the AFL brand.
After Dangerfield attended the meeting with the AFL – accompanied by Rory Sloane, Jamie Macmillan and Shaun Burgoyne – the Brownlow Medallist believes the rule change could create a better product for the game.
“We had a look through the vision of the Hawthorn training session from early in the week which was really interesting to see,” Dangerfield told Whateley.
“To be honest I really liked the look of it.
“I think it really does open up the game and we were able to see the differences of how it’s played now … and with the starting positions.
“It’s a far more exciting game I think.”
The trial conducted by Hawthorn and the AFL at Etihad Stadium provided an example of how the positioning of players would help reduce congestion.
“It certainly opens it up, there’s less numbers around the stoppages, less congestion and you’re able to move the ball more freely,” Dangerfield said.
“It’s certainly something I think we should seriously consider.”
Dangerfield wants the AFL to be the best sporting product in the country and said freeing the game of congestion is a key factor in achieving that.
“As players we’re not against any change,” he said.
“We want the game to be as good as it possibly can be.
“We’ve got to make sure the game is in a really healthy state and that it continues to be the most watched game in the country.”