{"id":347451,"date":"2025-12-14T12:29:43","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T12:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/347451\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T12:29:43","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T12:29:43","slug":"afl-to-ban-players-for-stomach-punches-in-more-rule-tweaks-for-the-2026-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/347451\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL to ban players for stomach punches in more rule tweaks for the 2026 season"},"content":{"rendered":"

The AFL<\/a> has come good on its promise to stamp out gut punches from the game.<\/p>\n

In July this year, newly installed football boss Greg Swann said it was time to eliminate the ugly act.<\/p>\n

And now, he has delivered as the AFL attempts to clean up its image.<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

It has been mystifying for many a year as to why players were not suspended for punching another player in the stomach.<\/p>\n

Legitimate accidents \u2014 such as a tackle gone wrong \u2014 can often be harshly punished under the AFL\u2019s strict matrix for grading incidents, but the league has refused to make a deliberate punch to the guts a ban.<\/p>\n

However, that is all about to change with the AFL proposing several tweaks to the grading system in a detailed memo to the clubs.<\/p>\n

In the memo, stomach punches will no longer be graded as low impact but instead will be viewed as a medium impact charge and thus a one-match-ban will follow.<\/p>\n

Clubs have been shown an example of what will now constitute a reportable gut-punch offence.<\/p>\n

\u201cGuys punching guys in the guts \u2014 give them a week (suspension),\u201d Swann said in July.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt probably has stopped a little bit (this year) but if we did (banned players) then it stops completely.\u201d<\/p>\n

He said it was a poor look and was copied by lower leagues and younger players.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything that happens at the elite level filters down to the juniors and you just don\u2019t want those things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

There will also be changes to other incidents that would be previously considered as severe impact and result in an automatic suspension.<\/p>\n

The AFL\u2019s match review officer will now have some wiggle room and will be able to be more lenient for a \u201ccareless\u201d act even if it is high contact.<\/p>\n

The AFL also wants to stamp out players pushing a player into a marking contest and has said that will now be an automatic rough conduct charge (which was controversially brought in halfway through this season).<\/p>\n

They have also said that a team playing on a Thursday will not have to wait until Tuesday for a tribunal hearing (hearings can be heard on a Monday night).<\/p>\n

The league also wants to rule out any visible sponsorship branding that is unauthorised (such as logos on headbands) and also ban offensive symbols, advertising branding or images on uniforms or skin, such as temporary tattoos.<\/p>\n

There is also a proposed change to the fine system where fines escalate for repeat offences. However, the proposed change will see fines only escalate if the offence is the same action, not another low-level offence.<\/p>\n

The AFL is seeking feedback from the clubs on all of their proposals with clubs having up until January 22 to respond.<\/p>\n

The AFL has already made a raft of new rule changes for 2026.<\/p>\n

AFL players will be penalised under the last-disposal out of bounds rule next season.<\/p>\n

A free kick will be awarded against players who have the last disposal before the ball crosses the boundary line between the 50m arcs.<\/p>\n

The last-disposal rule, which is already in place in AFLW and the second-tier SANFL, is set to remove some of the umpire guesswork around the existing insufficient intent rule.<\/p>\n

However, insufficient intent will remain in place inside the 50m arcs.<\/p>\n

The AFL has also removed the requirement for a player to start in the goal square at centre ball-ups, while a competing ruck cannot cross the centre circle line and engage with their opponent prior to contesting the ball.<\/p>\n

A shrug in a tackle will now be deemed prior opportunity and a player must now stand if they are within the protected area – within five metres – when a mark or free kick is paid.<\/p>\n

Players will also have a reduced amount of time to bring the ball back into play after a behind, down to eight seconds from 12.<\/p>\n

The AFL has also scrapped the centre bounce and removed the substitute, allowing teams to have five players on the interchange bench.<\/p>\n

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