Three key AFL rules look set to be changed for the 2026 season, with new football operations boss Greg Swann revealing the probable alterations.
Swann, previously a chief executive at Collingwood, Carlton and Brisbane, has flagged changes in the sub rule, stand rule and centre bounce in an interview on AFL 360.
These new rules could possibly be introduced for the 2026 AFL campaign or be trialled at another level before it is considered.
AFL fans have been critical about all three rules, particularly the stand rule, which causes controversial 50m penalties.
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Sub rule
"I don’t think there’s too many coaches who want the sub," Swann said.
"Yep, we’ll have a look at that one, definitely.
"There might be other reasons that it was brought in in the first place that I don’t know about, there might be some stats around it to change it.
"But I don’t think it’s 17 (coaches), I think it’s 18-0. I don’t think anybody wants the sub from what I’ve heard."
Stand rule
"The stand rule is a problem for the umpires and we want to make it a bit easier," Swann stated.
"Probably retaining (the rule), but ‘a stand is a stand’. You can’t run off … it sort of defeated the purpose because the stand rules was to help open the play. But now that player gets back and clogs up again."
Centre bounce
"I’m a fan of that, I don’t like the bounce," Swann revealed.
"I don’t see why the umpires need a party trick, which is to bounce it.
"It’s more important they get the decisions right, so let’s just make it easier, throw it up and concentrate on getting more decisions right than wrong."