AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou has defended the AFL Commission against criticism by Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett that it knew "stuff all" about the game.
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Bartlett last month stood down from his long-standing role with the AFL Laws of the Game committee and voiced concern that Australian football would be swamped by soccer within two decades if the more boring aspects were not weeded out.
The commission rejected a recommendation by the committee to limit the number of rotations at 80 a game, setting the limit for 2014 and 2015 at 120.
Demetriou said on ABC radio he did not understand Bartlett’s criticism because there had been "only two decisions that the laws committee has put up that I can remember the commission has amended" during their respective times at the AFL. "I don't understand this issue that the commission is in control of the game, because they've upheld every single decision that Kevin’s been involved in," said Demetriou, who also sits on the commission.
"I've got total faith in the commission. Some of the commentary this week has been misguided. The chairman’s doing an outstanding job, the commission are reputable people, they upheld recommendations and they serve the game well."
