THE AFL has suggested that the contentious hands-in-the back rule would be better umpired with a fourth field umpire.

But AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou also cast doubt on whether a fourth umpire would be introduced in time for the 2008 season.

Demetriou said last night that hands-in-the-back was one of "a few rules" that might be more accurately umpired with an extra field umpire.

"By extension and logic, if you've got an additional umpire at the ground, it's more likely that he'll pick up infringements of any nature," Demetriou said.

"That's probably due to the fact you've got four on the ground that cover more ground and in better position. They'll see probably 25 per cent more than they're seeing at the moment because they're more of them.

"That (hands-in-the-back) is another infringement that there's more likelihood of picking up. I mean, you know, they'll probably pick up more taggers that infringe, they'll probably pick up … things off the ball, retardation of players."

However, Demetriou said that the new interpretation — much criticised by coaches for the inability of umpires to detect infringements consistently — was only one of a few decisions that might accelerate the introduction of a fourth umpire.

The league boss said his "gut feel" was that there would not be a fourth umpire by 2008, though this was still to be decided, and the league had not made a decision.

Demetriou has made it clear that a fourth umpire is certain at some stage in the future because of the game's increased speed, with the AFL still assessing its four-umpire trial.

The initial feedback from umpires has been that the trial was highly successful.

Demetriou said the hands-in-the-back interpretation reinforced the need for the four-umpire trial. "As an extension, now we've got the hand-in-the-back interpretation, that just, you know, probably reinforces why they're doing the trial."

The AFL's general manager of football operations, Adrian Anderson, said the umpires' feedback was that the rule was now easier to adjudicate, but that it was difficult for them to be in the right position to make the correct decision.

"Like any decision, it helps if they're in good position. What the umpires have told us is that the rule makes it easier for them to adjudicate because it's black and white … the umpires think it makes their job easier, but as you say, it's hard for them to always be in the right position.

"Even with four umpires they wouldn't always be in the right position … we've got to debate that before we consider whether we go down that track."

Anderson said the report would have to be closely examined "before we even consider it in home and away".