Former Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch has questioned which AFL coach will blink first, after the stunning restoration of the game which has seen consistent high scores through the first few rounds.
Leppitsch told SEN's Crunch Time that while the game has been aesthetically pleasing to watch following the rule changes over the last three years, there will be coaches that will look to take control back.
“It’s going to be interesting to see in the next few weeks, which of the coaches starts to flinch,” Leppitsch said.
“It is going to be (North Melbourne coach) David Noble? It’s great (he’s) playing an attacking style, but (they’re) being hurt so badly back the other way because they don’t have the talent of the other fast break teams.
“There’s going to be a certain coach that says this has gone too far.”
Rule changes such as the 6-6-6 starting positions, and now the stand rule have opened the game up and reversed the trend of congestion that was plaguing the league.
Gerard Whateley was full of praise for the AFL, admitting he thought the game was beyond repair.
“I think across three years, it’s nothing short of genius. I didn’t think the game could be restored the way it has been now,” Whateley said.
“I salute those who have returned the game, because this is not a one-year project.”