5 On the Bench + Other Changes Introduced for 2026

[Section 5]

The first 4 changes i don't see the players having much of a problem adjusting to.

Ruck nominations
This will be interesting. No way to tell until it is enforced.
The wording in the article is not quite clear (to me anyhow).
I assume someone around the ball up area, has to put a hand up to ruck if your ruck appears to be too far away.
Your main ruck needs to hold his hand down if too far away to avoid confusion to players around the ball.
To put it another way your main ruck to refrain from putting arm up (nominating) if unlikely to make the contest in time.

One hand up only one can ruck. No hands up (nomination) no one can ruck and ball must hit the ground first.

Shrugging the tackle
On face value just another rule for umpire and fans for interpretation. Let's see what unfolds.

The stand rule
Pretty much back to how it was supposed to be interpreted.
Coaches found a way to not do it and got away with it for a few seasons. Slowly boiling the frog so to speak.

Started with just going back outside the five, then some slight coaching adjustments from that point.
Like a tall PKD or ruck would always move off the mark immediately if say his opponent a KPF or ruck marked the ball.
They then went straight back in defense to help out while forwards were one tall down
Then just waits for his opponent to kick it back to him.
Then it evolved to moving sideways. Still outside the 5 but more towards the center square to cut off the kick going into the center of ground to try and open up play.

This was one of the main reasons the rule was introduced in the first place to encourage opening up play.
This tightening up of that rule will favor teams like the Lions.

 

[ZoBlitz]

I have found it amusing watching the goal umps this season try to get whoever is playing at full forward and full back to please get in the goal square because they are inevitably dawdling back to their position.

 

[Tom14]

The first 4 changes i don't see the players having much of a problem adjusting to.

Ruck nominations
This will be interesting. No way to tell until it is enforced.
The wording in the article is not quite clear (to me anyhow).
I assume someone around the ball up area, has to put a hand up to ruck if your ruck appears to be too far away.
Your main ruck needs to hold his hand down if too far away to avoid confusion to players around the ball.
To put it another way your main ruck to refrain from putting arm up (nominating) if unlikely to make the contest in time.

One hand up only one can ruck. No hands up (nomination) no one can ruck and ball must hit the ground first.

Shrugging the tackle
On face value just another rule for umpire and fans for interpretation. Let's see what unfolds.

The stand rule
Pretty much back to how it was supposed to be interpreted.
Coaches found a way to not do it and got away with it for a few seasons. Slowly boiling the frog so to speak.

Started with just going back outside the five, then some slight coaching adjustments from that point.
Like a tall PKD or ruck would always move off the mark immediately if say his opponent a KPF or ruck marked the ball.
They then went straight back in defense to help out while forwards were one tall down
Then just waits for his opponent to kick it back to him.
Then it evolved to moving sideways. Still outside the 5 but more towards the center square to cut off the kick going into the center of ground to try and open up play.

This was one of the main reasons the rule was introduced in the first place to encourage opening up play.
This tightening up of that rule will favor teams like the Lions.

The stand rule change is very stupid though - they could ahve just enforced the existing rule and cracked down on the sideways crab walking the pies did to block off quick inboard kicks.

Good article from Michael Gleeson and I have to say Swanny's argument about how it will work is not convincing at all!

The AFL announced seven rule changes. One is absurd

Under the new stand rule, any player within five metres of a player who is paid a mark or a free kick must stand.

www.theage.com.au

The ball falls straight to ground and a pack falls on it. Zach Merrett is held without the ball. The whistle blows, but the umpire isn’t sure which way to point. Which side is Merrett on? He didn’t do the toss earlier.

Another ump calls out “stand”. Three Hawthorn players have run to defence, one stands.

The ump calls “50”.

“What for?” a Hawk squawks.

“I called stand.”

“But he stood,” he says pointing to his ram-rod straight teammate who had, in fact, stood.

“You all had to stand.”

“What? All of us?”

“You heard me, Day.”

That is the new stand rule as it is written and released on Wednesday. A player – any player – within five metres of a player who is paid a mark or a free kick must stand.

It does not specify the closest one – and besides, which player is to decide who is closest? – and it does not say a single player, it says players inside the five-metre protected zone.

So if a free is paid in a pack, all players on the offending team must theoretically stand and not run forwards.

