For the 2011 season, the players, rather than the umpires, will decide whether play should continue after a free kick has been paid.
But a number of clubs have recently queried what happens when a player takes the advantage, but the siren sounds before he can dispose of the ball.
When this happened in previous years, the ball was brought back for the player to take the free kick.
"The spirit and intention of the new rule was to put the advantage decision solely in the hands of the player," AFL umpires manager Jeff Gieschen said.
"If a player takes the advantage and the siren sounds, the advantage stands. The ball will not be brought back."
