The AFL Competition Committee have proposed at least six potential rule changes that will be put before the executive as the league moves to combat congestion.
The quest to rid the game of congestion has recently gained momentum among fans, players, clubs and media - but many are against the league making changes mid-season.
The committee proposed the changes at a meeting on Wednesday - but such changes will require approval from the executive and the commission before they can be introduced.
AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking remained tightlipped about what the six potential changes were, but revealed they could be trialled in AFL games this season - just as league CEO Gillon McLachlan mooted earlier on Wednesday.
MORE: Rule changes could be trialled this season, says McLachlan | Cripps signs three-year contract extension with Carlton
Hocking said the committee began with 45 possible rule changes, but had narrowed towards the options that wouldn't alter the game as a spectacle.
Additionally, Hocking said trials would first take place in state league games, saying competitions such as the VFL, SANFL and WAFL are "queuing up" to be involved.
"There’s really strong agreement as far as the next level... that would be our starting point, definitely," Hocking told reporters on Wednesday.
"The second-tier competitions, they're queuing up to actually trial the things that we're looking at.
"Whether it finds its way into an AFL match, that’s clearly a discussion for the commission at some stage."
Hocking said the proposed changes would be better described as "game adjustments", saying fans should take a "level of calmness" from the league's willingness to tackle congestion.
"It's important the fans understand that they should take a level of calmness away from these interviews and these discussions," Hocking said.
"We're not looking to drop things into the game that are going to upset the rhythm of the game."
Alongside Hocking on Wednesday, Swans chief executive Andrew Ireland said Sydney and Brisbane had agreed to trial the changes during their upcoming NEAFL games.
Conjecture rose after McLachlan suggested 'dead rubber' AFL-level games could be used as test runs - including last-placed Carlton's games against Fremantle (round 21) and Western Bulldogs (round 22), as well as the round 22 game between Gold Coast and Brisbane.
No, no and no again. If there are to be changes as profound as are being spoken of, use the VFL next year for entire season as a testing ground. Don't use a tiny sample, but more importantly, don't shift the goalposts during the course of an AFL season! Really bad idea. https://t.co/PZlDH4ZtMv
— Rohan Connolly (@rohan_connolly) July 25, 2018
However, many have argued that there is no such thing as a dead rubber, with many fearing the draft order could be compromised.
While Carlton look certain to finish with the wooden spoon and thus receive the No. 1 draft pick, just four points separate the 14th-placed Bulldogs from 17th-placed Suns on the ladder.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon was concerned his club would be used as "guinea pigs" for a trial of the proposed rule changes.
"We're a proud footy club - as Carlton are - and we'd like the competition to continue for the rest of the year as we started it," Lyon told 3AW on Wednesday.
"But we also understand the challenges and the desire to make the game as great as it can be, and it's in the hands of the custodians and the AFL, they govern the game.
"If they deemed it appropriate, we would acquiesce, but I think we'd have a bit of protest about it."
