The AFL Laws of the Game Committee has identified several rule changes to be trialled during the next NAB Cup/NAB Challenge/Ansett Cup or whatever we call it these days.

All meet the charter of the Laws of the Game Committee, which is to make changes for the sake of making changes.

Zones

To address the congestion occurring in the modern game, teams will be forced to have at least three players in their own half throughout the game.

Players can ‘tag’ in and out of their half by telling the field umpire they are swapping with a teammate.

After some paperwork is completed, the ‘primary zone coordinator’ will announce the switch by signalling to the ‘secondary zone coordinator’ who then lights a purple flare to notify the crowd and official scorers.

During the game, a team can earn ‘zone points’ to free a player from their half for a ten minute ‘power session’ where goals will count as triple.

We haven’t figured out how zone points will be awarded yet but it will probably be based on umpire voting based on haircuts and tattoos.

No Contact

Players will no longer be able to make physical contact with each other. This is not just tackling but during ruck contests, marking contests and stoppages.

Instead, players will place their cap (new equipment and marketing opportunity) on the ground and must have a foot on it during play.

When play stops, players can pick up their cap and run anywhere on the field within their zone, before putting their cap down before the whistle blows.

Instead of tackling, players can use angry staring, unless of course the ball carrier is currently ‘barley’.

Alpacas

To help broaden the AFL’s appeal in South America, every player will ride an alpaca.

The alpaca’s must also stay in their zones and be touching the players cap on the ground during play.

An alpaca cannot kick or eat the ball or the opposing team will be awarded a penalty shot at the vertical goal ring.

Trials so far have resulted in the deaths of several riders but importantly no alpacas have been harmed.

Negative Scoring

To provide a greater incentive to kick straight, new ‘negative’ point posts will be added at each end.

This means if you miss a behind it will go through the negative posts and take three points off your score.

There are concerns this could end Travis Cloke’s career.

Improper disposal

Players will be penalised if they just drop the ball in a tackle and don’t hand ball or kick the ball.

This is a radical idea and we don’t expect it to make the season proper.