Tradition scrapped as AFL dumps trademark part of the game amongst two huge changes
Updated . First published at
The AFL has scrapped the centre bounce and the substitute rule following the 2025 season.
New head of football Greg Swann has moved quickly to reshape the game in his first off-season in charge.
The bounce has been a traditional way for umpires to restart games after goals and quarter breaks.
READ MORE: Bulldogs star's cheeky response after airport spotting
READ MORE: Saints defender rejects $4.8m trade offer from rivals
READ MORE: AFL gifts dismal West Coast assistance package
The sub rule meanwhile has been ditched in favour of simply having five players on the bench.
AFL umpires Robert Findlay practices a centre bounce AFL Photos via Getty Images
Umpires have often complained about the damage practicing the bounce over and over eventually does to their backs. Removing it also allows the AFL to pick umpires regardless of their bouncing prowess.
Swann said the wellbeing of the umpiring department was key to the decision.
"The centre bounce has long been a part of Australian Football tradition, but as the game has evolved, there are several areas which will benefit from allowing umpires to simply throw the ball up at the restart," he said in an AFL statement.
"Currently, umpire pathways are being narrowed by the requirement of the bounce.
"It is a difficult skill to execute, and we believe is preventing some of our best umpiring prospects from progressing any further in the AFL pathway despite having elite decision-making skills.
"By removing the skill aspect of bouncing the ball, umpires can focus their energy on adjudicating the game and consistency of decision making.
"We also anticipate this decision will be safer for umpires and players at the contest and lessen the likelihood of umpire contact at the restart.
"The removal of the bounce we predict will also have a positive impact in the reduction of game length and produce a cleaner and fairer ruck contest, two areas we have been monitoring for the past two seasons.
"Additionally, it will also create consistency across national competitions."
AFL field umpire blows his whistle to restart play. AFL Photos via Getty Images
However, former Essendon captain James Hird isn't a fan of the change, saying it will take craft out of ruck work.
"I think it's a bad decision. It just favours the tallest guy in the ruck. You want guys with craft. I'm disappointed it's gone," Hird told AFL Trade Radio.
On the sub rule, Swann said those in the game almost unanimously wanted it scrapped.
"We have listened to the feedback from players, the Clubs and the AFLPA to remove the substitute in favour of a fifth interchange player with rotations to remain the same," he said.
The AFL brought back the sub rule in 2022 for the purposes of replacing injured players, but soon ditched the medical element of it.
Geelong coach Chris Scott has been a vocal opponent of the rule.
"I think we all (would like to see it scrapped), and I'm at the head of the queue," Scott said after the grand final loss to Brisbane.
Chris Scott, Senior Coach of the Cats looks on during the AFL Grand Final via Getty Images
The shift to five players on the bench will not come with an increase in interchange rotations, which are currently capped at 75 per team.
However the fifth player can now come on and off as he likes, rather than needing to replace a teammate permanently.
The AFL also announced on Wednesday list building rules for the Tassie Devils expansion team.
They will be given additional access to Tasmanian born players, extra list spots and a signing bonus pool of $5m outside of the salary cap.
They will be given picks one, three, five, seven, nine, 11 and 13 in the 2027 national draft, but will need to trade all but the top two.
Finally, the father-son and academy bidding rules will also be tightened for the 2026 draft, with the AFL pushing for a limit on how many picks can be used to match bids for top-end talent.
