Former Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams believes that reducing the amount of on-field players from 18 to 16 is the most simple method to combat congestion in AFL matches.

The 2004 premiership-winning coach says that the men’s game should follow the AFLW’s example in removing the two wing positions from both competing sides, rather than look to combat congestion around stoppages by the use of zones - which has been trialled by a number of AFL clubs in recent weeks.

Williams expects that more free-flowing, high-scoring football would occur with four less players on the field, a rule the former VFA competition also implemented between 1959 and 1992.

“I would just get rid of the wings and play 16-a-side. For me that’s the easiest thing,” the former Power coach said on SEN Afternoons.

“As soon as - at any training night - you don’t have as many players training, it is so much more open.

“If you take two off, it’s a lot easier to find full teams for juniors and at the same time it makes the game back to what we like. Flowing, goal scoring and you can’t flood back.

“I think it’s worthwhile seeing. I know the VFA did it and it seemed to do OK for them as well.”

Williams says that similarly to the AFLW, the interchange bench would be extended to six players to maintain the same amount of players involved in every game.

“You could play 22 (with six on the bench). People are getting no less pay, they are just not playing as long on the field,” he said.

Speaking on the AFLW more directly, Williams believes that the only issue the popular new women’s competition has is the lack of female coaches involved in the sport.

“Too many blokes are coaching them,” he said.

“We need to get some women coaching the women’s teams and I can’t see any reason why not. They need to have a pathway as well.”