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AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

REGULATIONS

17 March 2021
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Table of Contents
1. General 8
1.1 Definitions 8
1.2 Other Definitions 14
1.3 Interpretation 14
1.4 Reasonable & Severance 14
1.5 Interpretation and Amendment of Regulations 14
1.6 Delegation 15
1.7 Sanctions and Payment 15
1.8 Powers 15
2. Football Seasons and Competitions 16
2.1 AFL Season 16
2.2 All Matches Subject to Rules and Regulations of AFL 16
2.3 Inter-Club Practice Matches 16
2.4 Pre-Season Competition 16
2.5 Premiership Competition – Inclusive of Home and Away Matches 16
2.6 Finals Series 18
2.7 Venues for Finals Series Matches 18
2.8 Tie in Finals Series Matches 19
2.9 Ranking of Clubs Eliminated During Finals Series 20
2.10 State of Origin Matches 20
2.11 Exhibition or Promotional Match 21
2.12 Obligations of Clubs 21
3. Grounds and Venues 22
3.1 Lodge Documents 22
3.2 Ground Occupancy Agreement 22
3.3 Conditions of Grounds 22
3.4 Other Regulations 22
3.5 Inspection of Arena 22
4. Club Colours and Uniforms 24
4.1 Clubs and Uniforms 24
4.2 Obligation to Have Uniforms Available 24
4.3 Exclusive Right to Wear Uniform 24
4.4 Wearing of the Uniform 24
4.5 Obligation to Wear Correct Uniform and Items of Clothing 25
4.6 Other Apparel 25
4.7 Protective Equipment 25
4.8 Payment for Breach 27
5. AFL Logo and Sponsors’ Logos Appearing on Players’ Uniforms 28
5.1 General 28
5.2 Sanction for Non-Compliance 28
5.3 Advertising Rights Vest in AFL 28
5.4 AFL Approval of Sponsor Advertising 28
5.5 Sponsor Advertising on Club Guernseys 28
5.6 Obligation to Comply 29
5.7 Conditions and Variation 29
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5.8 Breach of Commercial Operations Guidelines or Regulation 6 29


6. Numbers 30
6.1 Type, Size and Position of Numbers Determined by Commission 30
6.2 Notification of Numbers by Club - Players 30
6.3 Change of Player Guernsey During Match 30
6.4 Trainers 30
6.5 Team Sheet - Regulation 31
7. Banners, Run Throughs and Cheer Squads 32
7.1 Banners or Run Throughs 32
7.2 Cheer Squad on Arena 32
7.3 Obligations on Cheer Squad 32
9. Footballs 33
9.1 Approved Footballs 33
9.2 Supply and Selection of Footballs 33
9.3 Additional Footballs and Adverse Conditions 33
10. Timing & Other Arrangements 34
10.1 Definitions 34
10.2 Timekeepers - Appointment and Duties 34
10.3 Procedure for Sounding Siren 34
10.4 End of Quarter 35
10.5 Tossing of Coin 36
10.6 Players Ready to Commence Play 36
10.7 Clubs Entering Arena 36
10.8 Players Kicking Football into Crowd 36
11. Announcement of Team list 37
11.1 Pre-Season Competition 37
11.2 Home and Away and Finals Series Matches 37
11.3 Changes to Team list prior to Match 37
11.4 Sanctions 38
12. Official Team Sheet 38
12.1 Submission of Official Team Sheet 38
12.2 Composition of Official Team Sheet 38
12.3 Amendment to Official Team Sheet – Emergency Player 40
12.4 Interchange Players 40
12.5 Medical Substitute Player 41
12.6 Head Injury Assessment 43
12.7 Permitted Access to Arena 44
12.8 Access to Interchange Bench 44
12.9 Interchange 45
12.10 Players exceeding Permitted Numbers 48
12.11 Listed Players May enter Arena 48
12.12 Emergency Listed Players 48
12.13 Use of Interchange Board 49
12.14 Staff and Officials Permitted onto the Playing Surface during the Match 49
12.15 Team Runner 50
12.16 Trainers 50
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12.17 Club Medical Officer/Physiotherapists 51


12.18 Uniforms - Trainer 52
12.19 Uniforms – Club Medical Officer and Physiotherapist 52
12.20 Communication Devices and Wearable Devices 52
12.21 Sanctions 53
13. Reference to a Player’s Names 54
14. Cooperation and Attendance at Meetings and Education Sessions 55
14.1 Attending Meetings 55
14.2 Meeting 55
14.3 Request to Meeting 55
14.4 Attending Education Session 55
15. Umpires and Scoring 56
15.1 Public Comments on Umpires 56
15.2 Approaches to Umpires 56
15.3 Scoring 56
16. Reportable Offences and Reporting Procedures 57
16.1 Construction and Interpretation 57
16.2 Match Review Officer 58
16.3 Qualifications 58
16.4 Absent Members 58
16.5 Resignation 58
16.6 Removal 58
16.7 Secretary 58
16.8 Role of Secretary 58
16.9 Reportable Offence 59
16.10 Report Made by Umpires 59
16.11 Referral of Incident to Match Review Officer 60
16.12 Review, Investigation and Charging by Match Review Officer 61
17. Suspension and Disqualification 67
17.1 Ineligible to Play if Suspended or Disqualified 67
17.2 Suspension to be Served in Next Match or Matches 67
17.3 Exception – Club Practice Match 67
17.4 Club Practice Match 67
17.5 Suspension of Players in State League Competition 67
17.6 Club that Plays Suspended Player 67
18. Mêlées 69
18.1 Sanction Also on Club 69
19. Tribunal 70
19.1 Establishment and Composition 70
19.2 Procedure and Evidence 71
19.3 Obligations of Tribunal 73
19.4 Standard of Proof 74
19.5 Onus of Proof 74
19.6 Decision and Sanctions 74
19.7 Other Powers 75
19.8 Reasons for Decisions 76
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19.9 Appointment and Obligations of Tribunal Counsel 76


19.10 Powers of Tribunal Counsel 76
19.11 Representation 76
19.12 Representative 76
19.13 Persons Entitled to be Present 77
19.14 Victim Player, Other Player and Weight to be Given to Evidence 77
19.15 Validity of Charge and Hearings 77
19.16 Co-operation with Tribunal 78
19.17 Contact with Witnesses 78
19.18 Public Comment and Criticism 79
20. Appeal from Tribunal Decision 81
20.1 Regulation Paramount 81
20.2 Person May Appeal 81
20.3 General Counsel May Appeal 81
20.4 Appointment 81
20.5 Composition for Appeal Board Hearing 81
20.6 Qualifications 82
20.7 Absent Members 82
20.8 Resignation 82
20.9 Removal 82
20.10 Appointment of Secretary 82
20.11 Role of Secretary 82
20.12 Notice of Appeal by Person 82
20.13 Lodgement of Notice of Appeal 83
20.14 Time for Hearing of Appeal 83
20.15 Procedure and Evidence 84
20.16 Obligations of Appeal Board 84
20.17 Adjournment and Stay of Sanction 84
20.18 Representation 85
20.19 Representative 85
20.20 Review 85
20.21 Decisions of Appeal Board 86
20.22 Majority Decisions 86
20.23 Reasons for Decisions 86
20.24 Onus and Standard on Appeal 86
20.25 Appeal Fee 86
20.26 Costs 86
20.27 Abandon Appeal 86
20.28 Validity of Appeal and Hearings 86
20.29 Public Comment and Criticism 87
20.30 Exhaust Internal Appeal 87
21. Brownlow Medal 88
21.1 Voting 88
21.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of Brownlow Medal 88
21.3 Ineligible Players Still Receive Votes 88
21.4 Reportable Offence 88
21.5 Exception 88
22. AFL Rising Star Award 89
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22.1 Voting 89
22.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of AFL Rising Star Award 89
22.3 Players Still Receive Nominations 90
22.4 Reportable Offence 90
22.5 Exception 90
22.6 Eligible Player 90
23. Coleman Medal 91
23.1 Winner 91
23.2 More than One winner 91
24. Norm Smith Medal/ANZAC Medal 92
24.1 Voting 92
24.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal 92
25. All Australian 93
25.1 All Australian Selection Committee 93
25.2 Meetings 93
25.3 Selection Criteria 93
25.4 All Australian Captain, Vice Captain, Coach and Umpire 94
26. Mark of the Year/Goal of the Year 95
26.1 AFL Mark/Goal of the Year 95
26.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of AFL Mark/Goal of the Year 95
27. Eligibility for Awards 96
27.1 Eligibility for Awards 96
28. Dr. William. C. McClelland Trophy 97
28.1 Name & Award 97
28.2 Trophy 97
29. Broadcasting of AFL Spectacles 98
29.1 Introduction 98
29.2 Definitions 98
29.3 Broadcast Rights Vest in AFL 99
29.4 Rights Exclusive to AFL 99
29.5 AFL Clubs Not to Grant Rights 99
29.6 Ground Management Authority 99
29.7 Alternative Venue 100
29.8 Failure to Comply with Regulation 29.6 or 29.7 100
29.9 Equipment in Venues 100
29.10 Equipment in Venues - Assistance 101
30. AFL Broadcaster & Media Access Policy 102
30.1 Obligations 102
30.2 Cooperation With Media 102
30.3 Sanction 102
31. Stadium Roofs 104
31.1 Roof Opening 104
31.2 Contact with Roof 104
32. Delay in Commencement & Forfeiture Of Match 105
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32.1 Failure to Enter Arena on Time 105


