Former Richmond coach Danny Frawley wants rules introduced in community level women’s football all over the country to protect those who haven’t played the game before.

Frawley is worried inexperienced players could get hurt by those with a greater knowledge of the game.

“We’re in a generational gap at the moment and we’ve got a cocktail of girls that have actually played the game and been brought up with the game and half the team who haven’t played at all,” Frawley told SEN Breakfast.

“I was looking at the AFL Masters Victorian Metropolitan Superules Football League, no knees, no sling tackles, no hitting of the arms, no knees in marking contests.

“No pinning of the arms and no kicking in danger, if we eradicate those three or four things, it’s going to be a great, safe environment.

“At the moment, community football for girls is one of the least safe environments for your daughter to go and play because of the disparity of those that have played and those that haven’t.

“I really fear there’s going to be some serious injuries unless we modify the rules for the girls for first timers.

“We’re talking champion netballers, champion soccer players, champion basketballers, but there’s no contact, so we have to understand there’s a generational gap here for those that haven't grown up with the game.

“It’s no one’s fault, we’re just in a generational gap here.”

Frawley looks to the AFL Masters Victorian Metropolitan Superules Football League and the rules they’ve introduced to protect players.

These are the rules he wants introduced for community women’s football:

*“A free kick shall be awarded against any ruckman who raises his knee or leg against his opponent when contesting any ruck knock.”

“The player in front of the pack competing for a mark is to be given every protection and opportunity to take the mark. Any unnecessary or deliberate interference by an opponent player/s in attempting to mark or prevent the player in front of the pack from taking the mark shall result in a kick being awarded to the player in front of the pack. The interference could take the form of a knee or boot being put into a player’s body.”

“All players making the ball their objective are to be given the utmost protection by the umpire.”

“Any contact other than a legal side bump or legal tackle (between knee and shoulder) shall be deemed unduly rough play and a free kick awarded.”

“Charges (shirt front) are banned irrespective of ball proximity. A charge means an act of colliding with an opposition player where the amount of physical force used is unreasonable or unnecessary, irrespective of ball proximity.”

“Slinging players to the ground, whether the player is in possession of the ball or not is illegal and shall result in a free kick being awarded or if it happens after the ball has been disposed of, a free kick shall be awarded down the field where the ball lands.”

“Late contact, in any form, when the ball has been disposed of, will result in a relayed free kick being paid down the field.”*