7 new rules - AFL Rule Changes for 2026

[PetterdHoisted]

As a Richmond fan of course you thought footy was exciting at the end of 2017. It really wasn't though, get the ball and lock it in with little prospect of getting it out cleanly wasn't exciting

Just that date as the beginning of the zone changes.

Footy could be scintillating
Risk taking, mad capped, when played at its best

Now it’s a staid exercise in transferring between safe zones

 

[dean33]

Why is a faster shorter game better? We really are falling into the American tik-tok 5 second attention span under 30 audience.
Does any other sporting code in the world change its rules on a consistent basis like the afl?
What a joke.

 

[JackFlash]

They used to say up North of the border "Aussie Rules, what rules"? Swann has made these changes because of previous rules they brought in over the past decade, what's next? Some are not bad though and the days of the lumbering ruckman are over, unless they are an athletic 200cm plus ruckman they will be found wanting. The only rule that bother me is the "shrugging" rule, this will be a nightmare to adjudicate. Still, i guess it gives Greg Swann something to look at as they the AFL are hell bent of playing this game at an express pace? They are not going to shorten QTRS so they are cutting out any excess during play.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

You can shrug, just make sure you dispose the ball.

That's how it's written - and if it's umpired that way it'll be good.

But I think what we'll see is an outlawing of shrugging as a tactic to break a tackle. Which I think is a negative for the game. Watching Matt Rowell judo twist his way out of consecutive tackles is awesome. And I like the test of strength between tackler and ball carrier that comes with it.

 

[Gibbke]

Rules are great. Make sense, good stuff.

Gotta admit, except for live Hawks games where the current scenario of me not missing too much game time when I go to the fridge will now be tighter, I watch nearly every match of each season all as the last five minutes of Kayo's edited short highlights, so the overall focus of reducing match time is kinda lost on me...!

 

[PetterdHoisted]

That's how it's written - and if it's umpired that way it'll be good.

But I think what we'll see is an outlawing of shrugging as a tactic to break a tackle. Which I think is a negative for the game. Watching Matt Rowell judo twist his way out of consecutive tackles is awesome. And I like the test of strength between tackler and ball carrier that comes with it.

Yeah good point

So basically if somebody tries and fails to tackle you, you are penalised

The death of the dont argue, as that is certainly the shrug of a tackle

Sad

Another ripper from the ‘brains’ at AFL house

 

[tiger_tough]

Hard to believe that not only have they kept the stand rule, but they've tightened it up.

****ing amateurs.

 

[glengowan]

• Remove the requirement for a Player to start in the Goal Square at each centre ball-up;

For the optics of the game, I like the look of the full forward/full back in the goal square at the beginning, but probably makes no difference.

• Introduce a Free Kick for the last disposal Out of Bounds in between the 50m arcs;

Good to introduce this rule, it works very well in the SANFL, but it shouldn't be limited to in between 50m arcs. Should be the whole field.

• At all centre ball-ups, a competing Ruck cannot cross the Centre Circle line and engage with the opposition Ruck, prior to contesting the football;

They seem to change this rule periodically. I thought it was changed last time because of knee injuries to ruckman? Again, doesn't really make a difference to the game overall, but I guess the more athletic ruckman will benefit?

• Around the ground, the Umpire may restart play without a nominated Ruck being present;

Good change!

• A shrug (in a tackle) will be deemed Prior Opportunity (i.e., as an attempt to evade or fend an opponent);

What exactly does this mean? Will we see players just accepting being tackled and a ball-up occur instead of trying to break out from one, and then being pinged holding the ball if the tackler holds on? Is this a rule to prevent extended play during a tackle to try and limit the amount of concussions that end up happening. Watching some of the old footage from 70's and 80's, they were super quick to call a ball up or holding the ball, so perhaps going back to that. Will be interesting to see how this is interpreted and can see it will be very frustrating to watch.

• A Player must stand if they are within the Protected Area (i.e., within five metres) when a Mark or Free Kick occurs;

Again, what does this mean? If a player takes a pack mark, is everyone within that 5m radius meant to Stand?

• Align the interpretation of ‘reasonable time’ for a Player to bring the football back into play from a Behind being scored and the time allowed for a set Kick around the ground. Currently, reasonable time for kick-ins is 12 seconds, whereas around the ground is eight (8) seconds. Players will now be allowed eight (8) seconds in both instances.

While they're at it, why not change the goal kicking to 20 or 25 seconds?

In conclusion, these rule changes should boost the ratings for talk back footy radio.

 

[juss]

• A Player must stand if they are within the Protected Area (i.e., within five metres) when a Mark or Free Kick occurs;

What does A player mean? Is it just there needs to be one player on the mark? And the rest can run off as they please?

