AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is confident the game is currently in excellent shape.

Fans have been critical this year of the umpiring and interpretations of new rules implemented by AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking.

However, the CEO feels all the numbers suggest things are heading in the right direction.

“We always have issues. I know that umpiring is topical at the minute. We’re working hard to make the umpiring as good as we can,” McLachlan told SEN’s Crunch Time.

“I can only look at the trends and the numbers. I look at the research, I look at the crowds, the only thing you can look at is the macro numbers to really know where everyone is at and right now, record crowds, record membership, record ratings, community football is strong.

“It doesn’t mean people don’t have issues with decisions or with what’s going on, but that’s all we can look to.”

McLachlan admitted however that the AFL needs to work on being more open with owning up to errors made by umpires.

“We, the AFL and the industry need to be better about that (owning up to errors). There’s technical interpretations all of the time and I think people want accountability,” he said.

“I thought last night was umpired very well and either way it had gone last night, people would’ve had issues.

"I think there is transparency there (with the umpires), but it's a very, very difficult business and we're here to support the umpires, but also we want the right communication with our supporters, I agree with that."

The AFL CEO also feels the new rules have improved the game, despite scoring being down.

“I see more space in the game. I think the scoring is neither here nor there,” he said.

“I think last night was a good game, 77 to 72, but it was a good game with more space and more flow. Just because 100 points wasn’t kicked, I think the rule changes have put some space in the game and I think people are liking it.”