2019 AFL season

The 2019 Australian Football League season will be the 123rd season of the elite Australian rules football competition. There are 18 teams competing in the league, the same as the previous seven seasons. The first game will be played on Thursday, 21 March, and the season is scheduled to conclude with the 2019 AFL Grand Final on Saturday, 28 September. The reigning premiers are the West Coast Eagles.

Rule changes

The AFL Commission approved several alterations to the rules of the game, to come into effect for the 2019 season:^[1]

• Traditional playing positions mandated at centre bounces (i.e.: after goals have been scored)

• • Clubs must have six players inside both 50m arcs, with one player inside the goalsquare.

• • Four midfield players must start inside the centre square with the two wingmen stationed along the wing.

• At kick-ins, a player will no longer need to kick to himself to play on from the goalsquare.

• Following a behind, the man on the mark will be brought out to 10m from the top of the goalsquare, rather than the existing five metres.

• When defenders mark or receive a free kick within nine metres of their own goal, the man on the mark will be brought in line with the top of the goalsquare.

• Team runners may only enter the playing surface after a goal has been kicked and must exit before play restarts.

• Water carriers are not permitted to enter the playing surface during live play.

• Players will be prohibited from setting up behind the umpire at centre bounces.

• With respect to 50 metre penalties, the player with the ball:

• • Must be allowed to advance the mark by 50m without the infringing player delaying the game and;

• • Will be able to play on while the 50m penalty is being measured out.

• With respect to kicks after the siren, a player in this situation:

• • Will be able to kick across their body using a snap or check-side however;

• • They must kick the ball directly in line with the man on the mark and the goal.

• The 'hands in the back’ rule interpretation has been repealed so a player can now:

• • Place his hands on the back of his opponent to protect his position in a marking contest, provided he does not push his opponent in the back.

• A ruckman who takes direct possession of the ball from a bounce, throw-up or boundary throw-in will no longer be regarded as having had prior opportunity.

• Where there is uncertainty over who is the designated ruckman, the ruckman for each team will still be required to nominate to the field umpire.

References