There will be three new rules for the 2013 AFL season, however a change to the interchange system will not be one of them.

The AFL Commission rejected a proposal from the Laws of Game Committee to cap interchange rotations for season 2013, and the current three interchange and one substitute system with unlimited interchange, which has been in place since 2011, will remain.

It was widely expected that an interchange cap or changing to a two interchange and two substitute system in 2013, and whilst the Commission agreed in principle with the recommendation, it was decided to further analyse data over another season using the current system.

There will be another trial of interchange capping during the 2013 NAB Cup.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said the AFL Commission had acknowledged the merit of putting a cap on interchange numbers to address a number of issues, but on balance felt that further data and analysis was required.

The Commission is an independent body that takes a ‘big picture’ approach in overseeing the Laws of our game and it has decided to assess another season with the current interchange rules in place plus review the further trial of a cap in the 2013 NAB Cup before deciding whether to implement a change, Mr Demetriou said.

This decision demonstrates the important oversight role the AFL Commission plays and underlines the robustness of the governance arrangements that apply to all significant long-term decisions affecting how our game is played.

The Laws Committee did make a further three recommendations to the AFL Commission which were approved.

As expected, the rule surrounding forceful contact below the knees, which was bought to a head when young Sydney Swans player Gary Rohan suffered a horrific leg break when an opponent had slid into his leg contesting the ball, has been tightened up.

A free kick will now be awarded against any player who makes forceful contact below the knees of an opponent (this does not apply to smothers with the hands or arms).

The umpires will also no longer bounce the ball at a stoppage during play. The only time the bounce will be used is at the start of each quarter and the centre bounce after a goal has been scored, in a move designed to enable the ball to be cleared from congestion quicker.

And after a trial during the 2012 NAB Cup, the separation of ruckman at stoppages will be bought into the season proper. No contact will be permitted until the ball has left the umpire's hand, which is designed to allow for a greater likelihood of the ball being cleared.