AFL Team Manager Rules

[fightingfury_88]

What coaches are expected to do (you should still read the rest of this)
There are two parts of the game. If you are not interested in both, don't join:

• A dreamteam-like pick a team and score points based on stats
  • Teams must be posted every week (unless otherwise negotiated), with some evidence of the coach having given the team some consideration (i.e. no players who are suspended or out with significant injuries). This can be done in less than 10 minutes per week.
  • 18 players score per team per week
  • 2 Key forwards, 2 key defenders and 1 ruck must be named in the starting 18. If these conditions are not met a 50% penalty will be applied to any non key position player named at FB,CHB, CHF, FF or Ruck.
  • In addition to the above, 2 forwards and 2 defenders must also be named in the starting 18. If these conditions are not met a 25% penalty will be applied to any non positional player named at forward pocket and back pocket.
  • Current scoring system is that used by the AFL.com.au AFL Fantasy
• A substantial list management process each off-season
  • Trade period
  • Draft of all AFLTM un-listed players. Coaches should be online within 24 hours of the preceding pick being taken unless otherwise arranged.
  • Players have contracts (salary and time period) which must be honoured and included in a club's salary cap.
  • Teams can obtain opposition players through trading or by offering a better contract. To avoid losing players coaches should be online at least once every three days (or longer if pre-arranged)
  • Coaches must meet salary cap and list size targets by specified dates
  • Coaches should aim to have enough positional players on their list to cover the on field positions during the entire year, including covering players who get injured during the season.

Coaches should also read the AFLTM League News whenever there are new posts.

Any questions, read the rest of this post then if you still don't know, ask me.


The Game

How to Join
There is a waiting list you may join.

Teams
16 clubs are included in the competition, you may choose to relocate your club to anywhere you want in Australia or New Zealand. You may also choose to change the club’s nickname.

List Makeup

List Size

Senior list
Exactly 40
Up to 4 players on this list can be classified as veterans. These players must be turning 28 or older during the year of that season and have completed the previous 5 years consecutively on the list. Payments for these players will be free for the first player, 1% of the cap for the second player, 2% of the cap for the third player and 4% for the fourth player. Contracted veterans cannot be un-veteranised, they remain on the veteran list until their current contract runs out, they are delisted or traded. Uncontracted veterans can be re-veteranised via a veteran bid, traded, delisted or returned to the senior list via the bidding process.

Rookie list
Minimum 0, maximum 6
All players who are not drafted in the AFLTM National Draft or the AFLTM Pre-Season Draft are eligible to be drafted as a rookie listed player.

Salaries

Salary Cap
There is a salary cap approximately equal to that of AFL clubs
2023: $14,000,000

Player Salaries
All salaries must be in full thousands of dollars. Where a salary is determined by a formula, it will be rounded up to the next full thousand.

Fixed Salaries
The salaries of first and second year players, and the minimum salary for all other players, are also set in line with AFL rules. For simplicity we do not split base and match payments like the AFL and average game counts are used to determine how many match payments to add to the base payment.

Match payments: $5000 per game

Base payments:
2023
First round: $110,000
Second Round: $100,000
Other Round: $95,000

The average game counts used are:
First year players (fixed)
First round: 8
Second round: 5
Other round: 3

For 2023 this means:
First year players (fixed)
First round: $150k
Second round: $125k
Other round: $110k
Second year players
First round
Yet to debut: $110k
1-5 AFL games in first year: $135k
6-10 AFL games in first year: $160k
11-15 AFL games in first year: $185k
16+ AFL games in first year: $210k
Second round
Yet to debut: $100k
1-5 AFL games in first year: $125k
6-10 AFL games in first year: $150k
11-15 AFL games in first year: $175k
16+ AFL games in first year: $200k
Other round
Yet to debut: $95k
1-5 AFL games in first year: $120k
6-10 AFL games in first year: $145k
11-15 AFL games in first year: $170k
16+ AFL games in first year: $195k

Others (minimum, 1 year, increased by 25% for each additional year)
$170k

Rookies
$90k

All other salaries are set by the bidding system detailed below, but must be no lower than the minimum salary and less than the maximum salary of 12% of the salary cap (2023: $1.68m)

The Season


Scoring
Scores will be calculated using the official AFL statistics available at afl.com.au with the scoring system the same as what is used in the official AFL.com.au AFL Fantasy game.

