There was support among club officials to scrap the bounce throughout games but keep one per match, for ceremonial purposes, at the opening of the contest. However, the AFL has opted for a complete overhaul.<\/p>\n
With the removal of the substitute rule, clubs will name 23 players, with five players named on the interchange.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have listened to the feedback from players, the clubs and the AFLPA to remove the substitute in favour of a fifth interchange player, with rotations to remain the same,\u201d Swann said.<\/p>\n
Players making contact with umpires at centre bounces and stoppages across the field had spiked this year, prompting a significant number of fines to be handed out.<\/p>\n
Coaches had the option of waiting to use the substitute rule for injury and medical purposes, particularly if a player was concussed. It could also be used for tactical purposes, giving a team the chance to inject fresh legs \u2013 and speed \u2013 later in the game.<\/p>\n
However, players long felt starting as a substitute carried a stigma, particularly when a captain was asked to fill the role.<\/p>\n
The upgrading to a five-man bench is expected to make it easier for clubs to accommodate two ruckmen.<\/p>\n
Clubs will continue to have up to 75 rotations per game.<\/p>\n
Geelong coach Chris Scott was one of several coaches who had called for change. Scott even took aim at the substitute ruling after his team\u2019s loss in Saturday\u2019s grand final. The Cats were a man down in that game while Jeremy Cameron was assessed for an arm injury. After a lengthy wait, they opted to introduce their sub, Jack Martin, later in the game in place of ruckman Rhys Stanley.<\/p>\n
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\u201cI\u2019ll say one thing \u2013 and I hope this doesn\u2019t sound like sour grapes: I think we all \u2013 and I\u2019m at the head of the queue \u2013 will be rapt to see the back of the sub rule,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBesides the seriousness of the injury, the challenges there make planning difficult, and it feels like a bit of deja vu in a respect. We were sort of waiting and waiting, and it didn\u2019t feel like we could make that sub until we had some clarity there.\u201d<\/p>\n