AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has not ruled out the prospect of reducing the number of players in AFL games as the competition works to reduce on-field congestion.
Although transforming the game to 16-a-side was "incredibly unlikely" McLachlan said it was imperative the governing body trialled prospective solutions in a bid to improve the look and quality of games.
Fairfax Media revealed last week that St Kilda, Sydney and Geelong had experimented over the pre-season on the AFL's behalf with a number of trials involving zones along with fewer players on the field.
The zone trial involved starting positions which enforces some players to remain in the forward arcs at stoppages similar to what is being played in the national under-18 competition.
McLachlan said it was crucial to the ongoing debate being waged across the competition and specifically by the commission, coaches, supporters and the Laws of the Game Committee that all prospective solutions be tested by AFL clubs.
There remains a strong chance those trials will continue early next year in the pre-season competition.
Of the 16-a-side which underpins the new AFL Women's competition, McLachlan said of the prospect at AFL level: "I think that's incredibly unlikely but the ability to have a look at it is of enormous benefit and the best method to do that is with our clubs."
McLachlan refused to elaborate upon the prospect of a players' strike and played down concerns at club level that the current pay dispute with the AFL Players Association would hamper live contract negotiations.
"The TPP is set for 2017," he said.
"Philosophically I understand the players' desire to have a model which places them in partnership, with the competition but we need to reach a formula that works for both parties."
McLachlan has still not personally entered negotiations which are being run by league CFO Ray Gunston and players boss Paul Marsh. He would not comment on whether he believed the players' demands were unreasonable.
In a wide-ranging discussion looking at the game's priorities for 2017 McLachlan said:
* the decision to move the grand final to a twilight or night timeslot would "probably" come up at commission level in Sydney this week but that no decision would be reached;
* stressed he remained "very confident" the league would reach a new CBA deal despite the ongoing delays and current tension with the players;
* defended the AFL's handling and the 18-months the league took to reach a conclusion on the Lachie Whitfield affair but conceded there was room for improvement where integrity investigations were concerned;
* said he believed Etihad Stadium despite its current shortcomings remained the AFL's pivotal second playing arena in Melbourne and was "the long term future of football."
McLachlan added that the AFL's recently purchase stadium would not produce better match returns for clubs this season but said supporters would notice a significant change in the Docklands ground at the round-one St Kilda-Melbourne clash.
While the AFL continues to negotiate with the Victorian Government for funding towards a proposed $200 million renovation of the stadium and Docklands precinct McLachlan said: "there's a billion dollars invested here. You look at the sight lines and you look at the roof, apart from issues with the outer rooms this remains a great venue."
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