Australia and the World Past and Present

The AFL’s rule changes over the past 40 years tell a story about how the game has evolved.

Changes are driven by a mixture of factors.

They aim to create a more attractive spectacle for fans and broadcasters.

Some may improve player safety or help to maintain a competitive balance.

There are commercial considerations such as television ratings and attendance.

In many cases, the AFL has chosen spectacle over tradition.

In 1988s the 50-metre penalty was introduced. Before then, there was only a 15-metre penalty.

Key drivers for the change were discouraging time-wasting and improving game flow.

The number of interchange players gradually increased over time. This created higher-intensity football and reduced player fatigue. The main drivers here were spectacle and player welfare.

Ironically, this later created new problems by producing fresher athletes and more congestion on the field.

In the 1994s, a third field umpire was introduced and a fourth in 2023. This was supposed to improve decision-making and manage the increasing speed of the game.

Rules limiting player positions at centre bounces became stricter over time. This was meant to create cleaner clearances and reduce congestion.

In the 2000s and 2010s, the focus became stopping defensive football. This was the anti-congestion era. The AFL become increasingly concerned about falling scores.

Rotations were capped. The idea was to Increase fatigue and thereby create more open play.

The 6-6-6 starting positions were introduced in 2019. Teams were required to start with six forwards, six defenders and six midfielders. Again, this was supposed to fight congestion and open up play.

Concussion protocols were introduced. There are now mandatory concussion assessments, longer return-to-play periods and suspension for dangerous tackles. The main driver here is player safety and legal risk.

If you compare the football of the 1980s to 2026, player safety has become vastly more important.

Modern players can be suspended for actions that were once routine – sling tackles and high bumps.

The AFL’s concern is partly medical and partly legal and is influenced by concussion litigation in sports worldwide.

Many changes are indirectly driven by television. Broadcasters pay billions for AFL rights. Television networks generally prefer more goals, faster play and fewer stoppages. The AFL rarely says a rule change is about television ratings, but many critics argue that anti-congestion measures such as 6-6-6 were heavily influenced by broadcast considerations.

The AFL has increasingly viewed itself not merely as the custodian of a sport but as the manager of an entertainment product.

Many rule changes since the early 2000s have been attempts to preserve a fast, high-scoring spectacle while also responding to growing concerns about player welfare.

The resulting tensions – between tradition, entertainment and safety – have become one of the defining features of modern AFL administration.