32.2 Executive General Manager Football to Determine Sanction 105
32.3 Forfeiture 105
32.4 Abandonment 106
32.5 Travel Arrangements 106
32.6 Commission May Vary 106
33. Incomplete Match 107
33.1 Match Not Able to Commence or Continue 107
33.2 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Home and Away Matches 107
33.3 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Finals Series Matches 108
33.4 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Pre-Season Competition 108
33.5 Re-Commencement of Play 109
33.6 Commission May Vary 109
34. Use of Stretchers 110
34.1 Injured Player Requiring Stretcher 110
34.2 Club Medical Personnel 110
34.3 Direct Access 110
34.4 Player Not to Resume 110
34.5 Interchange Official to be Notified 110
34.6 Breach 111
34.7 Resuming Play within 20 Minute Period 111
34.8 Motorised conveyance 111
34.9 Injured player exits the Playing Surface outside of the Interchange Gates 112
35. Medically Unfit Players 114
35.1 Prohibition on Playing Medically Unfit Player 114
35.2 Examination of Medical Officer 114
35.3 IV Fluids in AFL 114
35.4 Public Liability Insurance 115
36. Bleeding and Blood Borne Infections 116
36.1 The Meaning of Active Bleeding 116
36.2 Participation in Matches When Actively Bleeding 116
36.3 Active Bleeding - Role of Umpire 116
36.4 Procedure When Player Not Actively Bleeding 117
36.5 Failure to Obey Direction 118
36.6 Special Circumstances at the End of a Quarter 118
36.7 Deliberate Smearing of Blood 118
36.8 Protective Gloves 118
36.9 Disposal of Bloodied Clothing and Other Material 118
36.10 Dressing Rooms 119
36.11 Hygiene 119
36.12 Trainers 119
Annexure 1 – Final Eight System 120
Annexure 2 – Official Team Sheet 121
Annexure 3 - Late Amendment to Official Team Sheet 122
Annexure 4 – Interchange Gates 123
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Annexure 5 – Protective Equipment Application 124


Appendix 1 – Reportable Offences 125
Schedule 1 – Prescribed Forms 132
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1. General
1.1 Definitions

In these Regulations, unless there is something in the subject or context inconsistent


therewith, the following expressions will have the following meanings:-

Accredited Media Representatives: representatives of the Media who have obtained


authorisation from the AFL to:

(a) enter the venue at which a Match is to be conducted;

(b) attend media conferences organised by the AFL;

(c) enter media facilities within a venue at which a Match is played; and

(d) enter Club dressing rooms at the completion of a Match.

Additional Time: for the purpose of Regulation 2.8, additional time shall consist of two
(2) periods of three (3) minutes duration (with time added on for stoppages in play in
the same manner as during ordinary time).

AFL: Australian Football League, being a Company limited by guarantee, incorporated


in Victoria and previously known as Victorian Football League.

AFL Anti-Doping Code: the code regulating the administration and use of drugs by
Players, as amended from time to time by the Commission.

AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines: the guidelines of the AFL which describes
the commercial and marketing guidelines, including on-field policies of the AFL, as
published and amended by the AFL from time to time.

AFL Competition: the Matches conducted by or under the auspices of the AFL.

AFL Interchange Official: the person or persons appointed by the AFL from time to
time under these Regulations.

AFL Logo: the mark or logo of the AFL as amended from time to time by the
Commission.

AFL Match Manager: the person so appointed for a Match by the Executive General
Manager Football.

AFL Media Relations Policy: the policy as detailed in the AFL Commercial Operations
Guidelines.

AFL Medical Director(s): the person(s) appointed as such by the Commission.

AFL Official Statistician: means the statistician engaged by the AFL from time to time,
which as of the date of these Regulations is Champion Data.

AFL Official: means any employee, servant or agent of the AFL having official duties
in connection with a Match, the AFL Competition or the AFL Rules & Regulations.

AFL Rules: the AFL Rules as approved by the Commission from time to time.
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AFL Regulations or these Regulations: these AFL Regulations.

AFL Rules & Regulations: means any rule, regulation, code, agreement or guideline
made by the AFL that relates to the administration of the AFL Competition and includes
without limitation these AFL Regulations, the AFL Rules, the AFL-AFLPA Collective
Bargaining Agreement, AFL Standard Player Contracts, the AFL Articles of
Association, the AFL Memorandum of Association and the AFL-AFL Umpires’
Association Collective Agreement.

AFL Season: the period in each year determined by the AFL in which the Matches set
out in Regulation 2.1 are played.

AFLPA: the Australian Football League Players’ Association.

All Australian Selector: means a person appointed as such by the Executive General
Manager Football.

Amendment to Official Team Sheet: the amendment to the Official Team Sheet more
particularly described in Regulation 12.3 and set out in Annexure 3.

Annexures: the annexures at the end and forming part of these Regulations.

Appeal Board: the Appeal Board established and constituted under the AFL Rules.

Arena: includes the Playing Surface and all of the area between the boundary line and
the perimeter fence or any break in the perimeter fence, including the Interchange
Bench.

Brownlow Medal: the medal awarded to the fairest and best Player in accordance with
Regulation 21.

Captain: the Player appointed by the Club as the captain of its Team.

Chief Executive Officer: in respect of the AFL, the person appointed to that position
by the Commission or their nominee.

Club: a football Club which has the right of representation on the AFL pursuant to the
Articles of Association of the AFL.

Club Interchange Steward: the person appointed by each Club or Team to facilitate
the interchange of Players during a Match.

Club Licence Agreement: an agreement between the Club and the AFL whereby the
Club is granted the right to field a Team in the AFL Competition.

Club Medical Officer: a duly qualified medical practitioner appointed by a Club to be


its Club Medical Officer.

Club Football Official: means any person under the control of the Club or engaged by
the Club on an ongoing basis to:

(a) work with, treat or assist a Player in relation to the Player’s participation in or
preparation for the AFL Competition; or

(b) undertake official duties for the Club in connection with the playing of a Match,
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including but not limited to coaches, football managers, trainers, runners, medical or
para-medical personnel, fitness/rehabilitation staff, player development managers, club
doctors and psychologists.

Coach or Senior Coach: a person appointed by a Club to coach the Team or Teams
of the Club.

Collective Bargaining Agreement: the agreement entered into between the AFL and
the AFLPA from time to time which governs the conditions of engagement of Players.

Commission: the Commission appointed pursuant to the Articles of Association of the


AFL.

Communication Device: includes but is not limited to headsets, microphones,


earpieces, telephones and walkie talkies.

Contract of Service: without limiting the ordinary legal meaning thereof, a contract in
writing whereby a Player's personal services to play football are provided to the Club
and are subject to the control of the Club.

Emergency Player: the 23rd, 24th, 25th or 26th Players of a Team who may, in
accordance with these Regulations, be substituted for another Player selected in the
Team.

Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial: the person appointed to


that position by the Commission or their nominee.

Executive General Manager Football: the person appointed to that position by the
Commission or their nominee.

Exhibition or Promotional Match: a Match conducted by the AFL to promote or


exhibit the game of Australian football.

Final Eight System: the system to determine the premier Club between those Clubs
competing in the Finals Series, as set out in Annexure 1.

Final Premiership Ladder: the ranking of Clubs as determined by the Commission at


the conclusion of the Finals Series taking into account any sanctions imposed by the
Commission under AFL Rule 17.

Finals Series: the Matches played at the conclusion of the Home and Away Matches
to determine the premier Team.

Finals Series Match: any Match played as part of the Finals Series.

Football Year: the period commencing on 1 November and concluding on the 31


October next.

Further Additional time: for the purpose of Regulation 2.8, further additional time shall
consist of two (2) periods of three (3) minutes duration (with time added on for
stoppages in play in the same manner as during ordinary time).

Ground Management Authority: the person or entity with the management, control
or occupancy of the venue where an AFL Club plays AFL Matches designated as home
Matches by the AFL.
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Head Injury Assessment: the procedure as set out in Regulation 12.8(a)-(b).

Home and Away Matches: any Match for which Premiership Points are awarded or
potentially awarded, not being a Finals Series Match, Pre-Season Competition Match,
representative Match or Exhibition Match.

Illicit Drug Policy or IDP: the policy governing the use of illicit drugs by Players, as
amended from time to time.

Interchange: when a player leaves the Playing Surface through the Interchange Gates,
and the replacement player enters the Playing Surface.

Interchange Area: the area designated as the Interchange Area in the diagram in
Annexure 4 of these Regulation.

Interchange Bench: a bench located on the perimeter of the Arena at which


Interchange Players and other persons required under Regulation 12 shall sit during a
Match.

Interchange Cap: is the total number of Interchanges that a Club may make in the
course of a Match, being 75.

Interchange Gate: the area designated as the Interchange Gate in the diagram in
Annexure 4 of these Regulation.

Interchange Holding Area: the area designated as the Interchange Holding Area in
the diagram in Annexure 4 to these Regulations.

Interchange Player: the 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd (and in the case of a Pre-Season
Match, 23rd, 24th, 25th and 26th) Players of a Team who are not on the field of play at
the commencement of a Match.

Laws of Australian Football: the “Laws of the Game” published by the AFL.

List: in respect of each Club, any or all of its Primary List, Rookie List, Long Term Injury
List or Veterans List.

Match: any football Match played between or directly or indirectly involving any Club
including without limitation any practice Match, trial Match, representative Match or
exhibition Match.

MCG: the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

MCG Licence Agreement: means the licence agreement between the Melbourne
Cricket Ground Trust, the Melbourne Cricket Club and the AFL, dated 11 April 1990
(as amended or varied from time to time).

Media: all electronic and print media organisations and representatives thereof.

Medical Assessment: means the period when a Club Interchange Steward advises
the Interchange Official that a Player has left the Playing Surface for medical
assessment. Such Player may not return to the Playing Surface for twenty minutes
(excluding breaks).

Medical Substitute Player: means a Player who has been named as the Medical
Substitute Player on the Club’s Official Team Sheet and may be substituted for an
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Injured Player (within the meaning given to that term in Regulation 12.5(b)) in
accordance with the process set out in Regulation 12.5.

Memorandum and Articles of Association: Memorandum and Articles of Association


of the AFL.

