The AFL is seriously considering a radical change to the game's scoring system which would allow a goal when the ball hits a goalpost.

The proposal, which could become law in time for next season, would allow a goal when the ball hits the post and travels over the goalline.

A behind would also be awarded when the ball hits the behind post and passes the behind line.

Currently a ball which hits the goal posts and bounces through is counted as a behind, with a ball that hits the behind post ruled out of bounds.

If the law is approved by the AFL Commission when it decides on a possible raft of rule changes in October, it would be a radical shift in a scoring system which has remained fundamentally the same since the old Victorian Football League was formed in 1897.

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said the proposal was up for discussion as one of seven possible law amendments for 2011.

He said the main advantage of changing the rule was that it would reduce goal umpiring errors.

"It's a proposal to get feedback on, it was a late inclusion and we hope it will reduce goal umpiring errors," Anderson said on Wednesday.

"A significant number of errors relate to where the ball just snicks a post.

"This proposal was raised as one idea to reduce any scoring errors that may occur, and purely leave the decision to the (goal) umpire as to whether the ball has completely crossed the line or not."

The best recent example of a mistake was Geelong forward Tom Hawkins' goal in last year's grand final, which clipped a post but was missed by the goal umpire and incorrectly ruled a six-pointer.

But there would be no change to the current rule in which a behind is called when the ball hits a goalpost and bounces back into play.

Almost certain to change for next season is the AFL interchange rule, with three proposals being discussed to replace the current four-man unlimited interchange in 2011.

They are a three interchange-one substitute player system, two interchange players and two substitutes, or capping the number of interchanges at 80 per match.

Anderson said it was highly likely one would be introduced, but the final decision would rest with the AFL Commission.

He said the number of interchanges was significantly increasing injuries, affecting the fairness of the game, and creating too much on-field congestion during matches.

"Doctors are saying to us the biggest risk is doing nothing at all," Anderson said.

"The advice we've received is `don't wait until it's too late'.

"The recommendation is one of those three (proposals) will be introduced."

Other possible changes up for debate include reducing the length of quarters as well as quarter, half and three-quarter breaks.

Anderson said pulling back the length of quarters to between 29 and 30 minutes even including time-on, and having two minutes less for the halftime break, and one minute less for the quarter and three-quarter time breaks were also on the agenda.

The proposed changes were now all up for discussion, with the Laws of the Game committee to hand its recommendations to the AFL Commission for a decision by October.

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