Tayla Harris of the Demons celebrates a goal during an exhibition game last year. Credit:Getty Images "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. The AFL will experiment further with the 'last touch' rule in women's footy by trialling it in the upcoming second round of the AFL's women's exhibition match series. The 'last touch' rule is being trialled in men's competition this year in the South Australian National Football League.

Tayla Harris takes a strong mark during the game. Credit:Michael Dodge 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. Peta Searle, St Kilda's trailblazing female coach who in a previous football life directed Victorian women's football powerhouse Darebin to five consecutive premierships and also played in five, told Fairfax she does not like reduced quarter length. Searle – who favours 20 minute terms played by 18-players-a-side - said the only rule trail that really appeals to her of those to be trialled in the Northern Territory women's series was the 'last touch' rule. "I don't like 15 minute quarters at all. Only because I think it's too short," Searle said. "The game is about momentum and in 15 minutes there's not enough time for momentum swings to occur.

"16-a-side is a positive if you're going to play on smaller grounds, it will also help if there are any concerns around depth." Meg Hutchins, widely considered the best defender in the Victorian Women's Football League and recently employed by Collingwood as its female football boss, likes the 'protected area' rule - "I think it promotes fast play" - but not the 'last touch' rule or reduced length of quarters. "I don't like the last touch rule at all. As a defender I like punching towards the boundary...and I think the boundary throw-in is part of the essence of the game as well," she said. "I'm not really a fan of 16 players a side...and 15 minute quarters: are we trying to make it AFL 9s? We play 25 minute quarters in the VFL women's competition and every other women's comp in Australia plays 20 minute quarters." Craig Starcevich, Collingwood premiership player turned female football high performance boss at AFL Queensland and coach of the Western Bulldogs women's team last year, likes the 16 players-a-side idea - "it will mean more run and carry, open spaces ... and hopefully less stoppages," he said.

Like Searle and Hutchins, Starcevich is not a fan of 15-minute terms: "20 flat I can live with, but not 15". The Northern Territory women's "Lightening Series", with a naming rights sponsor in TIO, starts next month and will be a seven-round exercise featuring four teams: Crows red, blue, white and yellow. As the AFL refines its women's league plans for next year the series – and particularly the rules being trialled – will be closely monitored. The 'high density' rule, similar in concept to what is seen at TAC Cup level, will mandate that two forwards and their opponents must remain inside their 50-metre arcs at all stoppages. The 'protected area' rule, introduced to elite men's AFL competition this year, will enforce a space of 10 metres around the mark.

The 'last touch' rule will see a free kick paid against a team for any kick or handball that goes out of bounds without being touched. AUSSIE RULES, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT 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. WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE TRIAL RULES "Womens 'footy' is over before it begins." – Chris Lang Jr.