Radical women's footy rule trial could be a game changer for the AFL"The modified rules to be trialled in women's lightning series
1. 16 players a side
2. 15-minute quarters, no time on
3. Last touch rule: Free kick awarded against a team for any kick or handball that goes out of bounds without being touched. A player who spoils the ball, picks up the ball and carries it over the boundary line or taps the ball over the line will not be penalised – as long as she is not regarded as taking the ball out of play deliberately.
4. High density rule: Two forwards and their opponents must remain inside 50 at all stoppages.
5. Protected area: Size of the protected area around the mark to be 10 metres, while umpires will also give a stricter adjudication on ruling on players engaged in a handover of who is guarding the mark."
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Applauded by AFL football operations boss Mark Evans as a progressive trial relevant to all levels of men and women's football, the rule changes aim to increase game speed, flow and scoring.
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"It just might be that through a trial like this we could find that there's a better way to play football in the future," Evans told Fairfax Media.
"These sorts of trials are a brilliant opportunity not just to see what works for the female's game but also as an extension of some of the work we've been looking at around the country for all football."
The rule modifications pioneered by AFLNT and female footballers in the top end have been written and developed in consultation with the AFL.
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The 'last touch' rule is being trialled in men's competition this year in the South Australian National Football League.
On the matters of team size and quarter duration however, Fairfax understands the AFL still envisages the national women's competition beginning in 2017 featuring 18 players a side and 20-minute terms without time-on.