Kick – 3 points
Handball – 2 points
Mark – 3 points
Hitout – 1 point
Tackle – 4 points
Free Kick – 1 point
Free Against – -3 points
Goal – 6 points
Behind – 1 point

These points for each player in the 18 after replacements will make the team’s score for the round.

Draw
There will be 15 rounds in the season, with all teams playing each other once.

Premiership points
4 points will be given for a win, 2 points for a tie, 0 points for a loss. The ladder will be determined based on these points. Teams equal on points will be ranked based on fantasy points scored. Deadlocks will be resolved by the result of the match between the two teams.

Finals
Week 1
1st Qualifying Final: 1st vs 4th
2nd Qualifying Final: 2nd vs 3rd
1st Elimination Final: 5th vs 8th
2nd Elimination Final: 6th vs 7th

Week 2
1st Semi-Final: Loser of QF1 vs Winner EF1
2nd Semi-Final: Loser QF2 vs Winner EF2

Week 3
1st Preliminary Final: Winner QF1 vs Winner SF2
2nd Preliminary Final: Winner QF2 vs Winner SF1

Week 4
Grand Final: Winner PF1 vs Winner PF2

In addition to regular season rules, teams must select a captain, whose scores will determine which team advances in the event of a tie.

Selection
Each week you must name 18 players on field including naming 2 players classified as key defenders (KPD), 2 key forwards (KPF) and 1 ruck in the starting 18. In addition to this, players must name an additional two players classified as a forward (including Key Forward) and two players classified as a defender (including Key Defender). A player can not fill more than one role in the team in a match (e.g. a Key Forward/Ruck can only fill one of either the key forward or ruck role in team selection), however KPPs named in addition to the minimum requirements can fill the forward/defender role (e.g. if three KPFs are named in the starting 18, one of these can be classified as a forward).

Teams unable to name all required key position players will receive a 50% point penalty applied to the non key position player named at FB, CHB, CHF, FF or Ruck. Teams unable to meet forward or defender player requirements will receive a 25% point penalty applied to the non position player named at Forward Pocket and/or Back Pocket.

1. Each named team per week must have named 2 players classified as key defender, 2 defenders, 2 key forwards, 2 forwards and 1 ruck in the starting 18, a minimum of 9 players:

• There must be a minimum of 2 KPF classified players named at FF and CHF
• There must be a minimum of 2 forward classified players named in the forward pockets (KPF's in addition to the minimum requirements count as a forward)
• There must be a minimum of 2 KPD classified players named FB and CHB
• There must be a minimum of 2 defender classified players named in the back pockets (KPD's in addition to the minimum requirements count as a defender)
• There must be a minimum of 1 Ruck classified player named at Ruck
• There are no restrictions for selection of players in the midfield.

2. A key position player named but that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced without penalty by a matching spare KPP (i.e. KPF/KPD/Ruck) player already named in the starting 18, or the equivalent position player from the bench.
3. If you can't fill the key positions with nominated players, you get a 50% penalty for each of the KPP player positions you can't fill.
4. A forward/defender player named that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced without penalty by a matching spare position (i.e. forward or defender) player already named in the starting 18, or the equivalent position player from the bench.
5. If you can't fill the forward and defender position with nominated players, you get a 25% penalty for each of the positions you can't fill.

Penalties apply for naming, incomplete teams, suspended players or those who are clearly no chance of playing that round, as well as for not picking any team at all. First and second offence for non-selection is a warning on the AFLTM League News thread, third is 2 penalty points, fourth is 2 penalty points and your team may be made available for any new coach wanting to join the game.

You may name an interchange of up to 7 to be used as replacements. These replacements will be selected on a first named basis, at the discretion of the administrator (fightingfury_88). Exception to this will be in the case of a positional player needing replacement, in which case an appropriate positional player named on the interchange will be selected instead. There are no rules regarding the makeup of the interchange.

