Clubs told of more potential rule changes on AFL ‘watch list’ for 2027

Players who drop at the knees to draw head-high contact would risk giving away a free kick, and the shot clock would be scrapped for set shots from outside 50, under further rule changes being considered by the AFL for 2027.

The league on Wednesday announced seven rule changes that will be introduced for the 2026 season, but clubs have also been advised of a “watch list” of more potential changes, which will be monitored and debated ahead of the following season.

Dylan Moore is tackled by Jack Sinclair.Credit: Getty Images

The AFL told clubs they are troubled by the habit of players dropping at the knees and lowering their body into a tackle to try to draw a free kick. In part, the aim is to protect players from themselves and stop them from risking concussions by using their heads to draw free kicks.

Under the potential change, a player who collapsed their knees in this fashion would be deemed to have had prior opportunity, and so, once tackled, could give a way a free kick rather than draw one.

The difficulty of finding the right language to draft a new rule, which can be applied as the AFL intends, is one of the problems in making a change.

The AFL on Wednesday changed the rules for next year to consider a shrug in a tackle to be prior opportunity. The proposed change on the watch list would go a step further.

The league declined to comment on the areas being considered for change.

Other potential rule changes on the watch list, according to two industry sources with detailed knowledge of the list, are:

No shot clock outside the 50-metre arc

Frustrated at players wasting time, watching the shot clock and often having no intention of kicking for goal from long range, the league is considering abandoning the 30-second shot clock for set shots from outside 50.

This means the player outside 50m would be given no extra time to prepare a kick for goal.

Instead, they would be given the same eight seconds allowed for free kicks or marks around the ground.

No warning for 6-6-6 breaches

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Scrapping the umpires warning teams of a breach of the starting positions – having six players in each of the three zones on the ground – is another possible change for 2027. A free kick would just be paid without a warning for any 6-6-6 breach.

Last season there were 66 warnings over starting positions, but only six free kicks were paid for breaches.

A source with knowledge of the AFL’s thinking said the main reason this change was not brought in immediately was the expansion of the bench to five for 2026. The concern was there could be more confusion with rotations on the bench, so any the additional change has been delayed by a year.

Prior opportunity, insufficient intent in ruck contests

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The league is also considering reverting to a rule whereby a ruckman taking the ball out of the ruck will be considered to have had prior opportunity, so would have to immediately dispose of the ball if tackled.

This rule was previously in place but was scrapped at the end of 2018.

The league is also discussing with clubs changing the requirement of rucks to remain separated at ball-ups and throw-ins around the ground.

The AFL will also analyse insufficient intent for a ball that goes out of bounds from a ruck contest. The concern is over a ruckman who taps the ball out of the ruck towards the boundary line and out of bounds.

The areas on the watch list are not certain to lead to rule changes in 2027 or beyond, but are areas the league has foreshadowed with clubs for consideration and feedback.

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