Likewise, if a pack flies for a mark and one player comes down with it. All opposition players must stand.

This is patently absurd and clearly not the intention of the rule. But it is how it is written.

Explaining the new change, Greg Swann said: “If they are in the vicinity, some bloke will stand on the mark, and the umpires can call, ‘Hey Pete, you’re on the mark or whatever’. I think that’s easily umpired.

Footy fans can expect to see more players standing the mark in games next year. In fact, any opponent within five metres of a mark or free kick is expected to stand.

“The players will adjust to it. Having been not long coming out of [a] club, [I know] it’s amazing how quickly they do adjust to whatever rule changes. The coaches drum it into them. We have umpires come out and practise it. They’ll probably have all this under control by Christmas.”

Magnificent optimism.

The video attending the rule-change announcement, which was probably the most critical change announced, didn’t countenance multiple players within the five-metre zone and how that would be policed.

It explained that if a single player was within the five-metre zone, they no longer had the choice to back out of the zone and instead must just stand. The design is to better favour the player with the ball being able to play on and get the game moving, which is meritorious.

You can understand what they want here, but they can’t find the words to explain it.

Given there is now no option of not standing or moving out of the zone, it has not anticipated what to do in the confusing scenario of multiple players trying to flee the scene.

Do they all stand? If not, which one?

Pity the player who thought the umpire meant for him to stop when, in fact, the instruction was meant for a teammate, and so he lets his opponent run merrily away. He’ll have to sheepishly scuff his way to the bench for a very understanding debrief with the coach, explaining like a guilty kid, “the ump told me to”.

Or just as bad, the player who assumes the ump meant his teammate had to stand, so he runs off, thus giving away a 50-metre penalty and shot at goal.

There are going to a lot of very stupid 50m penalties awarded until they re-interpret this rule 5 weeks into the season.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

I detest 50m penalties for standing the mark / exclusion zone 'technical' infringements a la Fletcher on Blicavs in the 4th Q of the GF.

Either it didn't impact the player with the ball in any way, shape or form.
Or the umpires get it plain wrong like the Zorko one standing on the mark in the 2024 GF.

And if the player marking the ball is running or diving it's pretty random where the umpire decides to set the mark and the opposing player has no way of knowing in real time where exactly that's going to be.

The stand rule change is very stupid though - they could ahve just enforced the existing rule and cracked down on the sideways crab walking the pies did to block off quick inboard kicks.

Good article from Michael Gleeson and I have to say Swanny's argument about how it will work is not convincing at all!

The AFL announced seven rule changes. One is absurd

Under the new stand rule, any player within five metres of a player who is paid a mark or a free kick must stand.

www.theage.com.au

There are going to a lot of very stupid 50m penalties awarded until they re-interpret this rule 5 weeks into the season.

 

[davemc_lions]

I detest 50m penalties for standing the mark / exclusion zone 'technical' infringements a la Fletcher on Blicavs in the 4th Q of the GF.

Either it didn't impact the player with the ball in any way, shape or form.
Or the umpires get it plain wrong like the Zorko one standing on the mark in the 2024 GF.

If it has no impact no 50m.. The whole jogging past as well why is there a protected zone.


The crabbing back so you do not have stand or the ruck making sure he gets out the way.
Should be closest player has to stand not go outside 5 or whatever just stand.
For that 50 closest player was Fletcher when he marked it

 

[Section 5]

Is it really 7 rule changes or a combination with the AFL's new interpretation of the existing rules.

We will have to wait till the AFL 2026 new rules booklet is released
Last disposal will require the actual rule written into the Laws of the Game.
The bounce taken out.

The way they were explained on the AFL site is not really the style on how official rules are written.
I have not gone through all of the changes but a couple of observations below.

Shrugging: This is now classed as "prior opportunity" and is now among the other examples the AFL have deemed "prior" over the years
Part of the prior rule is in Part B. They may change it, but it could fall under (b). Or they just add "shrugging" under (b)

1-1 DEFINITIONS

Prior Opportunity: a designation to a Player in Possession of the Football who:
(a) is balanced and steady; or
(b) attempts to evade or fend an opponent; or
(c) has taken a Mark or been awarded a Free Kick; or
(d) has driven their head into a stationary or near stationary opponent.

below is the other part of the prior rule.