Officer or Officer of a Club: an Officer as defined in the Corporations Act and without
limitation shall include the President, Chairman, Vice President, Vice Chairman,
General Manager, Chief Executive, Football Manager, Coach, any Board or Committee
Member and any servant or agent who makes or participates in the making of decisions
that affect the whole, or a substantial part, of the business of the Club.

Official Team Sheet: the Team sheet more particularly described in Regulation 12 and
set out in Annexure 2.

Person: includes a Club, servant or agent of a Club, Player, Coach, assistant Coach
or Coaches, trainer, runner, Officer, Club Medical Officer or other medical staff,
employee or volunteer of a Club or any other person within the purview of these
Regulations or the AFL Rules.

Player: save as otherwise provided a person who is or has been included on a Club's
List, a person eligible to be so included, a person bound to a Club, a person within the
purview of these Regulations or a person who has nominated for any Draft.

Playing Surface: the field of play inside the boundary line, excluding the area between
the boundary line and the perimeter fence.

Premiership Competition: the competition comprising Home and Away Matches and
Finals Series.

Premiership Ladder: the ranking of Clubs as determined under Regulations 2.5(b)


and 2.5(c).

Premiership Points: the points awarded to a Club during Home and Away Matches
as set out in Regulation 2.5(b).

Pre-Season Competition: the Matches played prior to the commencement of the


Home and Away Matches each year, which at the Date of these Regulations is known
as the Marsh Community Series.

Rising Star Award: the award presented to the Player adjudged the best young Player
in the AFL in accordance with the criteria for adjudicating this award.

Sanction: includes without limitation the imposition of:

(a) a reprimand; or

(b) a fine; or

(c) a suspension of any entitlement, right or privilege of a person or Club under the
AFL Rules & Regulations; or

(d) a disqualification of any entitlement, right or privilege of a person or Club under


the AFL Rules & Regulations; or
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(e) any order that withdraws, varies, revokes or limits any result, award, entitlement,
right or privilege of a person or Club under the AFL Rules & Regulations; or

(f) any combination of the above.

Score Review System: the procedure and associated equipment that enables the
Score Reviewer to participate in a scoring consultation with the officiating Umpires.

Special Investigator: a person or persons from time to time designated as such by the
Commission.

Sponsor Advertising: for the purposes of Regulations 4 and 5, means the placement,
display or promotion of any name, trade mark, logo or advertising on any Player,
including without limitation any item worn or used by a Player before, during or after a
Match.

State Body means any of the following bodies:

(g) AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission Limited;

(h) AFL Northern Territory Limited;

(i) AFL Queensland Limited;

(j) Football Tasmania Limited; and

(k) Australian Football League (Victoria) Limited.

State of Origin Series: a series of Matches played between teams representing the
States and Territories of Australia.

Stretcher: a Stretcher shall include any device utilised for conveying or assisting in
conveying an injured person including without limitation a bed, frame, trolley, motorised
conveyance or other such similar device.

Team: a Team fielded by a Club in the AFL Competition or any other competition
conducted by the AFL, including all persons selected as Interchange Players and the
Medical Substitute Player in such Team.

Team Runner: an eligible person appointed to confer with Players whilst on the Playing
Surface, as appointed under Regulation 12.

Time Keeper: the person appointed by the Executive General Manager Football under
Regulation 10.

Trainer and Head Trainer: the persons appointed by a Club under Regulation 12.

Umpire: includes a field, boundary, goal and emergency Umpire.

Unit: the sum of $1,000.00 or such other amount as may from time to time be
prescribed by the Commission.

Victim Player: a person against whom a Reportable Offence is alleged to have


occurred.
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1.2 Other Definitions

The expressions set out in the remainder of these Regulations shall have the meanings
prescribed within the particular Regulation.

1.3 Interpretation

(a) In the interpretation of these Regulations and the Annexures, unless there is
something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith:

(i) words importing the singular shall be deemed to include the plural and
vice versa;

(ii) words importing any gender shall be deemed to include the other gender;

(iii) words importing persons shall be deemed to include all bodies and
associations, corporate or unincorporated and vice versa;

(iv) headings are included for convenience only and shall not affect the
interpretation of these Regulations or any Annexure;

(v) a reference to time means eastern standard time or eastern summer


time, as the case may be;

(vi) “including” and similar words are not words of limitation;

(vii) words, terms and phrases defined in the AFL Rules shall be given that
meaning if they are not otherwise defined in these Regulations; and

(viii) words, terms and phrases not otherwise defined shall be given their
ordinary meaning.

(b) A reference to the General Executive General Manager Football of the AFL shall
include such person and any other person or group of persons appointed from
time to time by the Executive General Manager Football of the AFL to administer
these Regulations.

1.4 Reasonable & Severance

These Regulations are considered reasonable by the AFL but:

(a) each provision in these Regulations shall be read and constructed


independently of the other provisions in these Regulations so that if one or more
provisions is held to be invalid as an unreasonable restraint or for any other
reason whatsoever, then the remaining provisions shall be valid to the extent
that they are not held to be so invalid; and

(b) if any such provisions are found to be invalid but would be valid if some part
thereof were deleted such provisions shall apply with such modification as may
be necessary to make it valid and effective.

1.5 Interpretation and Amendment of Regulations

(a) The Commission shall interpret all provisions contained in these Regulations
and any interpretation or application by the Commission of any of the provisions
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contained in these Regulations shall be final and binding on every person bound
by these Regulations.

(b) The Commission may from time to time amend these Regulations or make such
further or other Regulations as it in its absolute discretion deems fit.

1.6 Delegation

The Commission may from time to time appoint a person or persons to exercise any of
the powers hereby conferred upon the Commission and in such case a reference to
the Commission contained in these Regulations shall be a reference to such person or
persons so appointed.

1.7 Sanctions and Payment

(a) Any Person fined in accordance with these Regulations shall, upon demand,
immediately pay to the AFL, as a liquidated sum, the amount of the fine.

(b) Where the amount shown at the foot of the provisions of these Regulations is
described as a “Maximum Sanction” or that a sanction up to a certain amount is
payable, a person empowered to impose a sanction under these Regulations
may determine that any amount not exceeding that amount shall be payable.

(c) If any Person fails to pay a fine or monetary sanction imposed in accordance
with these Regulations, such Person may be dealt with in any manner the
Commission or the Executive General Manager Football thinks fit.

(d) The Commission, Chief Executive Officer or Executive General Manager


Football may set off any amount payable by a Club under these Regulations
against any payment or distribution paid or intended to be paid by the AFL to
the Club.

1.8 Powers

Any power conferred on the Executive General Manager Football under these
Regulations may be exercised by the General Counsel.
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2. Football Seasons and Competitions


2.1 AFL Season

(a) The AFL Season shall encompass and include without limitation, each of the
following series and Matches:

(i) intra or inter-Club practice Matches;

(ii) the Pre-Season Competition;

(iii) Home and Away Matches;

(iv) the Finals Series;

(v) any Exhibition or Promotional Match; and

(vi) any other Match played under the auspices of the AFL and where the
AFL Umpires officiate.

(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Commission or the Executive General


Manager Football, the AFL Season shall commence in each year on the date of
the first Match conducted under the auspices of the AFL and conclude in each
year on the date of the last Match conducted under the auspices of the AFL.

2.2 All Matches Subject to Rules and Regulations of AFL

Every Match played during the AFL Season shall be played in accordance with the AFL
Rules, these Regulations, the Laws of Australian Football and any other determinations
or resolutions made from time to time by the Commission.

2.3 Inter-Club Practice Matches

(a) Subject to Regulation 2.3(b), a Club or Player shall not play any game of football
against another Club, or a club or player not participating in the AFL
Competition, unless the game is scheduled by the AFL or the Club or Clubs, as
the case may be, obtain the prior written approval of the Executive General
Manager Football.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units

(b) The Commission may at any time impose, vary or revoke any conditions or
requirements applicable to the playing of a practice Match between two Clubs.

2.4 Pre-Season Competition

The AFL may conduct a Pre-Season Competition in such format as from time to time
determined by the Commission.

2.5 Premiership Competition – Inclusive of Home and Away Matches

(a) Fixture of Matches

(i) The AFL shall conduct a Premiership Competition by preparing a fixture


of Home and Away Matches. Unless otherwise determined by the
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Commission, each Club shall play each other at the date, time and venue
specified in the fixture and shall observe and comply with any other
requirements set out in the fixture or otherwise imposed by the AFL.

(ii) Each first named Club in a fixture shall be deemed to be the home Club
and the second named Club shall be deemed to be the away Club.

(iii) The Commission may change the date, time and venue at which any
Match is scheduled to be played.

(b) Awarding of Points for Premiership Ladder

(i) For all Home and Away Matches:

(A) four Premiership Points shall be awarded to the winner or, in the
case of a match that cannot be completed after half time, the team
with the highest score in accordance with Regulation 33.2(c);

(B) two Premiership Points shall be awarded to each Club who


competes in a Match that is drawn, cancelled or unable to be
completed in accordance with Regulations 33.2(a) and 33.2(b);
and

(C) a percentage shall be calculated for each Club based on the


proportion of points scored for and against each Club during the
Home and Away Matches.

(ii) No Premiership Points shall be awarded to a losing Club or a Club which


is credited with a bye or to a Club which the Commission has determined
shall lose or shall not be eligible to receive Premiership Points under the
AFL Rules.

