AFL to officially cap interchange rotations at 80 per game Jon Ralph and Michael Warner
From: Herald Sun
October 16, 2012 A CAP on interchange rotations looms large after a recommendation from the league's laws committee to introduce a 3-1 system with a limit of 80 rotations.
An announcement is expected today on what would be the second change to the AFL's interchange system in three years, with the combination of a substitute and cap widely tipped.
It would be a significant step for the AFL Commission not to rubber-stamp the Laws of the Game recommendation given the exhaustive research and consultation which went into the submission.
The league is expected to tighten the deliberate out-of-bounds and could introduce faster ball-ups at stoppages and a ban on ruckmen making contact before the ball leaves the umpire's hand.
An AFL executive seen to be desperate to introduce a 2-2 interchange system seemingly had a change of heart mid-season, despite a second season of escalating interchanges under the new 3-1 rule.
But the 3-1 system with a cap of 80 would allow the AFL to reduce rotations, while also giving players the same rest period per game.
Instead of players sprinting on and off the ground in frenetic rotations, they would have the same average rest time but broken up into bigger chunks.
Clubs canvassed on the potential move to a 3-1 system with a cap of 80 were yesterday eager to find out if they could also interchange players during quarter-time breaks.
A trial of capped interchanging several years ago included every player swap in the total interchanges, even those during breaks.
AFL clubs, players and sports scientists have railed against any changes, but at least a decision made today would allow clubs to structure their pre-seasons around any potential change.
The 80-interchange cap would favour one-paced endurance animals like Carlton's Brock McLean and Melbourne's Jack Trengove, but disadvantage burst players like Collingwood's Dane Swan.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/afl-to-officially-cap-interchange-rotations-at-80-per-game/story-e6frf9jf-1226496593490