Teams that fail to select their teams will have their team selection from the previous round automatically carry over. In the case of this being in round 1, the administrator will select the team. If a team fails to select their team three weeks in a row a new coach may be sought to take control of the team.

Substitute Rule
During a game, if one of your starting 18 players are subbed out of their AFL game prior to the commencement of the second half, or are the starting substitute and are not subbed into the AFL game prior to half time, then they may automatically be subbed out for the first listed eligible player named on that team's interchange. In the instance of a player being subbed out resulting in the starting 18 positional player requirements (including KPP) not being met, the first named positional player on the interchange who allows the starting 18 to meet the positional player requirements to be met (e.g. a KPF from interchange replacing a KPF subbed out) may instead replace the subbed out player if their score is larger than the first listed eligible player's score after applying any penalties for positional player requirements. A sub will not occur if the replacement player's score is lower than the player subbed out, including after applying any penalties for inadequate positional players being named in the starting 18.

Positional Player Classification Rules
Each player will be classified into one (or more) position types; key defender, defender, key forward, forward, midfielder and ruck.

Players are awarded positional status through their classification in either the current year and/or the previous year's AFL Stats Pro and AFL Fantasy Classification (e.g. for 2021 season the player is granted KPP status if they are classified as a KPP in either/both of the 2020 and/or 2021 AFL Stats Pro/AFL Fantasy.) There is no minimum or maximum number of these players allowed on your list and a single player can have multiple positional classifications.

A player that has KPP status will automatically be granted dual KPP status if/when they have multiple eligible dual position classifications awarded to them in AFL Fantasy, or if there is a KPP positional change on the official AFL stats Pro page. This includes dual status being granted during the season. (e.g. if a KPP listed player has defender/forward status in AFL Fantasy then that player will have dual KPF/KPD status in AFLTM.) These KPP positional changes will only occur in the same round AFL Fantasy DPP status is awarded (e.g. after Round 6, 12 and 18)

Non KPP positional players will be granted dual status via AFL Fantasy Positional changes only. These positional changes will only occur in the same round AFL Fantasy Dual Position status is awarded (e.g. after Round 6, 12 and 18)

When selecting teams, coaches must ensure that two key defenders, 2 defenders, 2 key forwards, 2 forwards and 1 ruck are selected in their starting 18.

If the above team selection conditions are not being met, then an appropriate position replacement will be selected from the starting 18 itself or from the named interchange (i.e if a selected key defender is a late out or not named, a key defender will be selected from the interchange of from within the starting 18 if a spare KPD is available). If team selections conditions can still not be met, a replacement player will be picked from the interchange and their score multiplied by 50% (for KPPs) or 75% (for positional players).

Long Term Injury List
At any point up until 6PM the day before the commencement of the AFLTM Mid-Season Rookie Draft, teams may choose to place up to two players on the long term injury (LTI) list. Any LTI listed player must be confirmed as being out for the remainder of the AFL season and will be no longer eligible for selection for the remainder of the AFLTM season. If enough salary cap space is available, for each player placed on the LTI list a selection will be granted in the AFLTM midseason rookie draft starting after the first round.

Eligible players
All senior, veteran and rookie listed players are eligible for selection each week, unless on the long term injury list or suspended.

The Off Season

Timeline
From no earlier than 9am Monday of AFL semi final week until 8pm on the day following the AFL National draft is the contract negotiation/trade period.
The National Draft begins at 9am , two days after the completion of the AFL National draft, immediately followed by the Pre-Season draft, then the Rookie draft. A Supplementary Selection Draft and Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft is also conducted during AFL pre-season competition for teams that choose to pass on Pre-Season Draft and/or Rookie Draft picks. There is a 24 hour time limit on all picks.

Contract negotiation period

Delisting Contracted players
Contracted players may be delisted but:

• Those who walk away due to lack of motivation or similar will have their contract terminated immediately with no further payment.
• Those who are first year players and are delisted by their AFL club and are not picked up by any other AFL team can be delisted with no further payment.
• Those who retire due to injury must be paid 50% of their contracted salary per year remaining on the contract.
• Those who are delisted by or pushed into retirement by their AFL clubs (i.e. not on an AFL list and not meeting any of the above criteria), and were on their current contract during the season, must be paid 75% of their contracted salary per year remaining on the contract.
• Other players must be paid 100% of their contracted salary per year remaining on the contract.

