AFLPA vice-president Brett Burton says it’s time the AFL considered banning the centre bounce in favour of a fairer and easier throw-up.

Burton believes the bounce is more a showpiece of the umpire’s game, than the game itself, and should be done away with.

The debate over bouncing versus throwing was reignited on Saturday after North Melbourne was gifted a centre clearance and goal, late in the game against Collingwood. North Melbourne went on to win the game by a narrow margin.

“It makes sense to throw the ball up,” Burton said.

“The centre bounce certainly has some disadvantages when the ball goes the opposite way. I’m sure the umpires can throw it as high as they can bounce it.

“I think the bounce is just being left there for the umpires because it’s obviously a skill for them and they get to put their skills on display, but I can’t see why they need to keep the bounce, to be honest.”

Burton also supported the AFLPA’s suggestion of a 17-round season when the proposed Gold Coast team comes into the league in 2012.

The Birdman has experienced first-hand the disadvantages of playing for an interstate team and said, with each team facing-off only once, the playing field would finally be even.

“I think, just looking at it briefly, it would provide equality across the competition. Forever and a day we’re talking about how the interstate sides have to travel every second week and the Victorian sides, Collingwood, Essendon and these teams, are lucky if they travel interstate twice for the year,” he said.

“I think it will finally, if they go that way, provide equality- not that I’ll be around to play in it. I might be able to go and watch, but it will finally deliver a competition that is equal.

“You play each other once and then most teams will have to travel every second week like the interstate teams do. I think it would be fantastic for the competition.”

“The game is getting more and more physically and mentally demanding, so we’d certainly be looking to come back from 22 games and not go for more.”

Burton believed a 17-round season would also lead to a better quality of game.

“Obviously you’d have to weigh it up with the TV stations because they’re the ones that pay the money for the games and 22 games is better for them than 17, but it might make a healthier competition and get more people to the footy,” he said.

“Now, you have guys missing from week to week because the season is so demanding. We hang out for the mid-season break just so we can give the body a rest and go and get our injuries fixed.

“I think it would really help to produce a better competition and you would get your better players playing more regularly.”