SUSPENDED Swans star Adam Goodes says he backs the system that will this year prevent him from winning a third Brownlow Medal.
Goodes entered an early guilty plea to a charge of rough conduct in the match against West Coast in round 11.
He escaped suspension - but by pleading guilty, he became ineligible to win the Brownlow.
Goodes sat out last night's match against Collingwood after taking the early plea after again being charged with rough conduct, this time against Melbourne.
He spent last week whale-watching on the NSW south coast. But he was not bitter, despite having his run of consecutive games cut at 204.
He said the system was fair and the Brownlow rules should remain unchanged.
"I think it definitely should [remain]," Goodes said. "I don't think you can go back in history and all those guys who have been suspended for a week for tripping or something like that you aren't going to give them a Brownlow.
"I think the rules are pretty good and this year I haven't abided by them," Goodes added. "On three occasions I was reported. The demerit points is a good system. You can take an early plea and if you've got a good record c unfortunately, I just had too many points."
¡ The man who built the Brisbane Bears squad believes the Gold Coast will have big trouble enticing uncontracted players of note to the new club and that generous draft concessions won't be enough to guarantee a competitive roster, Emma Quayle writes
Shane O'Sullivan, football manager when the Bears started in 1987, said it was critical that the club appointed the right recruiting manager.
Under proposed concessions, GC17 would have access to 10 uncontracted players but O'Sullivan said just to lure one big-name player would be a massive achievement.
"To be bluntly honest, if they don't give them something good then it's going to be really hard for them," he said.
"I know when I got the job in Brisbane I thought people would be jumping all over us to come up, but it wasn't the case."
The AFL has announced that the Gold Coast will be able to pre-sign 20 local teenagers over the next three years and that players who opt out of those drafts will be paid between $60,000 and $70,000, but O'Sullivan tipped the best of the crop would want to take their chances before then.
He also thought it important that Michael Voss, should he be appointed as coach, seek experience elsewhere first.