Clubs must apply to the AFL for either of the first three, otherwise one of the bottom two will be assumed. All payouts must be paid in a lump sum at the time of the delistment out of the salary cap for the forthcoming year.

These payments are to be made by the delisting club unless another club picks up that player through a trade or draft. In this case the delisting club must pay any difference between the initial contract and the new contract offered by the new club.

Changing Contracts of First Year Players
First year players can have their contracts replaced after completing their first year by a contract of either:

• 2 years, 2.4% of the cap
• 3 years, 3.6% of the cap
• 4 years, 4.8% of the cap
• 5 years, 6.25% of the cap

Extending Contracts of Non-First Year Contracted Players
Each year, each club can extend the contract of one of their contracted players who has completed 3 or 4 years of that contract. The new salary will be the greater of the current salary and 6.25% of the salary cap.

Rookie Promotions
Rookies can be promoted to the senior list on a contract of either:

• 1 year, 1% of the cap
• 2 years, 1.2% of the cap
• 3 years, 3% of the cap
• 4 years, 4.25% of the cap
• 5 years, 6.25% of the cap

Veteran listed players
If a club is entitled to and does place a player on the veterans list, he is no longer able to be acquired through the bidding system, or delisted or traded by his club.

Before bidding or trading you must ensure you have the salary cap space to do so.

New coach amnesty
When a club gets a new coach, the new coach may elect at any time during his first off season to tear up one contract signed by his predecessor. He may then delist the player at no cost or bid for a new offer.

Bidding
Each club has two 'active bids' to use. There is one active bid per player, which will generally be the first bid on that player by an opponent. If the first bid is made by the player's current club, this is an inactive bid unless otherwise specified. Once a bid is activated, it remains against the team who did so until that player's future is determined, either by an unbeatable bid or 72 hours elapsing without a counter offer. If bidding is started by an inactive bid from the current club, this time is 21 days and can only be countered by an active bid.

Bids cannot be withdrawn regardless of what happens to that player after the bid is made.

On your own uncontracted players
Clubs can start bidding on one of their current players at any time. Their bid must include a valid salary and a contract duration between 1 and 5 years. If that bid is not countered within 21 days, or 3 if specified as active, then that bid is successful.

Where a bid has already been made by an opponent, the club can beat that bid by matching its salary and duration. If not countered within 72 hours, that bid is successful.

Where a club is successful in retaining a player, the salary will be reduced by 10% (or to the minimum salary).

A rookie bid may be placed on any uncontracted player. A rookie bid is a bid at rookie salary for 1 year for that player to be listed on the team's rookie list. A rookie bid is beaten by any other valid bid. If a rookie bid is not countered within 21 days, or 3 if specified as active, then that bid is successful.

On opposition uncontracted players
Clubs can start bidding on an opponent's player at any time where they have an active bid to use. A bid must include a salary (at least 20% more than the minimum salary) and a duration (between 1 and 5 years). If this bid is not countered within 72 hours, the player will move to the club.

Clubs can beat a bid on an opponent's player by that or any other opponent by either:

• increasing the duration (to a maximum of 5 years) or increasing the salary (by at least $10,000 and to at least 20% more than the minimum salary) and matching the other two components
• reducing the duration and increasing the value (salary multiplied by duration) of the contract (by at least $25,000)

A club can make a maximum of three bids on any player - this includes invalid bids.

A rookie bid may be placed on any uncontracted player. A rookie bid is a bid at rookie salary for 1 year for that player to be listed on the team's rookie list. A rookie bid is beaten by any other valid bid. If an active rookie bid is not countered within 3 days, then that bid is successful.

On Free Agents
A free agent is classified as any player who was listed to an AFL team for the just ended season and was not contracted to any AFLTM team for that same season.

Free agent bidding follows the same rules as the bidding on opposition player rules.

Trade period
The main trade period runs concurrently with the contract negotiation period. Trades may involve any combination of picks, future picks and players. Where a player is traded, his new salary and contract length must be stated, and in the case of a contracted player how much that leaves for the old club to pay. All trades must be approved by a post from each party in the designated thread. If there is no agreement on the terms of the new contract for a contracted player, the trade does not proceed.

