Australia and the World Past and Present

In the 1980s, an Australian rules football team operated quite differently from today.

The number of players on the field has remained unchanged for more than a century – that is 18 players on the field per team.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the competition expanded nationally. The VFL officially became the AFL in 1990 and clubs generally had 18 on field and 2 interchange players. There were no tactical rotations as we know them today. Interchange players were primarily used for injuries or fatigue late in games.

As of 2026, AFL clubs have 18 on the field as well as 5 interchange players. So the total match-day squad is larger than it used to be.

But probably the biggest change is how interchange players are utilised. The contrast with past play is striking. In the 1980s, a midfielder might start the game and never come off.

Today, a midfielder may come off the ground a dozen times or more and be managed according to GPS and workload data.

Why did the AFL allow more interchanges?

Player welfare is one reason. Football became faster and more physically demanding. Clubs wanted fresh players available. It was thought that faster, fresher athletes would produce a quicker game.

Ironically, by the late 2000s, the AFL felt that clubs were using the interchange system too effectively. Some teams were making more than 120 rotations per game, contributing to flooding and defensive structures.

This led to interchange caps being introduced to reduce the number of rotations and increase player fatigue.

Today, the cap sits at 75 per club, per game.

The use of interchanges in the 1980s was relatively limited. By the late 2010s, it had become a major tactical part of the game. There was a sense that the pendulum had swung to far and required new rules to regulate it.

The increased use of interchanges by clubs fundamentally changed the way that the game was played. Traditionalists from the 1980s may see it as a corruption of the game.