AFL Victoria announces all leagues moving to variable points system in 2026 a “high priority”

Player points policy changes aim to put country and city leagues on a more equal playing field in recruiting stakes. See what’s happening.

A recruiting edge city clubs have had over country clubs due to more player points at their disposal is about to end.

AFL Victoria this month will announce changes to the player points policy following a statewide review that has been underway since the end of last year.

A key recommendation is every league in the state moving to a variable system, which has already been introduced in many country leagues in the last two years.

Presently, most clubs in the major metropolitan leagues including Eastern, Essendon District and Northern play on 46 points.

Sunraysia league premiers Imperials took the biggest hit from 45 to 36 points in the first year of a switch to a variable points system where team totals are based on ladder positions from the previous season.

AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Ovens & Murray reigning premiers, Wangaratta Rovers, went from 40 to 36 points this season, also in the first year of a move to a variable points system.

The gap between city and country clubs has long been a sore point among country leagues and was raised at a meeting of country presidents in Bendigo before the start of the season.

AFL Victoria has been seeking feedback on its recommendations with the hope of announcing the updated policy by mid-June with the introduction of a variable player points system in “all leagues and divisions a high priority for the 2026 season”.

But the feedback document seen by The Weekly Times also states clubs will be provided with 12 months notice if the model is not already in place.

“The player points system is considered the most effective and transparent program to achieve the equalisation and sustainability purposes of the community club sustainability program,” the document states.

“That evidence suggests that high performing clubs who retain players and still able to recruit high point players are significantly advantaged, which isn’t consistent with the CCSP objectives.

“Variable player points system caps still provide higher performing clubs opportunity to develop, retain and recruit while providing moderate and lower performing clubs the capacity to progress and compete.”

A variable points system was introduced in the North Central league this season for clubs including Calder Untited which plays at Nullawil. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

The review has been overseen by AFL Victoria community football manager John O’Donohue.

The variable player points system hasn’t been introduced in the Goulbury Valley, Bendigo and Murray leagues with points allocated on application to AFL regional administration hubs.

The North Central league also introduced a variable points system this season after all clubs were on 42 points last year.

Grand finalists Sea Lake-Nandaly and Birchip-Watchem took the biggest hit from 42 to 38, but still occupy the top two spots on the ladder following wins by 280 and 159 points respectively.

Originally published as AFL Victoria announces all leagues moving to variable points system in 2026 a “high priority”