Players on the senior list and veterans list can be traded. Contracted rookie listed players cannot be traded.

Trading uncontracted players
When trading an uncontracted player, he must be given a reasonable new contract. There are two guidelines for this:

1. The contract must exceed the best bid at the time of trading
2. The salary must be greater than the number produced by the following formula, where x is the weighted (for years where the player played more than three games) average of the player's average scores in the previous three years: ((x-40)^2)*$140 + the minimum salary.

Trading contracted players
Contracted players may be traded on exactly the same contract they are on.
Contracts may be extended to up to 5 years under the following conditions:

1. To extend to 2 years, the salary must be the greater of the current salary, and the average of the current salary and ((x-40)^2)*(0.0015% of the salary cap) + the minimum salary, where x is the weighted (for years where the player played more than three games) average of the player's average scores in the previous three years.
2. To extend to 3 years, the salary must be the greater of the current salary (s), and the pro-rata total of the current salary for the period of the current contract and ((x-30)^2)*(0.0015% of the salary cap) + the minimum salary for the additional period
3. To extend to 4 years, the salary must be the greater of the current salary (s), and the pro-rata total of the current salary for the period of the current contract and ((x-20)^2)*(0.0015% of the salary cap) + the minimum salary for the additional period
4. To extend to 5 years, the salary must be the greater of the current salary (s), and the pro-rata total of the current salary for the period of the current contract and ((x-10)^2)*(0.0015% of the salary cap) + the minimum salary for the additional period
5. For players who have completed their first year, trade prices will be no less than the price to extend under the 'Changing Contracts of First Year Players' rule

Future Pick Trading
During trading periods, teams will be available to trade the following year's draft picks in addition to their current year's draft picks. Teams are restricted to trading only the first 3 rounds of draft picks and must have at least one first round pick (current or future) in their possession at all times.

• Teams may trade picks from the next year's draft picks (e.g for 2020 draft, 2021 draft picks will be available to trade)
• Teams are restricted to trading only future first, second or third round draft picks.

Live Pick Trading
At the commencement of the AFLTM National Draft teams may trade draft picks and/or future draft picks with other teams. No players can be involved in these trades and teams must remain under the salary cap and within the contracted player limit at all times.

• Live pick trading opens when the AFLTM National Draft commences and closes at the conclusion of the draft.
• Only trading of national draft picks (including future picks), no pre-season pick, rookie draft picks, players or recently drafted players are allowed to be traded.
• Teams must remain under the salary cap and the list size limit/minimum at all times and with every trade. This includes all remaining picks counting towards total player payments and list sizes.
• No players can be delisted/traded to make room for live pick trading.
• No changes to time limits on picks. If you trade for a pick that is on the clock the confirmation of trade and the selection must still be made within 24 hours of the previous pick.
• During live trading, the number of current year's draft picks involved in any trade must be equal for both teams (i.e. no 2 for 1 trades). This does not apply to future draft picks. There are no restrictions on including future draft picks in trades.

Draft period
For any draft, if you pass a pick, you automatically pass all later picks, therefore where a club is required to utilise a pick, it must make selections on all earlier picks.

National Draft
The national draft order will be in reverse ladder order from the previous season.

Each club must use a minimum of three draft picks minus the number of rookie promotions in this draft. There are 24 hour time limits. Miss one pick and you are skipped and catch up when you get back, and don't get 24 hours for your next pick unless you do so. Miss two and you get an autopick. Autopicks in the National Draft are passes if the pick is passable, and otherwise in AFL draft order (excluding recycled players).

Pre-Season Draft
The pre-season draft order will also be in reverse ladder order from the previous season for teams that passed a National Draft Pick with salaries dropped to the minimum salary for non first year players. Autopicks are the most expensive free agent that team can afford. The Pre-Season Draft will commence immediately after the conclusion of the National Draft.

Rookie Draft
The rookie draft will be in the same order as the National Draft for teams that still have salary and rookie list space remaining, with all remaining players eligible for selection. Auto-picks are passes and not given until the end of the draft.

