Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

The recent interchange foul-up during the Sydney-North Melbourne game which led to 19 players being on the ground has led the AFL to introduce new interchange rules. The changes were trialed this week and will be in full effect as of Round Nine.  A new "holding" area will be established in front of the team benches and there will be two interchange stewards to monitor interchanges. One steward will be assigned to each team.

Interchange procedures will also be more stringently enforced. As before, team officials will notify the steward of an impending change. Once the steward approves, the player will move to the "holding" area and will remain their until the player he is to replace has come off the ground through the interchange area.

Breaches will be penalized by a free kick to the opposition. Breaches which result in a free kick are:

*19 players on the field, such as would happen if the replacement player enters the field before his teammate has left the playing area

*A player enters the field before his interchange is approved by the interchange steward

*A player does not enter or leave the playing area the interchange area (previously he was disqualified from participating in the remainder of the match).

*The free kick will be taken from wherever play was stopped or from the center circle, whichever is the greater penalty against the offending team. A 50 meter penalty would also be given.

NOTE: The only possible exception to this is if a player is injured. Several years ago, the AFL modified the interchange rule to allow an injured player to leave the field from the nearest boundary line so as not to hold up play while he made his way or was assisted by trainers to the designated interchange area.

Source: Michelle Clyne, AFL Media Release & author notes