THE AFL has announced that an interchange cap of 120 rotations will be introduced for the next two seasons.
The 120 rotations is cumulated over the course of the match and is not divided up into quarters.
Clubs will be able to make unlimited changes between quarters.
The rotation will be set at 120 for the first two years followed by a review at the end of the 2015 season.
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ESSENDON are set to resume negotiations with the AFL today after no agreement was reached yesterday.
Regrouping at 11am, Essendon and the AFL will once again attempt to reach a mutual agreement on the charges the club will plead guilty to and the sanctions handed down.
Essendon senior assistant Mark Thompson told AFL 360 last night that the proposed sanctions would be the biggest in the league’s history.
“The fines and punishment the club are going to receive, it is quite severe,” he said.
“It is probably more severe than anything in history.
“No one has ever had their points taken off them. Draft picks as well. We have broken no rules or codes, no players have used prohibited substances.
“For us to accept what has been offered is being very generous and kind. (But) I will go back tomorrow and try to negotiate another deal.”
Meanwhile, Fairfax Media are reporting that player agents met yesterday where they were reminded of the legal avenues available to their Essendon clients.
Fairfax Media understand that several players are considering legal action due to concerns surrounding their health and well-being.
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THE MCG could host all four first-week finals after the AFL began making enquires about the feasibility of such a schedule.
News Limited are reporting that the AFL has received positive feedback from the MCC, who believe logistical issues could be overcome.
The only drawback would be that the early Saturday game would need to be pushed forward slightly while the night fixture would need to start at 8pm.
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WEST COAST defender Will Schofield has been ruled out for the season with a fractured cheekbone following an unprovoked assault in Geelong on Saturday night.
Schofield will not require any surgery.
Geelong detectives have interviewed a person interest surrounding the incident.
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LEIGH MATTHEWS will be part of Brisbane’s recruitment process for the club’s next coach.
Matthews, who is part of a rival ticket trying to overthrow the current board, was asked by the club’s football manager Dean Warren to be a part of the selection process, which would be free from board influence.
Matthews told News Limited that while he would still be apart of the competing board ticket, finding a new senior coach had to be the first priority.
“It is completely separate,” he said. “If I have got hopes of being involved in the footy club I’d like to be involved in getting the best possible coach.
“This definitely doesn’t alter the long term project.”
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ESSENDON veteran Dustin Fletcher looks likely to play on for another year.
News Limited report that the 38-year-old is determined not to let his career end with this saga.
Fletcher’s manager, Michael Quinlan, said that his client is in discussions with the club.
“He has every intention of playing next year,” Quinlan said. “There have been ongoing discussions between Dustin and the club about him playing on.”
Fletcher is currently tied with club champion Simon Madden on the club’s all-time games played list with 378 games, though will have to wait until next year to pass Madden after suffering a hamstring injury at training last week.
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COLLINGWOOD young-gun Brodie Grundy has been awarded the NAB AFL Rising Star nomination for round 22.
Taken with pick 18 in the 2012 draft, the ruckman has played beyond his years in the past few weeks as Collingwood continues it’s resurgence.
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ADELAIDE forward Taylor Walker has commenced running again with the the aid of an anti-gravity treadmill.
Walker tore both his ACL and LCL in his right knee during the club’s round 5 clash with Carlton.
Speaking to the club’s website, Walker said he would ease his way back into running.
“You’ve got to go week-by-week. When I do something new, for example running, my knee pulls up a bit sore. When I first started doing weights, I got a bit sore too but now it’s fine,” Walker said.
“They’re slow steps, but we’re getting there.”
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