Players who pass a pick in the Pre-Season Draft and/or Rookie Draft will have that pick transferred to the Supplementary Selection Draft and Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft respectively.

Supplementary Selection Draft
Teams that passed on a pick in the Pre-Season Draft have that pick transferred to the Supplementary Selection Draft. A team can draft any player it can afford in the draft with salaries the same as those in the Pre-Season Draft. The draft commences after the conclusion of the official AFL pre-season competition.

Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft
Teams that still have the salary and rookie list space available can select players in the Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft. Salaries are dropped to rookie prices with the draft commencing immediately after the conclusion of the Supplementary Selection Draft. Passed selections will result in a pick being available in the AFLTM Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Pre-season Competition Draft
An AFLTM pre-season competition will run co-currently with the AFL pre-season competition with players scoring based on their preseason games. A Pre-Season Competition draft pick is awarded to all teams who participate with draft order determined via the highest cumulative team score. Any available current AFL player may be picked in the pre-season competition draft with the player added to the senior list on a one year deal with no salary attached.

Mid-Season Rookie Draft
During the AFL bye week period, a Mid-Season rookie draft will be held. Each team in the AFLTM competition will receive one free rookie listed player in the first round of the draft. The 2nd and subsequent rounds will be for long term injury replacements and passed Supplementary Rookie Draft Selections. Draft order will be determined by reverse ladder order at the time of the draft with all eligible rookie players available for selection.

 

[fightingfury_88]

Posting a new thread and adjusting the rules as I can't update the old one. It's not quite a finished product but tries to capture the new rules such as key position classification and selection requirements. Salary calculation has also been updated for 1st and 2nd year players as well as the projected cap for upcoming seasons.

 

[fightingfury_88]

Rules have been updated to incorporate the following:

• Live pick trading
• Future pick trading
• Rookie Eligibility
• Non-selection of teams

 

[fightingfury_88]

Rules have been updated as per the following:

• Removal of priority picks being awarded to teams who finish season with less than 20 points. (Starting 2021 season)
• Reduction of list sizes to 42 senior listed players + up to 6 rookies (pending final AFL list cut numbers)
• New KPP classification rules implemented in time for 2021 Season. Essentially:
  • The current year and previous year's KPP classifications in the AFL Stats Pro will be used to determine AFLTM KPP classifications (e.g. for 2021 season the 2020 and 2021 AFL Stats Pro classification will be used.)
  • Dual position KPPs will be awarded automatically based on AFL Fantasy dual position status (including in season changes).
  • Coaches nominating for KPP changes and/or additions is removed.
  • Hardship KPP classification is removed.

 

[fightingfury_88]

Formally updated the rules to accomodate some minor changes to the off-season rules, notably:

• Requirement to use all picks traded for has been removed. All picks after the minimum pick requirements are now passable.
• Requirement for having at least one 1st rd pick or future rd 1 pick on the list at all times has been removed.
• Out of contract veterans can now be retained on the senior list via bidding.
• Coaches may place a rookie bid on any uncontracted player. (Their own or other team's rookies)

The new sub rule has also been formally added to the AFLTM rules.

 

[fightingfury_88]

Minor edit made to the live pick trading rules to add some clarification:

• During live trading, the number of current year's draft picks involved in any trade must be equal for both teams (i.e. no 2 for 1 trades). This does not apply to future draft picks. There are no restrictions on including future draft picks in trades.

 

[eddiespocket]

Minor edit made to the live pick trading rules to add some clarification:

• During live trading, the number of current year's draft picks involved in any trade must be equal for both teams (i.e. no 2 for 1 trades). This does not apply to future draft picks. There are no restrictions on including future draft picks in trades.

I‘m not sure I understand this, does this mean for Instance you can’t swap 2023 first round pick for someone else’s 2022 first and second ?

 

[fightingfury_88]

I‘m not sure I understand this, does this mean for Instance you can’t swap 2023 first round pick for someone else’s 2022 first and second ?

You can complete the live trade as long as the picks traded in the current years draft is equal on both sides. Remember this rule clarification is for live trading only (i.e. once the draft has commenced.) This clarification has no impact on the normal trading (i.e. before the draft commences).

