AFL COACHES have agreed the deliberate rushed behinds rule needs to be tightened.

The issue was discussed at Friday's AFL Laws Summit, with work to clarify the rule to be done over pre-season.

It became controversial in 2016 when it was applied inconsistently, with the debate reaching fever pitch when Kangaroos defender Michael Firrito was penalised for handballing through the goals from the top of the goalsquare.

Several defenders previously had got away with rushing behinds despite being a long way from the goal and under little pressure.

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans told 3AW coaches and players would be further consulted during the off-season.

He said using the end of the goalsquare as a guide to determine what maximum distance would be acceptable for a rushed behind might be a solution, or it could be a shorter distance, depending on feedback.

However, Evans said coaches agreed that players with a clear possession who rushed the ball over the line should be penalised.

"One of the things we talked about was if you take clean possession and then have clean disposal over the line, we think you have had a opportunity to do something else and that will just be a clear deliberate," he said.

The deliberate out of bounds rule is expected to remain the same in 2017 as the AFL looks to bed down the interpretation after just one season.

There were five penalties awarded against players who deliberately rushed behinds in 2016, an increase on the previous season when there was just one given.

The rule was tightened after the 2008 Grand Final when Hawthorn rushed 11 behinds as it overcame the raging favourites, Geelong.

Clubs remain split on whether the third man up rule should be allowed at ruck contests.

Penalties awarded for deliberate rushed behinds

2016: 5

2015: 1

2014: 4

2013: 4

2012: 4

2011: 6

Stats supplied by Champion Data