Dwayne Russell has urged the AFL to consider making smaller rule changes in the future.
The minor alteration Russell wants is making tackling and tagging “less important” in a bid to guard against congestion and make the game a better spectacle.
“I think there is an opportunity for the AFL to get what I would term an accumulation of marginal gains, and that is make some small changes that might end up being the right changes, as opposed to making a big change,” Russell told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“I think that one of those is to actually make it harder to tackle, harder to tag, free kicks against guys not looking at the ball but looking at the man.
“I would think that that is one movement in making tackling and tagging less important and tougher to do.”
Jake Niall, The Age’s chief AFL writer, doesn’t think tackling is a skill fans go to the footy to see.
“It’s a different game, there are parts of the game that are far better. The tackling is better, the hand skills in close are just incredible,” Niall said.
“I don’t think tackling is a skill that’s essential of Australian Rules Football. I don’t think it’s a skill that I revel in.
"The coaches do but I don’t think the fans do. I think it’s high marking, goalkicking, skills, evading players, brilliant use of the ball, a contest where two players are competing for the ball.”