In your example you can complete the live trade once the draft has commenced as long as both teams are giving up the same number of 2022 draft picks. (e.g. Team A trades pick 8 and Pick 12 to Team B for Pick 25, Pick 45 and a 2023 First Rd Pick.

 

[fightingfury_88]

Proposed Rule change for commencement in 2023 season:

Selection
Each week you must name 18 players on field including naming 2 players classified as key defenders (KPD), 2 key forwards (KPF) and 1 ruck in the starting 18. In addition to this, players must name an additional two players classified as a forward (including Key Forward) and two players classified as a defender (including Key Defender). A player can not fill more than one role in the team in a match (e.g. a Key Forward/Ruck can only fill one of either the key forward or ruck role in team selection), however KPPs named in addition to the minimum requirements can fill the forward/defender role (e.g. if three KPFs are named in the starting 18, one of these can be classified as a forward).

Teams unable to name all required key position players will receive a 50% point penalty applied to the non key position player named at FB, CHB, CHF, FF or Ruck. Teams unable to meet forward or defender player requirements will receive a 25% point penalty applied to the non position player named at Forward Pocket and/or Back Pocket.

1. Each named team per week must have named 2 players classified as key defender, 2 defenders, 2 key forwards, 2 forwards and 1 ruck in the starting 18, a minimum of 9 players:

• There must be a minimum of 2 KPF classified players named at FF and CHF
• There must be a minimum of 2 forward classified players named in the forward pockets (KPF's in addition to the minimum requirements count as a forward)
• There must be a minimum of 2 KPD classified players named FB and CHB
• There must be a minimum of 2 defender classified players named in the back pockets (KPD's in addition to the minimum requirements count as a defender)
• There must be a minimum of 1 Ruck classified player named at Ruck
• There are no restrictions for selection of players in the midfield.

2. A key position player named but that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced without penalty by a matching spare KPP (i.e. KPF/KPD/Ruck) player already named in the starting 18, or the equivalent position player from the bench.
3. If you can't fill the key positions with nominated players, you get a 50% penalty for each of the KPP player positions you can't fill.
4. A forward/defender player named that doesn't end up playing that week can only be replaced without penalty by a matching spare position (i.e. forward or defender) player already named in the starting 18, or the equivalent position player from the bench.
5. If you can't fill the forward and defender position with nominated players, you get a 25% penalty for each of the positions you can't fill.
9. It is up to coaches to police the above rules.

Penalties apply for naming, incomplete teams, suspended players or those who are clearly no chance of playing that round, as well as for not picking any team at all. First and second offence for non-selection is a warning on the AFLTM League News thread, third is 2 penalty points, fourth is 2 penalty points and your team may be made available for any new coach wanting to join the game.

You may name an interchange of up to 7 to be used as replacements. These replacements will be selected on a first named basis, at the discretion of the administrator (fightingfury_88). Exception to this will be in the case of a positional player needing replacement, in which case an appropriate positional player named on the interchange will be selected instead. There are no rules regarding the makeup of the interchange.

Teams that fail to select their teams will have their team selection from the previous round automatically carry over. In the case of this being in round 1, the administrator will select the team. If a team fails to select their team three weeks in a row a new coach may be sought to take control of the team.

Positional Player Classification Rules
Each player will be classified into one (or more) position types; key defender, defender, key forward, forward, midfielder and ruck.

Players are awarded positional status through their classification in either the current year and/or the previous year's AFL Stats Pro and AFL Fantasy Classification (e.g. for 2021 season the player is granted KPP status if they are classified as a KPP in either/both of the 2020 and/or 2021 AFL Stats Pro/AFL Fantasy.) There is no minimum or maximum number of these players allowed on your list and a single player can have multiple positional classifications.

