Coaching duo open to change on rules

AFL coaches Brad Scott and John Worsfold say they are open to introducing considerable rule changes if they are successfully trialled.

Essendon and North Melbourne slammed on 35 goals between them yesterday as the Bombers prevailed by 17 points in one of the most entertaining and free-flowing matches of the season. It capped an unusually highscoring round, with both sides scoring more than 100 points in three of the nine games.

The AFL is set to weigh up major rule changes at season’s end to fix the congestion problems and scoring woes that have plagued football.

Scott said some rule tweaks could enhance the game.

“We are at a point where we have got to at least investigate opportunities to make the game look better,” Scott said.

“We shouldn’t be fooled into thinking it [yesterday’s game] was [open].

“That happened to a certain extent, but both teams were still able to manipulate numbers around the contest and behind the ball. If you take away that option from a coaching group, you know, potentially a lot more games will look like it did today.

“So I think it’s really worth looking at.”

Worsfold also said he favoured change, but only if the league “practised it first” in pre-season or at a lower level.

He said previous rule changes — such as the introduction of a centre square — had worked well.

“Don’t have your head in the sand and say because it’s always been that way that will always be the best way, so I’m open to explore change,” he said.