18.6.2 Free Kicks - Holding the Ball: Prior Opportunity Where a Player in Possession of the Football has had Prior Opportunity, a field Umpire shall award a Free Kick if that Player does not Correctly Dispose of the football immediately when they are Legally Tackled.
...................................................................

Stand change: Once again i think it could be a change of interpretation of the previous interpretation in 2021.

(Taken from History of rule changes/interpretations: Date change 2021- The player standing the mark permitted minimal lateral movement before a play-on call. The defensive team no longer permitted to substitute the person standing the mark. A 50m penalty awarded for infringements.)

I think the rule (15.3 & 20.1 below) could stay as is.

Below the actual rules on "the mark" and "standing the mark".
I think Swanny explained it well enough. The umpire will call the correct player.

The rule as @ 2025
15.3 LOCATION OF THE MARK Where a field Umpire is of the opinion that a Player has taken a Mark, the field Umpire shall award the Mark to the Player at the location on the Playing Surface where the Mark was taken. This location on the Playing Surface is known as The Mark.

20.1 STANDING THE MARK AND THE PROTECTED AREA 20.1.1 Standing The Mark When a Player is awarded a Mark or Free Kick, one Player from the opposing Team may:
(a) stand on The Mark; or
(b) otherwise be directed by a field Umpire.

For the avoidance of doubt, all other Players from the opposing Team must be positioned behind The Mark or otherwise outside the Protected Area defined in Law 20.1.2.

 

[Pride of lions]

The shrug one is the one that will create more grey and confusion… not a fan. Should just be up to umpire discretion, not written as a rule.

One of the video examples the AFL used was Levi getting his head absolutely taken off by IQ in the prelim against the pies. Despite him lifting the arm, the tackle was already around his neck.

Video can be seen in the shrugging example on this link

Watch examples of the seven rule changes that will impact 2026

Ruck contests, the stand rule, and the 'last disposal' out of bounds rule are among a host of changes ahead of 2026

www.afl.com.au

I agree with you. That is a high tackle and has nothing to do with shrugging. Not sure what you are supposed to do when you are being thrown to the ground by the neck.

 

[Section 5]

The actual serious preseason is underway now and we will get some short game sims soon.

In my opinion 5 on the bench will be quite different for a lot of clubs until a pattern emerges.
I believe this could take 12 plus months for a pattern to emerge
A reasonably standard bench for most teams has previously been:
1 midfielder, 1 defender, 1 forward and the 4th usually a mid/forward or a pure midfielder. Occasionally a 2nd ruck.

At the start of the year, we will be without:
Moved to another club or retired- Starcevich, Ah-Chee & McInerney
Injured until mid-season of 2026- Payne, Answerth, Hipwood
Ready preseason (we hope) but coming back from a long time out of the game- Coleman, McCarthy
Doedee being a separate category
Senior players new to the Lions but injury stricken. They should be ready by round 1- Draper & Allen.

Early in the season we likely run with 2 rucks to help Draper find his feet as the sole ruck at a new club.
We probably keep this going at least while we are winning games. Things could change fast though.
Our problem is we don't have a seasoned forward ruck unless they change Draper back to that role.

Changes from the GF side

Ruck- McInerney to Draper
Forward - Gallop - Allen
Sub now 5th bench player - Neale to Neale

EDIT - Bench - Reville (or Marshall) to Berry.
Forward - Ah-Chee to ??
Defender - Starcevich to ??
...............................................
EDIT - I see two (was 3) spots and maybe even 3 (was 4) with Marshall.

Likely replacements from these players with a few others an unknown quality. In A-Z order:
Annabel, Brain, Coleman, Doedee, Gallop, McCarthy, McKenna & Reville

My 3 very early guesses barring injuries and newbies having a standout preseason

EDIT - Bench - Reville to Berry or Reville retains spot (this is where i see Marshall being vulnerable)
Forward - Ah-Chee to McCarthy fingers crossed
Defender - Starcevich to Doedee with fingers crossed or Coleman also fingers crossed and if fit enough.

 

[lionshine]

The actual serious preseason is underway now and we will get some short game sims soon.

