AFL rule changes for 2025: AFL decides to keep the sub rule

The AFL has made its decision on the controversial sub rule for 2025, while also locking in a minor change to the advantage rule. JAY CLARK has the full details.

The AFL has decided to keep the sub for next season despite calls to scrap it in favour of a five-man bench.

The Herald Sun understands the league sent a memo to clubs on Wednesday confirming there would be no major changes to the rules of the game or the bench set-up in 2025.

There was a minor tweak to allow a non-controlling umpire to call advantage at centre bounces and a move to bounce the ball rather than throw it up after a six-six-six warning.

But the AFL is adamant the game is in great shape and has decided to keep all major rules in place despite speculation about reducing the goal kicking shot clock to 20 seconds.

In particular, the league said it was pleased with recent scoring trends, ball movement metrics and the closeness of games in 2024 as Brisbane Lions recovered from a slow start to win a remarkable flag.

However, the decision to keep the sub for next season will frustrate some coaches including Essendon coach Brad Scott, the former AFL operations manager who wanted the sub banished.

Scott said the sub rule put extra pressure on doctors to make tough calls on whether to sub players out of games or not for medical reasons.

“If you really want to take the pressure off the doctor, abolish the sub, because there’s just no reason to have it,” Scott said.

Luke Breust was the sub for most games in 2025 for Hawthorn. Picture: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

“Have five on the bench, and then clubs don’t get disadvantaged.

“Pressure is off the doctors, they can take the time to make the assessment, and then you’re not making these decisions on subbing players in or out.”

Likewise, AFL players’ Association boss Paul Marsh said there was little support for the sub at clubs and was adamant a simpler five-man bench was the “smart way forward”.

Ryley Sanders was controversially subbed out by Luke Beveridge. Picture: Michael Klein

“I don’t really understand the reasons for it. It’s something that doesn’t work for the players,” Marsh said.

But in the memo to clubs the AFL said it was happy with how the sub rule operated in 2024.

The sub can come on in place of another player at any stage of the game for medical or tactical reasons.

“There will be no change to the bench composition for 2025,” the memo said.

“As you know, the substitute was introduced to assist in injury and concussion management and subsequently, following club feedback, was expanded to allow for tactical use.

“Through our analysis to date, we believe there may be unintended consequences related to player health and safety, competitive balance and game quality if the sub was to be removed.

“To that end, with the game being in good health, we are not prepared to make changes that don’t have concrete evidence to support making the game better.

“We will, however, continue with our analysis into the optimal composition of the bench (including interchange cap) throughout the 2025 season.”

The league confirmed it would continue to monitor areas of the game such as the interchange cap, double goal free kick locations, deliberate rushed behinds, the stand rule and umpire contact among other issues.