(c) Ranking of Clubs at end of Home and Away Matches

The AFL shall maintain a Premiership Ladder that determines the position of
Clubs competing in the Premiership Competition. The ranking of Clubs on the
Premiership Ladder at the completion of the Home and Away Matches shall be
determined in accordance with the following procedure:

(i) the order of Clubs shall first be determined by the number of Premiership
Points accumulated by each Club, by placing in descending order the
Club with the highest accumulated Premiership Points through to the
Club with the lowest accumulated Premiership Points;

(ii) the Premiership Points accumulated by Clubs shall be adjusted if


necessary and at any time, to take into account any sanctions imposed
by the Commission under AFL Rule 17;

(iii) where two or more Clubs have accumulated the same total of
Premiership Points, the Club with the highest percentage as calculated
under Regulation 2.5(b)(i)(C) shall be placed first as between them;
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(iv) Where two or more Clubs at the completion of the Home and Away
Matches have accumulated the same Premiership Points and have the
same percentage, the following procedure shall apply:

(A) the position of the tied Clubs shall be adjusted by accumulating


the Premiership Points awarded to the relevant Clubs as a result
of the Home and Away Matches played between them and placing
the Club with the highest accumulated Premiership Points, first as
between them;

(B) where the Premiership Points accumulated by the relevant Clubs


remain equal, the position of the tied Clubs shall be adjusted by
calculating each such Club’s percentage based on the proportion
of points scored for and against each such Club from the Home
and Away Matches between them and placing the Club with the
highest percentage, first as between them; and

(C) where two or more Clubs still remain tied, the position of the Clubs
shall be adjusted by lot conducted and drawn by the Executive
General Manager Football so that any Club drawn ahead of any
other Club shall be placed ahead of such other Club or Clubs.

2.6 Finals Series

(a) At the completion of the Home and Away Matches, the first eight Clubs on the
Final Premiership Ladder shall compete in the Finals Series under the Final
Eight System.

(b) The Commission may at any time impose, vary or revoke any conditions or
requirements applicable to the Finals Series or a Finals Series Match.

2.7 Venues for Finals Series Matches

(a) General

(i) This Regulation 2.7 shall be read in conjunction with the Final Eight
System.

(ii) Subject to Regulation 2.7(f), Finals Series Matches shall be played at


such dates, times and venues as may be determined from time to time
by the Commission.

(b) Elimination Final

Unless the AFL is required to schedule an Elimination Final at the MCG in order
to satisfy its contractual obligations under the MCG Licence Agreement, the
Clubs that are placed fifth and sixth on the Final Premiership Ladder at the end
of the Home and Away Matches shall play the Elimination Final in which they
compete at a venue in the State where they are based unless otherwise
determined by the Commission.

(c) Qualifying Final

Unless the AFL is required to schedule a Qualifying Final at the MCG in order
to satisfy its contractual obligations under the MCG Licence Agreement, the
19

Clubs that are placed first and second on the Final Premiership Ladder at the
end of the Home and Away Matches shall play the Qualifying Final in which they
compete at a venue in the State where the relevant Club is based.

(d) Semi-Finals

Unless the AFL is required to schedule a Semi-Final at the MCG in order to


satisfy its contractual obligations under the MCG Licence Agreement, the Clubs
which lose the Qualifying Finals shall play the Semi-Final in which they next
compete at a venue in the State where they are based unless otherwise
determined by the Commission.

(e) Preliminary Finals

Unless the AFL is required to schedule a Preliminary Final at the MCG in order
to satisfy its contractual obligations under the MCG Licence Agreement, the
Clubs which win the Qualifying Finals shall play the Preliminary Final in which
they next compete at a venue in the State where the relevant Club is based
unless otherwise determined by the Commission.

(f) Grand Final

Unless otherwise determined by the Commission, the Grand Final shall at all
times be played at the MCG.

2.8 Tie in Finals Series Matches

(a) Playing of Additional Time

Should a tie occur in any Finals Series Match, the following procedure shall
apply to determine the winning Club:

(i) the goal Umpires shall immediately consult with each other to confirm
that the score of each Club is identical and if that is the case, the goal
Umpires shall signal to the Timekeepers that the Match is to proceed into
Additional Time;

(ii) after a six (6) minute rest period, (which shall commence from the time
the goal Umpires signal that the Match is to proceed into Additional
Time), Additional Time shall be played;

(iii) each Club shall change ends at the completion of ordinary time for the
first three (3) minute period (plus stoppages) of Additional Time and shall
change ends again after the first three (3) minute period without delay;

(iv) upon receiving the signal by the goal Umpire, the Time Keepers shall
sound the siren in accordance with the normal start of each quarter,
being:

(A) two minutes prior to the official start time – two times;

(B) one minute prior to the official start time – once; and

(C) official start time – once.


20

(v) except for the Coach and those persons permitted to enter the Playing
Surface under Regulation 12, no person shall enter the Playing Surface
during any period before or during the playing of Additional Time;

(vi) before the commencement of Additional Time, the Coach may enter the
Playing Surface and address the Players. The Coach must leave the
Playing Surface on or before the sound of the two sirens signifying that
two minutes remain before the commencement of Additional Time;

(vii) the Time Keepers shall sound the siren once to signify the end of each
period of Additional Time (until a field Umpire acknowledges that the
siren has been heard and brings play to an end);

(viii) at the conclusion of Additional Time, the Club which has scored the
highest points is the winner of the Match;

(ix) if the scores are still tied at the conclusion of Additional Time, Further
Additional Time will be played;

(x) each Club shall immediately change ends at the conclusion of Additional
Time for the first three (3) minute period (plus stoppages) of Further
Additional Time and shall change ends again after the first three (3)
minute period without delay. At the conclusion of the Further Additional
Time, the Club which has scored the highest points is the winner of the
match;

(xi) if the scores are still tied at the conclusion of Further Additional Time, the
process set out in Regulation 2.8(a)(x) will be repeated until, at the
conclusion of any repeated period of Further Additional Time, the winning
Club can be determined; and

(xii) during any period of Further Additional Time, there will be no breaks in
play for Coaches or Club Football Officials to access the Playing Area.

(b) Ready to Play and Sanctions

Each Team shall move into position and be ready to commence play at the start
of Additional Time. A Club whose Team is not ready to commence play shall
be subject to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units

2.9 Ranking of Clubs Eliminated During Finals Series

Where two Clubs are eliminated in the same round of the Finals Series, subject to any
sanctions imposed by the Commission under AFL Rule 17, to determine the position
of those Clubs on the Final Premiership Ladder the Club that was ranked higher on the
Premiership Ladder at the conclusion of the Home and Away Series, shall be placed
higher as between them.

2.10 State of Origin Matches

The Commission may from time to time schedule a State of Origin Series on such terms
and conditions as it deems fit.
21

2.11 Exhibition or Promotional Match

The Commission may from time to time schedule an Exhibition, International or


Promotional Match on such terms and conditions as it deems fit.

2.12 Obligations of Clubs

A Club shall:

(a) play in any Match or re-scheduled Match at the date, time and venue specified
from time to time by the Commission; and

(b) comply with any conditions or requirements applicable to a Match imposed from
time to time by the Commission.

A Club which contravenes this Regulation shall be deemed to have engaged in conduct
prejudicial to the interests of the AFL and shall be dealt with by the Commission or the
Executive General Manager Football in such manner as the Commission or the
Executive General Manager Football in their absolute discretion think fit.
22

3. Grounds and Venues


3.1 Lodge Documents

Within 7 days of receiving a request from the AFL, a Club shall lodge with the AFL:

(a) a copy of the documents under which it uses or occupies any ground or venue
for its home Matches or training;

(b) any documents which varies or changes the basis under which a Club uses or
occupies such ground or venue; and

(c) any other information requested by the AFL in relation to such use or occupancy.

Sanction: Up to 100 Units

3.2 Ground Occupancy Agreement

Where applicable, each Club shall use its best endeavours to ensure that its Ground
Management Authority enters into a ground occupancy agreement with the AFL in the
form prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

3.3 Conditions of Grounds

A Club shall comply or use its best endeavours to ensure that its Ground Management
Authority complies with any directions given by the AFL to maintain, replace or repair
any portion of the Arena or to otherwise undertake any work relating to the condition of
the Playing Surface or venue at which a Club trains or plays Matches.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units

3.4 Other Regulations

Nothing in this Regulation affects the operation of Regulations 29 and 30.

3.5 Inspection of Arena

(a) For the purposes of this Regulation, the panel shall comprise a representative
of the AFL, the Ground Management Authority, the AFLPA and the two Clubs
competing in the relevant Match.

(b) Before each Match, the panel has the right to:

(i) inspect the Arena at which a Match has been scheduled to determine
whether the condition of the Arena is likely to create or increase risk of
injuries to Players; and

(ii) having regard to the gravity and risk of injury and the burden of
eliminating the risk, recommend to the Ground Manager things to be
done (if applicable) to the Arena in order to eliminate or reduce the risks
of injuries to Players, which may include, but is not limited to, the
cancellation of any curtain raiser match scheduled to be played.
23

(c) During or immediately following the inspection of an Arena, the panel shall
complete and lodge with the AFL an AFL Ground Inspection Report in the form
prescribed by the AFL.

(d) In addition to the inspection of an Arena by the panel, a Player may inspect the
Arena at the same time as the panel or at any other time before the Match.

(e) If, after inspecting the Arena, a Player reasonably believes that by reason of the
condition of the Arena there is an increased risk he or she will sustain an injury,
the Player may advise their Club and request that they be withdrawn from the
Match.

(f) A Player shall:

(i) ensure that the footwear he or she is wearing is appropriate to the


condition of the Arena; and

(ii) advise the Club’s Medical Officer and/or Coach if he or she has any pre-
existing injury which is likely to be adversely affected or aggravated by
reason of the condition of the Arena.
24

4. Club Colours and Uniforms


4.1 Clubs and Uniforms

(a) For the purposes of these Regulations:

(i) a uniform includes but is not limited to a guernsey, shorts, undershorts,


socks, headbands and gloves;

(ii) the Club named first in a fixture of a Match shall be deemed to be the
home Club and the second named Club shall be deemed to be the away
Club; and

(iii) a home uniform means the uniform worn by a Club when it is the home
Club and the away uniform means the uniform which may, subject to the
direction of the AFL, be worn by a Club when it is the away Club.

