AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has revealed there are ongoing discussions to potentially trial new rule changes in games this season.
Rule changes have been the ongoing theme of the 2018 season and McLachlan has given the biggest indication yet that they are almost certainly coming in sooner rather than later.
When asked about the potential of trialling proposed rule changes this season, McLachlan stated discussions are taking place.
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“Certainly thinking about it,” McLachlan told SEN's Whateley.
“I can tell you that there’s three fixtures on consecutive weekends that I don’t think will have any bearing on the eight.
“I know enough to know that there’s fixtures that are available where we could do it.
“We’re certainly discussing it, whether that’s appropriate, the emerging view is that it is."
When it comes to the clubs involved, McLachlan said they would need to agree, but only with the clubs participating and not the whole league.
“You would need them to agree and buy into it and to have a look at it," he said.
“It’s something that’s being discussed.
“I don’t believe there’s any impact on the other clubs.
“If you trialled something between the two clubs and they weren’t playing another team that’s competing for the eight, I don’t think there’s any way it could be a risk to the integrity of the competition.”