Interchange restrictions on the cards

[one-eyed]

Bench restrictions are on the cards
By Samantha Lane
The Age
August 21, 2005

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has forecast restrictions to the interchange bench in a bid to reduce collision injuries.

Demetriou said yesterday that the league wanted players to be more exhausted so they would not hit each other with such force. AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson is examining ways of doing that, with one suggestion being to limit the number of interchanges in a match.

"It is the subject of a discussion we are having at management next week because the interchange is one area that will be seriously reviewed," Demetriou told radio station 3AW.

"That will be along the lines of the four on the interchange and whether they are all going to be interchange or whether there will be two reserves or three reserves or how many interchanges.

"Because there are a number of rotations, what we are seeing is the players are just as fit . . . at the end of the game as they are at the start of the game. It is causing the game to be played at breakneck speed."

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/08/21/1124435187244.html

[one-eyed]

22 August 2005   
Herald Sun
Trevor Grant

Wallace also said he was against a push by the AFL to restrict the use of the interchange bench, as flagged by Demetriou at the weekend.

"I'd almost like more interchange, not less," Wallace said. "I think it's very difficult with a four-man interchange to carry an extra ruckman in the competition.

"We don't offer enough opportunity for our tall players to play the game. We give a kick-start to opposition sports like basketball with tall players.

"I've been wanting a spot on the bench where you may have a spot specifically for a ruckman, so we could add some extra taller players, not limit or diminish that opportunity."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,16336683%255E19771,00.html

[mightytiges]

If they were going to change the interchange rules to make players stay out on the ground longer and get tired then wouldn't the obvious thing be to place a limit on the number of interchanges allowed. That way the coach has to choose wisely with his changes during a game.