Player manager proposes changes to tackling rules

Player agent Peter Jess has suggested blindside tackles should be banned to improve player safety.

Following the retirement of Justin Clarke due to the ongoing effects he suffered after a concussion, Jess said that if the league is serious about improving player safety, it must change the rule around tackling.

"If we are going to have a gold standard for health and safety we have to limit the number of dangerous collisions and make changes to the rules to make it safer," Jess told News Corp.

"The first thing is to outlaw the blindside tackle, where someone gets hit (when they have) no vision for, or is not ready for, the tackle.

"We know long-term if we don’t have rules in place then the damage will continue."

Clarke is one of five AFL players who have retired due to the effects of concussion over the past two seasons, with Brisbane's Matt Maguire, Geelong's Sam Blease, North Melbourne's Leigh Adams and Adelaide's Brent Reilly all recently pulling the pin on their careers.