AFL announces additional rule adjustments for 2026 season
The AFL has unveiled a series of new rule changes intended to make games more streamlined and efficient while reducing unnecessary time extensions. In a bid to address the issue of progressively longer matches and minimize time-wasting, the league has introduced seven law interpretations. AFL football boss Greg Swann foresees game times being condensed by an estimated three to four minutes with these adjustments, as the duration of quarters has extended significantly, averaging over 35 minutes.
Additionally, there has been a decrease in the actual time the ball is in play during games in recent years, a phenomenon prompting the need for these rule alterations. One such change involves penalizing AFL players under the last disposal out of bounds rule, where a free kick will be given against the player with the final touch before the ball exits the field within the 50m arcs. This regulation aims to diminish ambiguity regarding the insufficient intent rule by defining the last-disposal out of bounds offense more clearly.
Despite these modifications, insufficient intent will continue to apply inside the 50m arcs. The AFL has also done away with the mandatory requirement for players to position themselves in the goal square during center ball-ups. Furthermore, competitors in ruck contests are now prohibited from crossing the center circle line or engaging with their opponent before the ball is contested. A player shrugging off a tackle will now be considered to have had prior opportunity, and individuals within the protected area (within five meters) must stand when a mark or free kick is awarded.
Moreover, players will now have a reduced timeframe of eight seconds, down from 12, to resume play after a behind is scored. The abolition of the necessity for players to nominate themselves for a ruck contest is deemed to have a significant impact, especially in eliminating time delays, such as waiting for ruckmen to position themselves for extended periods.
These rule alterations come on the heels of the AFL’s recent decision to eliminate the center bounce and the substitute player option, adding one extra player to the interchange bench. Swann is confident in the adaptability of players to these new regulations, having observed their swift adjustment to rule changes in the past. Coaches reinforce the modifications, and umpires practice the adjustments, ensuring that players will have a handle on these changes well before the Christmas break.