In my opinion 5 on the bench will be quite different for a lot of clubs until a pattern emerges.
I believe this could take 12 plus months for a pattern to emerge
A reasonably standard bench for most teams has previously been:
1 midfielder, 1 defender, 1 forward and the 4th usually a mid/forward or a pure midfielder. Occasionally a 2nd ruck.

At the start of the year, we will be without:
Moved to another club or retired- Starcevich, Ah-Chee & McInerney
Injured until mid-season of 2026- Payne, Answerth, Hipwood
Ready preseason (we hope) but coming back from a long time out of the game- Coleman, McCarthy
Doedee being a separate category
Senior players new to the Lions but injury stricken. They should be ready by round 1- Draper & Allen.

Early in the season we likely run with 2 rucks to help Draper find his feet as the sole ruck at a new club.
We probably keep this going at least while we are winning games. Things could change fast though.
Our problem is we don't have a seasoned forward ruck unless they change Draper back to that role.

Changes from the GF side

Ruck- McInerney to Draper
Forward - Gallop - Allen
Sub now 5th bench player - Neale to Neale

Bench - Reville to ??

Forward - Ah-Chee to ??
Defender - Starcevich to ??
...............................................
I see three spots and maybe even 4 with Marshall.

Likely replacements from these players with a few others an unknown quality. In A-Z order:
Annabel, Brain, Coleman, Doedee, Gallop, McCarthy, McKenna & Reville

My 3 very early guesses barring injuries and newbies having a standout preseason

Bench - Reville to Annable or Reville retains spot (this is where i see Marshall being vulnerable too)
Forward - Ah-Chee to McCarthy fingers crossed
Defender - Starcevich to Doedee with fingers crossed or Coleman also fingers crossed and if fit enough.

Berry needs to come into the grand final side so he potentially replaces Marshall. Kiddy will be back. Wouldn’t be surprised with a full pre season if McKenna forces his way back in, potentially into the Ah Chee role. Reville stays in for me.

Changes from grand final 2025 to opening round 2026 v Dogs.

In: Allen
Out: McInerney

In: Kiddy
Out: Starce

In: Berry
Out: Marshall

In: Draper
Out: Ah Chee

Team:

B Gardiner Andrews Wilmot
HB Zorko Lester Coleman
C Fletcher McCluggage Berry
HF Rayner Gallop Bailey
F Morris Allen Cameron
R Draper Neale Dunkley
I Ashcroft x 2/Fort/Reville/Lohmann

^You might see us go with 1 less tall but preferring 2 rucks meaning Gallop makes way for Draper, and Marshall, McCarthy, or McKenna get a spot on the bench, but not sure at this early stage. Pre season matches may tell us more.

Waiting in the wings: Marshall, McCarthy, McKenna, Doedee, H.Smith, Annable, Beecken, McLachlan, Tunstill, Brain, Joyce.

Injured but best 23 when fit/available: Payne, Answerth, Hipwood.

Absolutely stacked squad.

 

[mpal6]

Berry needs to come into the grand final side so he potentially replaces Marshall. Kiddy will be back. Wouldn’t be surprised with a full pre season if McKenna forces his way back in, potentially into the Ah Chee role. Reville stays in for me.

Changes from grand final 2025 to opening round 2026 v Dogs.

In: Allen
Out: McInerney

In: Kiddy
Out: Starce

In: Berry
Out: Marshall

In: Draper
Out: Ah Chee

Team:

B Gardiner Andrews Wilmot
HB Zorko Lester Coleman
C Fletcher McCluggage Berry
HF Rayner Gallop Bailey
F Morris Allen Cameron
R Draper Neale Dunkley
I Ashcroft x 2/Fort/Reville/Lohmann

^You might see us go with 1 less tall but preferring 2 rucks meaning Gallop makes way for Draper, and Marshall, McCarthy, or McKenna get a spot on the bench, but not sure at this early stage. Pre season matches may tell us more.

Waiting in the wings: Marshall, McCarthy, McKenna, Doedee, H.Smith, Annable, Beecken, McLachlan, Tunstill, Brain, Joyce.

Injured but best 23 when fit/available: Payne, Answerth, Hipwood.

Absolutely stacked squad.

Hopefully we get at least 1 more grand final in the next 2-3 years. What happens on that day would be out of our hands but just getting there is a big step forward.

