PLAYERS may be given more opportunity to clear the 10-metre protected zone in 2017 to ensure pedantic 50-metre penalties are not paid. 

In consultation with clubs, the AFL is considering tweaking the rule so that players are only penalised if they remain in or enter the 10-metre exclusion zone after the opponent has drawn back from the mark. 

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans told AFL.com.au such a tweak was being discussed so players had a better chance to clear the area if they were inadvertently caught in the protected area when a free kick or mark was paid.

Evans is comfortable with the rule's intent to open up the space around the ball carrier and the effect it has had in eliminating double-manning of the mark, however he recognises it has been difficult for umpires to apply the rule consistently.

The problem umpires have faced is assessing the distance around the player with the ball when players are flying past at pace as they have so many other considerations when awarding a mark or a free kick, particularly if the player is between eight to 12 metres away from the opposition player with the ball. 

As a result, coaches have taken to telling players not to raise their hands if they find themselves within the protected area so they don't draw attention to where they have found themselves in relation to the ball carrier.

In round 20, four goals were scored from the six 50-metre penalties applied for invading the protected area.

In round 17, Hawthorn kicked a goal against the Sydney Swans on the three-quarter time siren when Kieren Jack was penalised for being in the 10-metre protected zone. The Hawks won the clash by five points.

There have been calls from some commentators to reduce the penalty for an infringement below 50 metres, but such a change is unlikely as history showed the 15-metre penalty was not a big enough deterrent to change player behavior.

Champion Data statistics shows that the use of the corridor has only increased marginally this season compared to last, with 30.4 per cent of play occurring through the corridor compared to 29.6 per cent in 2015.

Scores have only increased from 86.4 points per team per game in 2015 to 88.9 this season while 50-metre penalties have gone up slightly (from 1.85 to 1.92 per game).