No more medi-sub: AFL to bring in new tactical substitute rule (afl site)

[one-eyed]

No more medi-sub: AFL to bring in new substitute rule

Clubs will be able to make a substitute for any reason in 2023 after the AFL's latest rule change

By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
28 November 2022

THE AFL has replaced the medical substitute with a tactical substitute for next year, with clubs informed on Monday of the significant rule change.

The League told clubs ahead of the NAB AFL Draft on Monday that its recommendation to the AFL Commission ahead of their December meeting would be to allow four players on the interchange bench as well as one substitution for tactical reasons that can be used for any purpose at any stage of the game.

The AFL Competition Committee approved the change, which has been worked through in recent months.

The League said further details would be shared with clubs in coming weeks, but that the two-year-old rule of players needing a medical reason to be replaced on the ground would no longer be the case in 2023.

The medical substitute was introduced on the eve of the 2021 season after the AFL doubled to 12 days the mandatory time out of the game for a player who suffers a concussion.

At the time, the League's footy boss Steve Hocking said the rule was introduced with player safety in mind.

"Over recent years we have continued to take action to strengthen match-day protocols and amend the Laws of the Game to improve safety," he said.

"We continue to listen and learn and where we can reasonably make our game safer at any stage of the season, we will."

Between 2011-15, the interchange was reduced from four players to three but a substitute player was allowed to replace any other player at any time, for any reason.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/869839/no-more-medi-sub-afl-to-bring-in-new-substitute-rule

[WilliamPowell]

Another joke by the rules committee and the  AFL

Either turf it all together and leave the bench at 4 or increase the bench to 5

This just reeks of being too scored to make a decision

[one-eyed]

No vests: AFL reveals details of revamped sub rule

The League has written to clubs to confirm how the substitute rule will operate in 2023

By Michael Rogers
afl.com.au
22 December 2022

THE TACTICAL substitute is back in 2023 but the famous subs vest won't be making a return.

As reported by AFL.com.au last month, clubs will be able to replace a player with an unused substitute at any stage of the game, for any reason. The two-year-old rule of players needing a medical reason to be substituted out of the game will no longer apply.

The AFL wrote to clubs on Wednesday, confirming the details of the substitute rule for next year after the AFL Commission ratified the recommended changes.

* Clubs will still name a starting sub when they finalise their teams an hour before the first bounce, in addition to the four interchange players.

* The starting sub must sit in the rear row of the interchange bench, wearing a club-branded top that is not their playing guernsey. There will be no substitute's vest or any other coloured top.

* Substitutes can play in a state league competition on the same weekend, subject to the club's discretion and the relevant state league's rules.

* The interchange cap remains the same at 75 rotations per game.

Players who suffer a suspected concussion must still undergo the mandatory assessments for a minimum of 15 minutes as per the AFL's concussion guidelines. If any player is substituted out of the game due to suspected concussion, they cannot return to the game even if they are eventually cleared of concussion by club doctors. 

The medical substitute was introduced on the eve of the 2021 season after the AFL doubled to 12 days the mandatory time out of the game for a player who suffers a concussion.

At the time, the League's footy boss Steve Hocking said the rule was introduced with player safety in mind.

Between 2011-15, the interchange was reduced from four players to three but a substitute player was allowed to replace any other player at any time, for any reason.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/872015/no-vests-afl-reveals-details-of-revamped-sub-rule

[Andyy]

So basically we're back to having a sub rule and a fresh bloke will come on every week half way through the first quarter lol

I'd prefer they either just extended the bench or medically subbed players copped a week on the sidelines.