Greg Swann hasn’t even clocked in at AFL House yet, but the incoming football boss already has a packed agenda, and some of the game’s most contentious rules are in his firing line.
Swann officially starts next Monday, taking charge of umpiring, player movement, laws of the game and innovation, among other areas. And according to Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph, several 2026 tweaks are firmly on his radar, from cutting down game length to rethinking the centre bounce.
Rather than trimming quarters, Swann is said to be eyeing ways to reduce dead time, like throwing the ball up quicker at stoppages and possibly adopting a last-touch rule between the arcs to limit throw-ins.
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Bounce, stand rule and MRO under the microscope
Swann has reportedly long opposed the centre bounce, once telling colleagues: “The umpires shouldn’t have a party trick to officiate.” Veteran journalist Mike Sheehan echoed that call, saying: “In an elite competition you can’t have the (umpire) blowing the whistle saying: ‘Give it back to me, I’ll do it again’.”
He’s also expected to meet with Steve Hocking to reassess the intent and execution of the stand rule, which some say has been “bastardised” by players stepping off the mark.
Tigers great Jack Riewoldt and Leigh Matthews believe fixing the MRO must be priority number one. “Clean that up and make sure it’s fit for purpose. We know it’s not,” Matthews said on On The Couch.
Other items on Swann’s list include reviewing the sub-rule, clarifying ‘insufficient intent’, loosening up holding-the-ball interpretations, and even reconsidering the number and positioning of field umpires.
As the AFL faces growing calls to simplify and sharpen its on-field product, Swann’s arrival may signal a long-overdue reset.