The AFL has announced a number of changes to the Laws of Australian Football, Umpiring processes and/or Laws interpretations for the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season, following a recent AFL Commission meeting.
The changes come into effect after extensive industry consultation involving all 18 Clubs, umpires, players, and the AFLPA, and are in addition two previous changes relating to the removal of the centre bounce and the substitute:
- Remove the requirement for a Player to start in the Goal Square at each centre ball-up;
- Introduce a Free Kick for the last disposal Out of Bounds in between the 50m arcs;
- 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;
- Around the ground, the Umpire may restart play without a nominated Ruck being present;
- A shrug (in a tackle) will be deemed Prior Opportunity (i.e., as an attempt to evade or fend an opponent);
- A Player must stand if they are within the Protected Area (i.e., within five metres) when a Mark or Free Kick occurs;
- 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.
For those rules not already in play in the AFLW, the AFLW Laws of the Game Committee and Competition Committee will discuss the relevance and impact of additional changes on the competition before a decision is made on any relevant implementation to the NAB AFLW.
