AFL confirms seven rule changes for 2026 season, including last disposal rule

The AFL has confirmed there will be another seven changes to the rules next year, after already revealing that the centre bounce had been abolished and the substitute had been scrapped.

Among the new rules revealed on Wednesday, it has been confirmed that a ‘last disposal’ rule will come into play in 2026, which will see a free kick against the team who kicks or handballs the ball over the boundary line in between the 50m arcs.

The rule is already in operation in the AFLW (the ‘lasso’ rule) and has also been applied successfully in the SANFL as well.

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The last disposal rule will eliminate the call of insufficient intent, when a player kicks or handballs the ball over the line and the umpire has to judge whether it was that player’s decision to deliberately get the ball out-of-bounds.

That rule constantly frustrated fans and commentators alike, given player’s were often penalised when it appeared to be an accident.

A free kick will now be awarded when the ball crosses the line from a disposal in the area between the arcs, but if a player blocks an opponent or the ball is smothered or it comes off hands, a normal boundary throw-in will occur.

However, the insufficient intent rule will remain in place inside the 50m arcs.

There is also a crackdown on holding the ball, and a shrug (from the player being tackled) will now be judged as a prior opportunity.

The AFL said the shrug would now be similar to how a fend, or an attempt to evade a tackle was deemed prior opportunity.

“It’s hoped this will stop players from contributing to a high tackle, while making the rule easier to adjudicate for umpires,” the AFL said on its website.

The change to the holding-the-ball rule will be popular with fans, who are constantly annoyed by players who try to shrug tackles while dropping their knees in a bid to earn a high free kick.

Another significant change is in the ruck, and umpires can now restart play without a nominated ruck being present.

“If there is no nomination, or the nominated ruck is too far away, the play will be restarted immediately,” the AFL said.

“The ‘third-man up’ is still outlawed, so if no rucks nominate – or if the two nominated rucks are too far away when play is restarted – the ball will be thrown up and will have to hit the ground before ‘play on’ is called.”

There are also changes to ruck contests at the centre bounce, with rucks now unable to cross the centre line before engaging with their opponent.

The AFL has already confirmed umpires will no longer be bouncing the ball, and the ball will be thrown up at the start of quarters and after goals.

Preventing rucks from crossing the line is an attempt to get the big men jumping for the ball to win the hitout, rather than wrestling.

The ‘stand rule’ will also be tightened in 2026 and if a player is “within 5m of a mark or a free kick when it is paid (the protected area), the player will be required to ‘stand’ and can no longer reverse to being ‘outside five’.”

The decisions to change the rules are a bid to speed up the game and reduce the total length of matches which continued to blow out this year.

There is also a mini change to the 6-6-6 rule, and players will no longer have stand in the goalsquare as part of the rule (previously at least one player per team had to be in the goalsquares).

Clubs were informed of the changes following the AFL Commission meeting on Wednesday.

The AFL said it made the changes after “extensive industry consultation” involving all 18 clubs, umpires, players, and the AFLPA.

As well as removing of the centre bounce, the AFL has also previously confirmed that the substitute will now be a thing of the past.

“The changes have been made with a focus on making the game easier for our umpires to adjudicate and also reducing total match length,” football boss Greg Swann said.

“Streamlining procedures such as stoppages and centre ball-ups will enhance the flow of the game for players and fans alike.

“We have consulted clubs and other industry stakeholders over the past six months and taken on board their feedback and ideas, and we believe these changes will make a positive impact on the game.”

The seven changes to AFL laws and umpiring interpretations

– Remove the requirement for a player to start in the goalsquare 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.