Also dont like the last kick out of bounds rule. People often quote the SANFL but the speed, tactics ball movement and structures are very different in the AFL, just because it works there doesn't mean it will work in the AFL. Should have been tested over a couple of AFL preseasons.

 

[juss]

Which rucks do we think will benefit/suffer the most from these new rules?

Put it this way, we're lucky that Nank was close to retirement anyway.

Secondly, I think Cooper Duft-Tyler just became a more attractive ruck prospect at the pointy end of the draft order for someone.

 

[jwikked]

Gerard Whately saying that if the rules don't work, they can simply remove them next year. Since when has that ever been the case?

 

[aCunningPlan]

That's how it's written - and if it's umpired that way it'll be good.

But I think what we'll see is an outlawing of shrugging as a tactic to break a tackle. Which I think is a negative for the game. Watching Matt Rowell judo twist his way out of consecutive tackles is awesome. And I like the test of strength between tackler and ball carrier that comes with it.

I would say it would be like the fend off being prior. You can still put the don't argue on, you just can't get pinned with the ball after you do it. It's a subtle change but for the umpire it just means having another visual clue to tick that prior opportunity box in a tackle.

 

[JackFlash]

That's how it's written - and if it's umpired that way it'll be good.

But I think what we'll see is an outlawing of shrugging as a tactic to break a tackle. Which I think is a negative for the game. Watching Matt Rowell judo twist his way out of consecutive tackles is awesome. And I like the test of strength between tackler and ball carrier that comes with it.

Correct, breaking the tackle is one of the best aspects of the game, how this will be umpired is going to cause angst in the stands and frustration from the players. The interesting thing is that these rule changes are being made because of previous rule changes? The AFL are obsessed with speeding up the game, they hate any sort of downtime, but while these changes are reasonable on paper, the new stand rule will be adjudicated "red hot" until it settles down and i still have no idea how they will judge the shrugging the tackle rule? I can't help thinking the AFL make these changes just to infuriate people?

 

[Deliverance]

Tinkering around the edges. Just make it 16 players on field and there's no need for the rule changes.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

I am gobsmacked that they have gone to the effort of introducing 7 new rule interpretations, yet left the most obvious change needed in removing the 6-6-6 warning.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

Huge leapers and tall Rucks over 205 cm ie. with bigger reach all will benefit. Bulky but short Rucks like Xerri can no longer use their strength to counter their lack of height.
Would not be surprised if Cox gets a lifeline now.

I just think Xerri is so good that he won’t be too affected anyway, but I agree with your point on principle for sure

 

[dean33]

Gerard Whately saying that if the rules don't work, they can simply remove them next year. Since when has that ever been the case?

Yes much better to test new rules in actual competition rather than a couple of preseasons to digest the actual affect on the game. Whateley is another mouthpiece of the afl.

 

[SSSSSS]

Orthopedic surgeons Australia wide are licking their lips at the new ruck rules.

PCLs for everyone.

 

[ItsAllAboutMe]

Its cruel for Carlton that these rules will come in just as we lose TDK, who will become unstoppable, if you can bet on him being the All-Australian ruck I would put my house on it.

 

[No SPIN]

Orthopedic surgeons Australia wide are licking their lips at the new ruck rules.

PCLs for everyone.

Agree - they changed the rules to stop PCL and now reversing the decision is just absurd.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

No mention about score reviews and maybe put the onus on the players to appeal for a review with limits per game.

 

[The Terrible Thinker]

Orthopedic surgeons Australia wide are licking their lips at the new ruck rules.

PCLs for everyone.

Bean pole rucks that can jump are back. Beefy rucks will now do around the ground works.

 

[Wargreymon90]

I have hated the rule changes in recent years because it dumbed down the game (I.e make it easier) to make it a better spectacle/increase scoring. E.g. stand rule and making kick outs easier.

I like the last touch rule though. Forces the players to execute skills better rather than blindly kicking.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Im going to take a guess here and say you've never watched a game of footy.

Umpires are really hot on calling play on as soon as the player runs off his line. They are instructed to call play on as quickly as they can warranted because the bloke on the mark is always going to run off as soon as they see that deviation. It is drummed into umpires that a 50 for a standing infringement is the umpires fault for not calling play on quick enough 9 times out of 10 under the current rules.

Yes the man on the mark gets stuck and loses a crucial second or two when chasing but play on is always called before they get past the mark.

This post is hilarious. Arrogantly dismisses the (valid) point that Umpires fail to call play on when a player is off their line and then incorrectly argues they do the opposite. Don't know what football you're watching, but it's not the AFL.

 

[eagleskickass]

.

• Introduce a Free Kick for the last disposal Out of Bounds in between the 50m arcs;
• Good to introduce this rule, it works very well in the SANFL, but it shouldn't be limited to in between 50m arcs. Should be the whole field.
  

Nah, between the arcs. Still requires umpire adjudication. Ump getting it wrong in 50's too big a penalty.