(b) The AFL shall determine and may at any time vary the design, style, colour and
fabric of a uniform as well as any item of uniform to be worn during any Match.

Sanction: Up to 5 Units for each Player, payable by the Player’s Club

4.2 Obligation to Have Uniforms Available

Each Club shall maintain and have available for each of its Players a home uniform, an
away uniform and an alternative uniform for all Matches as approved by the AFL.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for each Player wearing an incorrect uniform, payable by


the Player’s Club

4.3 Exclusive Right to Wear Uniform

(a) Subject to this Regulation 4 and any specific directions given by the AFL, each
Club has the exclusive right to wear its uniforms as set out in this Regulation 4.

(b) No Club shall vary or attempt to vary its uniform without the prior written consent
of the Executive General Manager Football which they may grant or refuse in
their absolute discretion.

4.4 Wearing of the Uniform

(a) The uniform to be worn by a Club during the Home and Away Matches shall be
as directed by the Executive General Manager Football or their appointee.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for each Player wearing an incorrect uniform,


payable by the Player’s Club

(b) The uniform to be worn by a Club during the Finals Series shall be as directed
by Executive General Manager Football or their appointee.

Sanction: Up to 40 Units for each Player wearing an incorrect uniform,


payable by the Player’s Club
25

4.5 Obligation to Wear Correct Uniform and Items of Clothing

(a) Each Player shall wear:

(i) the correct Player Uniform of that Player’s Club as prescribed by these
Regulations and guidelines of the AFL; and

(ii) such other items of clothing or apparel as may be determined by the AFL
when attending events or functions organised or conducted under the
auspices of the AFL.

(b) A Club shall ensure that its Players comply with Regulation 4.5(a).

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for each Player wearing an incorrect uniform or item


of clothing, payable by the Player’s Club

4.6 Other Apparel

(a) No Player shall wear any cap or hat during the course of a Match.

(b) Undershorts may be worn by a Player provided that the material is of a neutral
beige colour only, unless the Executive General Manager Football has approved
a Player to wear an alternative colour, and does not contain any Sponsor
Advertising.

(c) All bandages elasticised or otherwise shall be of soft material and neutral beige
coloured.

(d) Gloves approved by the Executive General Manager Football may be worn
provided that all Sponsor Advertising has been removed from the gloves. No
gloves other than those approved by the Executive General Manager Football
shall be worn during a Match.

(e) Armbands may be worn provided they are black in colour, and with no
sponsorship or branding unless otherwise approved by the AFL at its discretion.

(f) Any apparel that is attached to a Player’s boots as an addition to the boot must
first be approved by the AFL at its discretion.

(g) Approval must be sought from the Executive General Manager Football prior to
Players wearing wristbands during a Match.

(h) Hair bands worn during a Match must be thin, unobtrusive and black or Club
colour.

(i) Bobby pins are not permitted to be worn during a Match.

(j) Metal stops on boots are not permitted to be worn during a Match.

4.7 Protective Equipment

(a) For the purposes of this Regulation, Protective Equipment includes but is not
limited to:

(i) helmets;
26

(ii) knee braces;

(iii) arm guards;

(iv) shoulder pads;

(v) back supports;

(vi) finger braces; and

(vii) any other item from time to time designated as such by the Executive
General Manager Football.

(b) Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Football, thigh
pads or shin pads are not for the purposes of this Regulation Protective
Equipment and do not require approval under this Regulation.

(c) Thermoplastic guards with adequate padding do not require prior approval from
the AFL.

(d) A Player shall not wear or use Protective Equipment in any Match unless the
Executive General Manager Football has granted the Player approval to wear
or use the Protective Equipment (refer to Annexure 5).

Sanction: Up to 10 Units, payable by the Player’s Club

(e) No Sponsor Advertising shall be placed or displayed on any item of Protective


Equipment.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units, payable by the Player’s Club for a first offence

Up to 20 Units, payable by a Player’s Club for a second offence

(f) The Executive General Manager Football may issue guidelines concerning the
use and approval of Protective Equipment. Any guidelines issued by the
General Manager - Football Operations shall be directory in nature and any
decision of the Executive General Manager Football concerning the use or
approval of Protective Equipment shall not be invalid by reason of such
guidelines not being followed.

(g) A field Umpire may order from the Playing Surface a Player who:

(i) wears or uses Protective Equipment in a Match which has not been
approved by the Executive General Manager Football; or

(ii) is wearing or using an approved item of Protective Equipment, if they are


satisfied that such Protective Equipment has, during the Match, become
dangerous or increased the risk of injury to the Player wearing or using
the Protective Equipment or the other Players competing in the Match.

(h) Where a Player is ordered from the Playing Surface under this Regulation:

(i) an Interchange Player may replace the Player ordered from the Playing
Surface; and
27

(ii) the Player ordered from the Playing Surface may only re-enter the
Playing Surface if he or she is no longer wearing or using the Protective
Equipment or the Umpire is satisfied that the Protective Equipment is no
longer dangerous.

(i) Where a Player refuses to or does not immediately leave the Playing Surface
when ordered to do so by a field Umpire, the following shall apply:

(i) the field Umpire shall warn the Player that a free kick will be awarded
and that he or she may be reported if he or she does not leave the Playing
Surface;

(ii) if the Player still refuses to leave the Playing Surface, the field Umpire
shall award a free kick to the Player of the opposing Team at a point
nearest to where the warning was given or where the football is at the
time, whichever is the greatest penalty against the offending Player’s
Team; and

(iii) if the Player still refuses to leave the Playing Surface:

(A) the field Umpire shall report the Player for misconduct in failing to
follow a direction of an Umpire;

(B) the Match shall immediately end and the reported Player’s Team
shall forfeit the Match; and

(C) the Laws of Australian Football shall apply concerning the


forfeiture of the Match.

4.8 Payment for Breach

Save where otherwise stated in this Regulation, where a Player contravenes or fails to
comply with any provisions contained in Regulation 4, the Player’s Club shall be liable
to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 40 Units for each such breach


28

5. AFL Logo and Sponsors’ Logos Appearing on Players’


Uniforms
5.1 General

(a) The Commission shall determine and may vary the style, design, colour,
position and size of any name, trade mark, logo or advertising appearing on any
Player, including without limitation any item worn or used by a Player in a Match.
Any determination or variation shall be notified by the AFL to the Clubs from
time to time.

(b) The Commission may impose, vary or revoke any condition or requirement
relating to the appearance, display or promotion of any name, trade mark, logo
or advertising appearing on any item worn or used by a Player in a Match.

5.2 Sanction for Non-Compliance

A Club which does not comply with any determination, condition or requirement
imposed by the Commission shall be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units per Player, payable by the Player’s Club

5.3 Advertising Rights Vest in AFL

(a) The right to engage in Sponsor Advertising is and shall be the absolute and
exclusive right of the AFL.

(b) Without limiting the generality of Regulation 5.3(a) items worn or used for
Sponsor Advertising include guernseys, shorts, socks, boots, dressings,
headbands, caps and gloves.

5.4 AFL Approval of Sponsor Advertising

(a) A Club and any Player of a Club shall not engage in Sponsor Advertising unless
it first obtains the permission of the AFL under Regulation 5.4.

(b) A Club may apply to the AFL for permission to engage in Sponsor Advertising
at a Match.

(c) The Executive General Manager Football or Executive General Manager


Customer and Commercial of the AFL may, in their absolute discretion, grant
approval to a Club to engage in the Sponsor Advertising applied for, for such
period and on such terms and conditions as the Executive General Manager
Football or Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial regards as
appropriate.

5.5 Sponsor Advertising on Club Guernseys

Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Customer and


Commercial Sponsor Advertising appearing on items of clothing worn by a Player must
comply with the AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines.
29

AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines

5.6 Obligation to Comply

Each person subject to these Regulations shall:

(a) comply with their obligations under the AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines;
and

(b) use their best endeavours to assist the AFL to fully implement the AFL
Commercial Operations Guidelines.

5.7 Conditions and Variation

The Executive General Manager Customer and Commercial of the AFL, or the person
nominated by the Chief Executive Officer, may at any time impose, vary or revoke any
conditions or requirements applicable to the AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines.

5.8 Breach of Commercial Operations Guidelines or Regulation 0

If a Club (or an officer of a Club) or Player does not comply with the Commercial
Operations Guidelines or this Regulation 5, the Commission, the Executive General
Manager Customer and Commercial, or the person nominated by the Chief Executive
Officer, may deal with any such matter in such manner as the Commission, Executive
General Manager Customer and Commercial, or the person nominated by the Chief
Executive Officer, in their absolute discretion thinks fit and without limiting their power
they may impose a monetary sanction of such amount as they think fit.
30

6. Numbers
6.1 Type, Size and Position of Numbers Determined by Commission

(a) The Executive General Manager Football shall from time to time determine the
type, size and position of numbers to be worn by Players, Umpires and Trainers
participating or otherwise involved in a Match.

(b) A Club shall ensure that the number displayed on the guernsey or item of
clothing worn by its Players and Trainers is of the type, size and at a position
determined from time to time by the Executive General Manager Football.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units for each Player or Trainer, payable by the Player’s


or Trainer’s Club

6.2 Notification of Numbers by Club - Players

(a) A Club shall no later than three days before its first Match in each AFL Season,
advise the AFL in writing of the number allocated to each Player on its Lists.

(b) Subject to Regulation 6.3(c), each Player participating in a Match shall wear a
guernsey that displays the number allocated by his or her Club and advised to
the AFL under Regulation 6.2(a).

Sanction: Up to 10 Units for each Player or Trainer wearing a guernsey with


an incorrect number, payable by the Player’s or Trainer’s Club

6.3 Change of Player Guernsey During Match

(a) Each Club shall ensure that a replacement guernsey is available for each Player
participating in a Match.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units for each Player, payable by the Player’s Club

(b) Where it becomes necessary to replace a guernsey worn by a Player during a


Match, the Club shall ensure that the replacement guernsey displays the
number allocated to the Player before the commencement of the AFL Season.