A player that has KPP status will automatically be granted dual KPP status if/when they have multiple eligible dual position classifications awarded to them in AFL Fantasy, or if there is a KPP positional change on the official AFL stats Pro page. This includes dual status being granted during the season. (e.g. if a KPP listed player has defender/forward status in AFL Fantasy then that player will have dual KPF/KPD status in AFLTM.) These KPP positional changes will only occur in the same round AFL Fantasy DPP status is awarded (e.g. after Round 6, 12 and 18)

Non KPP positional players will be granted dual status via AFL Fantasy Positional changes only. These positional changes will only occur in the same round AFL Fantasy Dual Position status is awarded (e.g. after Round 6, 12 and 18)

When selecting teams, coaches must ensure that two key defenders, 2 defenders, 2 key forwards, 2 forwards and 1 ruck are selected in their starting 18.

If the above team selection conditions are not being met, then an appropriate position replacement will be selected from the starting 18 itself or from the named interchange (i.e if a selected key defender is a late out or not named, a key defender will be selected from the interchange of from within the starting 18 if a spare KPD is available). If team selections conditions can still not be met, a replacement player will be picked from the interchange and their score multiplied by 50% (for KPPs) or 75% (for positional players).

 

[fightingfury_88]

The above positional player rule has now been formally incorporated into the AFLTM rules for implementation in the 2023 season onwards.

Minor edits have also been made to the wording of rules around non selection of teams, substitute replacement etc. to try and make things a little clearer. Also note team list sizes will finally return to 40 senior listed players after gradually bringing that number down the past couple of seasons following the reduction of AFL team list sizes.

 

[fightingfury_88]

The below rookie related rules have been drafted into the rules for commencement in the 2023 season.

Eligible players
All senior, veteran and rookie listed players are eligible for selection each week, unless on the long term injury list or suspended. Rookies upgraded as replacements for long term injured players are also eligible.

Rookie upgrades
Rookie listed players may be promoted during the season to replace any senior or veteran listed player who is estimated to be out injured for eight or more weeks. If a long term injury listed player returns to AFL competition earlier than the eight weeks, he will remain on the long term injury list for the remainder of term. Players who are not on an AFL list are not eligible for the long term injury list. Any promotions must be made prior to the last minor round of the season.

Long Term Injury List
Up until 6PM the day before the commencement of the AFLTM Mid-Season Rookie Draft, teams can choose to place place up to two players on the long term injury (LTI) list. These players must be confirmed as being out for the remainder of the AFL season. If enough salary cap space is available, for each player placed on the LTI list a selection will be granted in the AFLTM midseason rookie draft starting after the first round.

Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft
Teams that still have the salary and rookie list space available can select players in the Supplementary Rookie Selection Draft. Salaries are dropped to rookie prices with the draft commencing immediately after the conclusion of the Supplementary Selection Draft. Passed selections will result in a pick being available in the AFLTM Mid-Season Rookie Draft.

Mid-Season Rookie Draft
During the AFL bye week period, a Mid-Season rookie draft will be held. Each team in the AFLTM competition will receive one free rookie listed player in the first round of the draft. The 2nd and subsequent rounds will be for long term injury replacements and for passed Supplementary Rookie Draft Selections. Draft order will be determined by reverse ladder order at the time of the draft with all eligible rookie players available for selection.

 

[fightingfury_88]

New rule change. It's only slight but will allow more options to sign uncontracted players. Essentially it's the same as opposition player bidding, but opens it up to more players.

On Free Agents
A free agent is classified as any player who was listed to an AFL team for the just ended season and was not contracted to any AFLTM team for that same season.

Free agent bidding follows the same rules as the bidding on opposition player rules.

 

[fightingfury_88]

A minor rule change has been implemented due to the AFL rule change in naming teams and a substitute.

Substitute Rule
During a game, if one of your starting 18 players are subbed out of their AFL game prior to the commencement of the second half, or are the starting substitute and are not subbed into the AFL game prior to half time, then they may automatically be subbed out for the first listed eligible player named on that team's interchange. In the instance of a player being subbed out resulting in the starting 18 positional player requirements (including KPP) not being met, the first named positional player on the interchange who allows the starting 18 to meet the positional player requirements to be met (e.g. a KPF from interchange replacing a KPF subbed out) may instead replace the subbed out player if their score is larger than the first listed eligible player's score after applying any penalties for positional player requirements. A sub will not occur if the replacement player's score is lower than the player subbed out, including after applying any penalties for inadequate positional players being named in the starting 18.