MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 01: Zaine Cordy of the Bulldogs handballs whilst being tackled during the 2016 AFL Grand Final match between the Sydney Swans and the Western Bulldogs at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 1, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Port Adelaide premiership coach Mark Williams believes reducing the number of players on the field to 16-a-side will greatly reduce congestion and make the game a more attractive spectacle for fans.

The inaugural season of the AFL Women’s competition has seen the league remove the two wing position for both teams for a 16-per-side match and Williams says the same should be done for the men’s game.

“I would just get rid of the wings and play 16-a-side. For me that’s the easiest thing,” Williams said on SEN Radio.

“As soon as – at any training night – you don’t have as many players training, it is so much more open.

“If you take two off, it’s a lot easier to find full teams for juniors and at the same time it makes the game back to what we like. Flowing, goal scoring and you can’t flood back.

“I think it’s worthwhile seeing. I know the VFA did it and it seemed to do OK for them as well.”

However, Williams said the overall number of players selected on match day could still remain at 22.

“You could play 22 (with six on the bench). People are getting no less pay, they are just not playing as long on the field,” he added.