(c) Where it becomes necessary to replace the guernsey of a Player on a second


occasion, a Player may wear a guernsey that displays a different number to that
normally worn by the Player, provided the Club immediately advises the AFL
Interchange Official of the change.

(d) Upon receiving notification from a Club under Regulation 6.3(c), the AFL
Interchange Official shall make an appropriate amendment to the Official Team
Sheet.

6.4 Trainers

A Club shall for each of its Trainers listed on its Official Team Sheet:

(a) allocate to each such Trainer a number between 1 and 5 (inclusive);


31

(b) ensure that the number allocated to each Trainer is displayed on the clothing
worn by the Trainer in a position determined by the Executive General Manager
Football; and

(c) ensure that clothing worn by each Trainer complies with the AFL Commercial
Operations Guidelines.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units for each Trainer, payable by the Trainer’s Club

6.5 Team Sheet - Regulation

Each of the numbers allocated to Players and Trainers respectively shall be recorded
on the Official Team Sheet that is lodged with the AFL Interchange Official in
accordance with Regulation 12.
32

7. Banners, Run Throughs and Cheer Squads


7.1 Banners or Run Throughs

A Club may erect a banner or run through for a Team entering the Arena at the
commencement of a Match provided that:

(a) any message displayed on any such banner or run through is not in the absolute
opinion of the AFL offensive or prejudicial to the interests or reputation of the
AFL or Australian football; and

(b) the size of the banner or run through does not exceed 144 square metres,
representing a maximum width of 18 metres and a maximum height of 8 metres.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units, payable by the Club

7.2 Cheer Squad on Arena

A maximum of twenty-six members of a Club’s cheer squad, including the cheer


squad’s photographer may enter the Arena for the purpose of erecting and securing
any banner or run through.

7.3 Obligations on Cheer Squad

(a) A member of a cheer squad or other person authorised by a Club to erect or


secure any banner or run through shall not:

(i) assault, threaten or intimidate another person;

(ii) use threatening or offensive language towards another person;

(iii) engage in conduct which causes or may cause damage to another


person’s property;

(iv) participate in or incite another person to participate in any act of violence;


and

(v) act in a manner or engage in conduct which, in the opinion of the


Executive General Manager Football, is prejudicial to the interests or
reputation of a Club, the AFL or the game of football.

(b) Where a member of a Club’s cheer squad or other person authorised by a Club
to erect or secure a banner or run through contravenes Regulation 7.3(a), the
Club shall be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for each contravention by each such person


33

9. Footballs
9.1 Approved Footballs

(a) The AFL may in its absolute discretion determine the brand and type of footballs
to be used during a pre Match warm-up and a Match.

(b) Unless otherwise decided by the Executive General Manager Football, the
football to be used during a pre Match warm-up and a Match is the TW Sherrin
Football.

9.2 Supply and Selection of Footballs

Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Football, the following
procedure shall apply to the supply and selection of footballs for Home and Away
Matches and Matches played in the Pre-Season Competition:

(a) for day Matches commencing before 3.00pm, the home Club shall supply not
less than six red TW Sherrin Footballs and for all other Matches, not less than
six yellow TW Sherrin Footballs (Match Footballs);

(b) the home Club shall supply the Match Footballs to the field Umpires no later
than ninety minutes prior to the commencement of the Match;

(c) for all Pre-Season and Finals Series Matches commencing before 3.00pm the
AFL will supply not less than six red Match Footballs and for all other Pre-
Season and Finals Series Matches, not less than six yellow Match Footballs;

(d) the Executive General Manager Football may extend the use of red footballs
past 3pm during the period of daylight saving;

(e) the home Club may use the six (6) Match Footballs to ‘kick in’ at the Captain’s
run the day prior to the Match only;

(f) the six (6) Match Footballs are not to be used at the Captain’s run if it is raining;
and

(g) the field Umpires at their discretion can elect not to use the footballs if they are
not presented in a near new condition after use at the Captain’s run only (ie if
they have significant scuff marks, are out of shape and/or are waterlogged) in
which case the home Club must provide replacement new or near new balls.

9.3 Additional Footballs and Adverse Conditions

If in the opinion of the field Umpire a Match Football at any time becomes unsuitable
for use, the field Umpire shall replace the Match Football.
34

10. Timing & Other Arrangements


10.1 Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation:

Official Starting Time means:

(a) the time determined by the AFL to commence play in a Match; and

(b) the time determined by the AFL to recommence play after the First Quarter Time
Interval, the Half Time Interval and the Third Quarter Time Interval.

First Quarter Time Interval means the period between the end of the first quarter and
the beginning of the second quarter.

Half Time Interval means the period between the end of the second quarter and the
beginning of the third quarter.

Third Quarter Time Interval means the period between the end of the third quarter
and the commencement of the fourth quarter.

10.2 Timekeepers - Appointment and Duties

(a) The Executive General Manager Football shall appoint at least two persons to
act as Timekeepers for each Match.

(b) The Timekeepers shall without limitation:

(i) keep time of each quarter of a Match on the device provided or approved
by the Executive General Manager Football;

(ii) sound the siren in accordance with the procedures contained in this
Regulation; and

(iii) stop and restart the clock which is used for the timing of a Match as
required under the Laws of Australian Football.

10.3 Procedure for Sounding Siren

Subject to the further provisions contained in this Regulation and any directions given
by the Executive General Manager Football, the Timekeepers shall sound the siren at
the times and on the number of occasions as set out in the following table:

Start of Match

Five minutes prior to Official Starting Time of the once


Match and as Umpires enter the Arena

Two minutes prior to Official Starting Time of the two times


Match
35

One minute prior to the Official Starting Time once

Official Starting Time once

First Quarter Time Interval – six minutes

Start of Second Quarter

Two minutes prior to Official Starting Time two times

One minute prior to Official Starting Time once

Official Starting Time once

Half Time Interval - twenty minutes

Start of Third Quarter

Five minutes prior to Official Starting Time once

Two minutes prior to Official Starting Time two times

One minute prior to Official Starting Time once

Official Starting Time once

Three Quarter Time Interval – six minutes

Start of Final Quarter

Two minutes prior to Official Starting Time two times

One minute prior to Official Starting Time once

Official Starting Time once

10.4 End of Quarter

(a) The Timekeeper shall sound the siren until a field Umpire acknowledges that
the siren has been heard and brings play to an end.
36

(b) In the event the field Umpires do not hear the siren, the Timekeeper may advise
the field Umpires of the end of the quarter via the Umpires communication
system.

10.5 Tossing of Coin

At the sound of the two sirens two (2) minutes before the commencement of a Match,
the Captain of each Team shall report to the field Umpires in the centre circle for the
toss of the coin.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units, payable by the Club

10.6 Players Ready to Commence Play

All Players must be in position and ready to commence play at the Official Starting
Time.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units, payable by the Club

10.7 Clubs Entering Arena

All Clubs must enter the playing arena at such times as notified by the AFL.

Sanction: Up to 50 units, payable by the Club.

10.8 Players Kicking Football into Crowd

Players shall not kick (or project by any other means) a football into the crowd at an
AFL venue (including taking practice shots at goals or kicking footballs into the crowd
for Club promotion/marketing purposes) later than four (4) minutes prior to the
scheduled start of the Match or after the completion of the Match save for during the
course of a Match.

Sanction: Up to 10 units, payable by the Club.


37

11. Announcement of Team list


11.1 Pre-Season Competition

(a) A Club participating in a Pre-Season Match must lodge with the AFL a Team list
which contains the name and guernsey number of 30 Players, or any other
number of Players as advised by the Executive General Manager Football.

(b) Teams are not required to be listed in playing position, except for the team lists
for the Grand Final (if applicable), where the team must be listed with the 18
players in playing position as well as eight (8) Interchange Players and four (4)
Emergency Players.

(c) Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Football, the
Team list of a Club participating in a Pre-Season Match must be lodged by
5:45pm (AEDT) the day prior to that Pre-Season Match.

11.2 Home and Away and Finals Series Matches

(a) A club participating in a Home and Away or Finals Series Match must lodge its
Team list with the AFL by 5.45pm AEDT (or AEST where Matches are being
played outside of daylight savings for Victoria) on the day prior to the scheduled
Match. The Team list must contain the name and guernsey number of 18
Players in playing position, four (4) Interchange Players and four (4) Emergency
Players.

(b) The Executive General Manager Football may in their absolute discretion vary
the time within which a Club is obliged to lodge its Team list with the AFL.

11.3 Changes to Team list prior to Match

(a) In the case where a Player has been listed as a Player in the Team list and on
the day prior to the Match it becomes apparent that he or she is unable to play
due to injury, illness or personal circumstances, a Club may withdraw the Player
from the Team list and (if it elects to do so) replace the Player subject to the
following:

(i) the Club notifies the Executive General Manager Football, AFL Media
Manager and the Football Manager of the opposition Club of the Player
being withdrawn from the Team list and the new Player being included
as soon as possible on the day prior to the Match;

(ii) a Club may elect to either:

(A) elevate an Emergency Player listed in the Team list into the Team
and replace the elevated Emergency Player with a Player from
outside the Team list;

(B) include a Player not listed in the Team list directly into the named
Team;

(iii) the Player being withdrawn from the Team list is ineligible to play in any
match in any other competition during the equivalent round;
38

(iv) the Club must submit to the AFL written documentation from the Club
Medical Officer confirming the reason for the withdrawal of the Player.

(b) Other than as set out in Regulation 11.3(a), a Player who was not listed on the
Team list at the time it was lodged with the AFL under Regulation 11.1 or 11.2
is not permitted to be subsequently named as a Player, Emergency Player or
Medical Substitute Player on the Official Team Sheet and/or participate in a
Match unless prior approval is granted by the Executive General Manager
Football.

