AFL bosses scrap rule that's never been used in a game

The AFL has dumped its 'golden score' rule to decide tied finals and grand finals without it ever being called into action.

The league announced on Wednesday that in the event of a drawn final or grand final, two three-minute halves of extra time would be played, with further extra-time periods to continue until there was a winner.

Under the so-called golden-score rule, adopted in 2015, two five-minute halves of extra time would have been played in that scenario.

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The second period of extra time would have continued without a siren until one of the teams scored a goal or a point to break the deadlock.

The changes, ratified at this week's AFL Commission meeting, will also apply to the AFLW competition.

Under the changes to the extra-time rules, any starting position (6-6-6) warnings from umpires are reset for each period.

Ten extra interchanges will also be allowed for the men's competition, with no cap enforced in the women's league.

Just three AFL-VFL grand finals have ended in a tie, the last in 2010 when Collingwood drew with St Kilda, with each grand final decided by a replay.

There has been no change to drawn home-and-away matches with sides to continue to split the premiership points.

The Commission also voted for recommended tweaks to the match review and tribunal process on Monday.

Among the changes, decisions made by the match review officer will be communicated 24 hours after each game and the league will be stricter with penalties for players who are involved in melees, particularly at quarter or half-time breaks.