Are the AFL’s newest rules heading for local footy leagues?

The AFL has introduced seven new rules, including a last disposal out of bounds free kick, but are they suited to local footy? Plus, player movement under scrutiny.

New rules could be heading for local footy fields. Picture: Field of View Photography

The contentious last disposal out of bounds rule could quickly be adapted to local footy.

The new rule, to be introduced in 2026, was one of seven tweaks announced by the AFL on Wednesday but not all are expected to filter down to the grassroots.

Some leagues around Victoria introduced the divisive stand rule when it was announced in 2021 and 6-6-6 player positions in 2019, others did not.

Speaking at the AFL Wheelchair and Inclusion National Championships in Bundoora, general manager of game development Rob Auld said AFL House is happy for leagues to decide what fits best for their community.

He also spoke about ongoing revision of player point and salary cap measures and off-season player movement.

An AFL umpire throws the ball in from the boundary.

Auld said the leagues would need to weigh up whether there was any benefit to rule changes at community level.

“It’s an interesting one, I think people appreciate there’s an elite version of any sport and that will have certain infrastructure around it – that’s the AFL and AFLW,” he said.

“Then there’s a capacity for local community footy to customise what works for them.

“Some of the rules do (filter down), some of them don’t suit local football – for example, 6-6-6 hasn’t really filtered into local footy but stand (rule) has.

“The local leagues will now make that assessment as they work through what they can resource and what they’re comfortable with.

Auld suggested a last disposal out of bounds rule could help alleviate some pressure on umpiring numbers at local level, particularly boundary umpires.

“Greg (AFL football operations boss Greg Swann) was really clear on two clear things that he wants to the rules to achieve,” he said.

“One was making the game easier to officiate, so yes, there is a correlation between umpiring and making the game easier and the other was creating more game time without extending the length.

“I think the answer is yes, last touch is in existence in some community footy leagues, so if we can creates rules to make it easier, absolutely we will.”

In 2026, the AFL will introduce a last disposal out of bounds free kick between the 50m arcs, while cracking down on the stand rule and not allow players to exit the “protected area”.

Umpires will no longer wait for nominated rucks but a free kick will be paid if the an un-nominated player contests the ball, while rucks will no longer be able to cross the centre line and engage their opposite number at centre bounces.

Under 6-6-6 rules, players are no longer required to start in the goalsquares, just within the 50m arcs and kick-in times have been reduced.

Local footy could also quickly adopt the new tweak to ducking tackles with a shrug now considered prior opportunity in a bid to stop players drawing high tackle free kicks.

Asked about player movement and tightening equalisation measures, Auld believed the current model was working well and the local footy off-season had simply become a bigger focus, much in the same way as the AFL’s Trade Period.

“We review player points annually, there’s a committee of representatives from community football that does that, we also review salary caps,” he said.

“We set the framework and then leagues dictate who much each club or division gets.

“Player movement is interesting, I don’t know if there’s more of less, what I know is it’s more visible.

“Maybe it was the same as five years ago, I don’t have any data, but it just feels like more because you get to read about it and it creates interest and clubs can celebrate it.”

Pointing to Broadford’s return from recess as an example, Auld saw the resilience of community football.

He was confident the AFL was working well with leagues and clubs to ensure a healthy grassroots environment.

LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL FOOTY NEWS HERE

“Our participation levels, Victoria and nationally, are already above where we were pre-COVID,” he said.

“Where I’m hesitant to talk about numbers, that’s not how community footy works, some clubs will have having the ride of their lives – numbers are fantastic and we need more teams – while others will be finding it tough.

“We have a network of club development officers that work specifically with clubs that are experiencing tougher times.

“Community footy is resilient, as long as we’re providing the right environment and network support then footy will find its way.”