11.4 Sanctions

(a) Where a Club does not lodge its Team list with the AFL in the required form
and/or by the times prescribed in this Regulation 11.1 or 11.2, the Club shall be
liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units.

(b) If a Player is listed on the Official Team Sheet (including as an Emergency


Player or Medical Substitute Player) and he or she was not listed on the Team
list at the time it was lodged with the AFL under this Regulation 11 or added to
the Team list under Regulation 11.3, the Club may be liable to a sanction.

(c) If a Player named on the Team list at the time it was lodged with the AFL is
replaced by a Player from outside this Team list, the Player replaced cannot
play in any other team in any other competition during the equivalent round.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units for each breach

12. Official Team Sheet


12.1 Submission of Official Team Sheet

(a) Each Club shall complete an Official Team Sheet online for each Match in which
the Club participates no later than 60 minutes prior to the time scheduled for the
commencement of a match unless otherwise specified by the Executive General
Manager Football.

(b) In the case where a Club is unable to submit its Official Team Sheet online in
accordance with Regulation 12.1(a), a representative of the Club should report
to the umpires’ room to submit the Official Team Sheet.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units

12.2 Composition of Official Team Sheet

(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Football, the
Official Team Sheet shall list:

(i) 22 Players (inclusive of four (4) Interchange Players);

(ii) a maximum of 27 persons all being accredited Club Football Officials


who require access to the Arena in accordance with this Regulation; and
39

(iii) Three (3) Emergency Players; and

(iv) One (1) Medical Substitute Player, who must have been named as an
Emergency Player in the Team list submitted in accordance with
Regulation 11.

(b) The Executive General Manager Football may, having due regard to the playing
conditions and the health and safety of Players, increase the number of
Interchange Players which a Club can list on the Official Team Sheet.

(c) A Club must not list a Player under Regulation 12.2(a)(i) of this Regulation if it
is apparent that the Player will not play due to injury, illness or any other reason.

(d) A Club may list as one of the 22 Players in the Official Team Sheet under
Regulation 12.2(a)(i) a Player who was listed as an Emergency Player in the
Team list.

(e) The Medical Substitute Player and a Player who was listed on the Team list that
is not included as one of the 22 Players in the Official Team Sheet or who was
listed as an Emergency Player in the Official Team Sheet but does not
participate in the Match (other than a Player who was withdrawn pursuant to
Regulation 11.3 or 12.3) is permitted to play in another match in another
competition during the equivalent round.

(f) A Club must not list a person under Regulation 12.2(a)(ii) who is not a registered
Club Football Official without the prior approval of the AFL Match Manager.

(g) The 27 accredited Club Football Officials listed on the Official Team Sheet in
accordance with Regulation 12.2(a)(ii) will only be permitted to access the Arena
during a Match as follows:

(i) subject to Regulation 12.2(g)(iii), a maximum of 12 Club Football Officials


may be seated on the Interchange Bench for the duration of a Match and
may only enter the Playing Surface during the first quarter, half time and
three quarter intervals;

(ii) subject to Regulation 12.2(g)(iii), a maximum of five (5) Club Football


Officials (including Coaches) will only be permitted to enter the Arena
(and the Playing Surface) from the Coaches box during the first quarter,
half time and three quarter intervals;

(iii) the Club – General Manager Football Operations and the Club Senior
Coach will be permitted to move between the Coaches box and the
Interchange Bench during a Match and will be permitted to enter the
Playing Surface during the first quarter, half time and three quarter
intervals (and neither will be included in the number of Club Football
Officials for the purposes of Regulation 12.2(g)(i) and/or 12.2(g)(ii));

(iv) a maximum of four (4) Trainers each to be positioned at the point at which
the 50 metre arc joins the boundary line against the perimeter fence of
the Arena and may only enter the Playing Surface in accordance with
Regulation 12.14(b); and

(v) a maximum of four (4) additional Club Football Officials may only enter
the Arena during the first quarter, half time and three quarter time
40

intervals to assist with providing drinks to Players and the positioning the
windbreak.

12.3 Amendment to Official Team Sheet – Emergency Player

(a) After a Club has submitted its Official Team Sheet 60 minutes prior to the
scheduled Match start time, it may subsequently replace a Player listed on that
Official Team Sheet only with an Emergency Player or the Medical Substitute
Player that was listed on the Official Team Sheet before the commencement of
play of the Match (as defined in the Laws of Australian Football), provided the
Player who is being replaced is unable to play because of injury, illness or
personal circumstances.

(b) The following conditions apply to the inclusion of an Emergency Player or the
Medical Substitute Player and an amendment to the Official Team Sheet:

(i) where an Emergency Player or the Medical Substitute Player replaces a


Player initially listed on the Official Team Sheet, the amendment to the
Official Team Sheet must be made by notifying the AFL Interchange
Official before the commencement of the Match. The Amendment to
Official Team Sheet using the form in Annexure 3 must be completed
and submitted to the Interchange Official as soon as possible after the
notification.

(ii) if the Medical Substitute Player is the replacement Player, then the
amendment to the Official Team Sheet contemplated in Regulation
12.3(b)(i) must also include the Emergency Player that will replace the
Medical Substitute Player in the Official Team Sheet;

(iii) the following persons shall be notified by the AFL Match Manager of any
amendment to the Official Team Sheet:

(A) a field Umpire;

(B) Football Manager of the opposition Club;

(C) AFL Media Manager; and

(D) Champion Data representative;

(iv) the Player who has been replaced under this Regulation must
immediately leave the Arena and not sit on the Interchange Bench;

(v) the Club Medical Officer must supply a Medical Certificate to the AFL
certifying that the Player being replaced is unable to play due to injury or
illness or personal circumstances, to be completed and lodged with the
AFL on the first working day after the Match; and

(vi) the Player who has been replaced is ineligible to play in any match in any
other competition during the equivalent round of Matches.

12.4 Interchange Players

(a) The Interchange Players who have been identified on the Official Team Sheet
may enter the Arena prior to the Match but must leave the Playing Surface after
41

the sound of two (2) sirens prior to the Official Starting Time of the Match.

(b) All Players must leave the Playing Surface through the area designated as the
club Interchange Gate.

(c) Once a Club has handed its Official Team Sheet to the AFL Interchange Official
in accordance with Regulation 12, the Club shall not change the starting line-up
of 18 Players by including an Interchange Player in the starting line-up prior to
the commencement of the Match.

(d) Play shall not commence until the Players as named on the Official Team Sheet
take their position on the Playing Surface or Interchange Bench as the case may
be.

(e) The Players nominated to the AFL Interchange Official as Interchange Players
prior to the commencement of the second, third and fourth quarter of the Match
cannot enter the Playing Surface until play has commenced or where approval
is granted by the AFL Match Manager due to exceptional circumstances.

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for first offence

Up to 40 Units for second or subsequent offences

12.5 Medical Substitute Player

(a) The Medical Substitute Player

(i) Each Club must name a Medical Substitute Player in their Official Team
Sheet from Players included as Emergency Players in the Team list
submitted in accordance with Regulation 11.

(ii) The Medical Substitute Player who has been identified on the Official
Team Sheet may enter the Arena prior to the Match but must leave the
Playing Surface after the sound of two (2) sirens prior to the Official
Starting Time of the Match.

(iii) The Medical Substitute Player must leave the Playing Surface through
the area designated as the club Interchange Gate.

(iv) The Medical Substitute Player must be seated at the back of the
Interchange Bench and may only enter the Playing Surface during the
Match in accordance with Regulation 12.5(b)(i) or during quarter, half-
time and three-quarter time breaks (and following the Match) in
accordance with Regulation 12.9(b)(v).

(v) The Medical Substitute Player must wear their official Club warm-up top
or jacket at all times when seated on the Interchange Bench.

(b) Substitution Procedure

(i) If a Player suffers an injury and leaves the Playing Surface at any point
during the Match (Injured Player), and the Club Medical Officer
determines in accordance with Regulations 35.1 and 35.2 that the Injured
Player is medically unfit to continue to participate in the Match and, due
to the nature of the injury, the Club Medical Officer reasonably
42

determines that the Injured Player will be medically unfit to participate in


any Match for at least the next twelve (12) days (Match Ending Injury),
then the following process will be followed:

(A) the Club Interchange Steward must hand to the AFL Interchange
Official a completed substitution card, which must include the
guernsey number of the Injured Player and the Medical Substitute
Player and a brief description of the Match Ending Injury and be
signed by the Club Interchange Steward (Medical Substitution
Card);

(B) once the completed Medical Substitution Card has been handed
to the AFL Interchange Official, the Medical Substitute Player may
remove their official Club warm-up top or jacket and enter and exit
the Playing Surface in accordance with Regulation 12.9;

(C) the Injured Player must not take any further part in the Match and,
if they remain in the Arena, muAmest at all times for the duration
of the Match be seated at the back of the Interchange Bench,
except they will be permitted to enter the Playing Surface during
quarter, half-time and three-quarter time breaks (and following the
Match) in accordance with Regulation 12.9(b)(v) if their injury
permits, and wear their official Club warm-up top or jacket, except
if prevented from doing so due to nature of their injury;

(D) a substitution can occur at any point during a Match including


during the quarter time, half time, and three-quarter time breaks;

(E) where a substitution occurs at the breaks between quarters, the


Medical Substitute Player can only take the field at the start of the
subsequent quarter if the AFL Interchange Official is in
possession of the Medical Substitution Card prior to the siren
sounding to indicate the commencement of the quarter;

(F) upon receipt of the Medical Substitution Card, and once the
Medical Substitute Player has entered the Playing Surface, the
AFL Interchange Official will hand the Medical Substitution Card
to the emergency field Umpire at the earliest opportunity;

(G) the emergency field Umpire will announce, and repeat, the details
of the substitution via the Umpire’s communication system.

