Northey yesterday called on the Ballarat Football League to allow clubs from next season an additional interchange player for finals matches.

The Ballarat Football Club director of coaching said he also favoured a four-man bench throughout the regular season, but said the increased speed and intensity of finals made it particularly necessary as the season reached its climax.

He insisted the increased cost of a 22nd player was more than outweighed by the benefits.

''I think in finals you need to give supporters the opportunity to see the best football,'' Northey said.

''The injury factor in finals is also very high and the load players have, because it is a lot faster. Finals are mentally tougher and physically tougher, and everyone is going flat chat. Fatigue sets in, so it (an extra interchange player) is also a safeguard against players doing themselves

some harm.

''I do think clubs should look at it. They don't because of the cost. For me, player safety is more important than cost.''

The additional player would give coaches more options, Northey explained, and would allow a greater variety of footballer types playing from the bench.

''At the moment the interchange is used for rotating onballers on and off the ball. A fourth would give more options,'' he said.

''It could be a second ruckman, or a utility who play forward or back.''

Northey said while an extra player on the bench would mean an increase in player payments throughout the home-and-away season, it would not be an added expense for clubs during finals.

''We (Ballarat) don't pay players additionally to play finals,'' he explained. ''There is an allocation, and players earn points and get something based on points.

''I would say all players would be in favour of an extra player in finals.''