Our squad is primed but I've also seen a side like Geelong being in the pointy end for nearly 10+ years and only one flag to show for during that time. Also Sydney, 4 grand finals lately but zero wins.

 

[Section 5]

Berry needs to come into the grand final side so he potentially replaces Marshall. Kiddy will be back. Wouldn’t be surprised with a full pre season if McKenna forces his way back in, potentially into the Ah Chee role. Reville stays in for me.

I had completely forgot about Berry being injured for the GF.
Rotten luck after playing 24 games and injured in the PF.
Thanks, i will edit my post slightly

 

[McLuggages]

Why we cutting Marshall? Kid looked great and will be better for the run and another preseason.

 

[Dalions]

Why we cutting Marshall? Kid looked great and will be better for the run and another preseason.

He will be the quiet achiever like a Simon Black type.
Once he gets his confidence at the level he will be unstoppable.

 

[martinson]

Why we cutting Marshall? Kid looked great and will be better for the run and another preseason.

Bookmark it. Marshall is going to be a gun. All the tools are there . Has all the tools and importantly a great work ethic.

I never understood the stand rule . Does anybody. Absolute blot on the game. We all know what they're trying to achieve so simplify it so it imposes a penalty when the possessor is thwarted from doing what he wanted to do. Don't over complicate it.

Anyone I speak to hates it.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

.....
I never understood the stand rule . Does anybody. Absolute blot on the game. We all know what they're trying to achieve so simplify it so it imposes a penalty when the possessor is thwarted from doing what he wanted to do. Don't over complicate it.

Anyone I speak to hates it.

Agree 100%
A truly vomit worthy blight

 

[Nathan Barley]

Why we cutting Marshall? Kid looked great and will be better for the run and another preseason.

Has potential but we have better options with a fully fit squad

 

[lionshine]

Why we cutting Marshall? Kid looked great and will be better for the run and another preseason.

Will be several players unlucky to miss out with a full squad to choose from but he will no doubt play plenty of games over the course of the season. FWIW I rate him very highly.

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Has potential but we have better options with a fully fit squad

Gosh, he's still 19 !
(at least for a few more days)
Shown plenty already in big games against quality opposition.
All relative, but reckon he's a little further down the road than 'has potential'.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Gosh, he's still 19 !
(at least for a few more days)
Shown plenty already in big games against quality opposition.
All relative, but reckon he's a little further down the road than 'has potential'.

Yes and we’re a ****ing good team

 

[Section 5]

I have never understood the angst over the stand the mark rule.
The stand the mark rule was never intended to be a defensive position until the umpire called play on.
However, that changed in 2020 but only for 1 season.
Then some leeway was given to players the following year. But coaches do what coaches do and decided they will just move players outside the protected zone to cut off any ball movement mostly inside, but it could also be outside or back from the mark.
This took a few seasons for most teams to do the same or at least do some of the time.
I am glad the AFL has made the change (interpretation) back to how the rule was intended. Probably don't have to change the rule at all.

The below "add on" to the standing the mark rule was included in the 2020 rules but was taken out in 2021.

20.1 (b) "move along a lateral line to the Protected Area defined in Law 20.1.2 without advancing beyond The Mark;"

20.1 (b) was to give the player on the mark some defensive leeway to move laterally and possibly force the kicker to kick down the line and restrict the ball going infield.

If your team fails to win the ball off the opposition, you pay a price.
That price is standing on the mark set by the umpire and not moving off that mark.
Just do that and there won't be any further penalty for not winning the ball over your opponent.

Modern teams like to play zone defense up to a certain part of the ground. Let's say to wing and slightly towards half back.
Playing that way is basically giving up possession barring an errant kick.
Teams try and win the ball back from that wing/half back position. Some teams are poor & others good at doing that.
If that's the way you want to play great, as that's not very defensive either for half the ground.
But it is a defense strategy for now, up until a coach breaks the mold

Existing Rule 20.1 below. This does not really need changing in my opinion.
The yellow highlight is enough to cover what the AFL wants to clamp down on.

Below from the AFL sites History of Rule Changes
A Player must stand if they are within the Protected Area (i.e., within five metres) when a Mark or Free Kick occurs.
.........................................................................................................