(ii) An Injured Player who has been replaced by the Medical Substitute
Player is ineligible to play in any match in any other competition during
the equivalent round of Matches.

(iii) Nothing in this Regulation 12.5 will change the applicable wait times for
a Player to return to the Playing Surface following a Head Injury
Assessment or Medical Assessment or in accordance with the Stretcher
Rule and the Blood Rule as set out in these Regulations.

(iv) The Medical Substitute Player may only be used once to replace one (1)
injured Player.
43

(v) On or before the first working day after the Match, the Club Medical
Officer must provide a Medical Certificate to the AFL certifying that the
Injured Player replaced by the Medical Substitute Player sustained a
Match Ending Injury in the Match.

(c) Sanctions

(i) Any Medical Substitute Player who enters the Playing Surface, prior to
the AFL Interchange Official having received the completed Medical
Substitution Card, will be in breach of this Regulation 12.5, following
which the AFL Interchange Official will notify an Umpire who will then
award the opposing team a Free Kick and 50 metre penalty.

(ii) Any Injured Player who has been replaced by the Medical Substitute
Player and who re-enters the Playing Surface will be in breach of this
Regulation 12.5, following which the AFL Interchange Official will notify
an Umpire who will then award the opposing team a Free Kick, 50 metre
penalty and order the replaced Injured Player to immediately leave the
Playing Surface. Any Club or person who contravenes this Regulation
shall be liable for a sanction.

Sanction: First offence – up to 25 Units

Second or subsequent offence – up to 50 Units

(iii) Any Medical Substitute Player or Injured Player who fails to wear their
official club warm-up top or jacket in accordance with this Regulation 12.5
will be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: First offence – 1 Unit

Second or subsequent offence – 2 Units

(iv) Without limiting the ability to impose sanctions under the AFL Rules, the
sanction for a breach of this Regulation 12.5 not specifically addressed
in this clause 12.5(c) will be determined in accordance with Regulation
12.21.

12.6 Head Injury Assessment

A Club must follow the procedure specified below for any Player undergoing a Head
Injury Assessment:

(a) The Club Medical Officer or Club Interchange Steward is to notify the AFL
Interchange Official that a player will undergo a Head Injury Assessment;

(b) Following notification that the Player will undergo a Head Injury Assessment,
the relevant Player cannot return to the Playing Surface for at least fifteen (15)
minutes (including breaks);

(c) Following the Player undergoing the Head Injury Assessment, the Club Medical
Officer or Club Interchange Steward is to advise the AFL Interchange Official
the outcome of the Head Injury Assessment except where it is impractical for
the Club Medical Officer or Club Interchange Steward to do so;
44

(d) On the first business day following the Match, the Club Medical Officer must
lodge with the AFL a completed Head Injury Assessment form (in the form
prescribed by the AFL from time to time) and, if required, a Standard Concussion
Assessment Tool (SCAT) form via the CSx concussion application;

(e) Without limiting Regulation 12.6(f), any Club in breach of this Regulation 12.5
will be liable to pay a sanction of up to 50 units; and

(f) Without limiting Regulation 12.6(e), where a Club is in breach of Regulation


12.6(b) by virtue of a Player re-entering the Playing Surface within fifteen (15)
minutes of notification that the Player will undergo a Head Injury Assessment:

(i) the Umpire will award a free kick and a 50 metre penalty to the opposition
Club; and

(ii) the offending Player will be required to leave the Playing Surface for a
period of not less than the remainder of the time referred to in Regulation
12.6(b).

12.7 Permitted Access to Arena

Unless otherwise stated in this Regulation or by the Executive General Manager


Football (including in Regulation 12.2(g)), all persons listed on the Official Team Sheet,
other than the three (3) Emergency Players, may enter the Arena:

(a) prior to the commencement of a Match for the sole purpose of proceeding to the
area designated by the AFL; or

(b) prior to, during (including an interval between quarters), or at the completion of
a Match (following the final act of play), provided that person enters the Arena
for the sole purpose of fulfilling that person’s duties.

12.8 Access to Interchange Bench

(a) A person listed on the Official Team Sheet may sit on the Interchange Bench
except for:

(i) the number of Club Football Officials seated on the Interchange Bench
will be subject to Regulation 12.2(g)(i);

(ii) Trainers other than the Interchange Bench Trainer;

(iii) the three (3) Emergency Players;

(iv) any suspended Player or Players who are not listed on the Official Team
Sheet;

(v) injured Players, other than those Players injured during the course of a
Match or Players on the Club’s Long Term Injury List who have been
granted prior approval by the Executive General Manager Football; and

(vi) such other persons nominated by the Executive General Manager


Football or their appointee.
45

12.9 Interchange

(a) AFL Interchange Official – Appointment and Duties

(i) The Executive General Manager Football may appoint two (2) or more
Interchange Officials to officiate during a Match. The AFL Interchange
Official shall:

(A) be positioned throughout the Match at or near the Interchange


Area;

(B) monitor and approve the Interchange of players made by each


Team during the Match;

(C) calculate and communicate the number of Interchanges made


during a Match to the AFL Match Manager;

(D) report to an Umpire any infringement by a Team of this Regulation


12.10; and

(E) report to the Executive General Manager Football any


infringement by a Team of this Regulation 12.10.

(b) Procedure for Interchange

(i) Save where Law 7.3 of the Laws of Australian Football applies, the
following procedure shall apply to the Interchange of Players during a
Match:

(A) the replacement Player must move to the Interchange Holding


Area and remain there until the Player he or she is replacing has
left the Playing Surface through the Club Interchange Gate, failing
which the replacement Player will be reported to the Executive
General Manager Football s under Regulation 12.9(b)(iv);

(B) the Player to be replaced must leave the Playing Surface through
the Club Interchange Gate before the replacement Player may
enter the Playing Surface through the Club Interchange Gate; and

(C) the Player entering the Playing Surface must do so without delay.
Any Player who tactically delays his or her entry to the Playing
Surface may be subject to a financial sanction, to be imposed on
the relevant Club.

Sanction: up to 5 unit

(ii) A Team Official must advise the AFL Interchange Official of the following:

(A) the number of any Player that leaves the Arena during the course
of a Match prior to the Player leaving the Arena;

(B) the number of any Player that leaves the Playing Surface on a
Stretcher; and
46

(C) the numbers of the four (4) Interchange Players and one (1)
Medical Substitute Player at the start of each quarter prior to the
commencement of each quarter.

(iii) The AFL Interchange Official shall notify an Umpire who will then award
a Free Kick and a 50-metre penalty when:

(A) a Player leaving the Playing Surface does not exit through the
Interchange Area and is replaced by another Player who is
deemed by the emergency Umpire to be involved in play before
the breach is rectified;

(B) a replacement Player does not enter the Playing Surface through
the Interchange Area and who is deemed by the emergency
Umpire to be involved in play before the breach is rectified; or

(C) the replacement Player enters the Playing Surface and who is
deemed by the emergency Umpire to be involved in play prior to
the Player to be replaced leaving the Playing Surface.

(iv) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Regulation 12.9(b), the AFL
Interchange Official and/or an Umpire shall report the circumstances of
any breach of this Regulation 12.9(b) to the Executive General Manager
Football. The Executive General Manager Football may determine the
matter by way of fine, change of match result or any other sanction as it
deems appropriate, or may refer the matter to the Commission.

(v) Players and Club Officials must not enter the Playing Surface at the
conclusion of a quarter until play has ceased and in the case of a set
shot at goal, the kick has been taken.

(vi) At the completion of a quarter Interchange Players, the Medical


Substitute Player and Club Officials are not required to enter the Playing
Surface through the interchange gates, however all players must exit the
Playing Surface through the interchange gates when leaving the Playing
Surface to recommence play.

(c) Interchange Cap

(i) Unless otherwise outlined in these Regulations, a Club must not exceed
the Interchange Cap for each Pre-Season, Premiership Season and
Finals Series Match.

(ii) Conditions of Interchange Cap

(A) An Interchange will not be included in the Interchange Cap if the


Player exiting the Playing Surface immediately re-enters the
Playing Surface without being replaced.

(B) An Interchange will be included in the Interchange Cap once the


replacement Player enters the Playing Surface regardless of how
long the Player is on the field.

(C) Interchanges at quarter time, half time and three quarter time are
not included in the Interchange Cap.
47

(iii) The following events will not be included in the Interchange Cap:

(A) when a Player leaves the Playing Surface for a Head Injury
Assessment;

(B) when an Umpire requests that a player exit the Playing Surface
under the Blood Rule;

(C) when a Player exits the Playing Surface voluntarily due to active
bleeding, provided the Club Medical Officer advises the AFL
Interchange Official as soon as reasonably practicable and the
Interchange Official has sighted the Player with the active
bleeding;

(D) when a Player is replacing a Player removed from the Playing


Surface pursuant to the Stretcher Rule;

(E) when an injured Player leaves the Playing Surface for a Medical
Assessment;

(F) when the Medical Substitute Player replaces an Injured Player in


accordance with Regulation 12.5; and

(G) other forced Interchanges as a result of Players being ordered


from the Playing Surface pursuant to AFL Rules and or
Regulations.

(iv) For the avoidance of doubt, should the Player who exited the Playing
Surface under 12.9(c)(iii) (A)-(F) and subsequently re-enters the Playing
Surface, the Interchange is counted in the Interchange Cap.

(v) Where there is a tie in a Finals Series Match and Additional Time is being
played, an Interchange Cap will reset to zero with each Club having a
new Interchange Cap of fifteen (15) for the total of both periods of
Additional Time.

(vi) Subject to Regulation 12.9(c)(iii), once the Interchange Cap has been
met no additional Interchanges may be made unless the Player has
exited the Playing Surface due to:

(A) Head Injury Assessment;

(B) Blood Rule,

(C) Stretcher Rule; and

(D) Medical Assessment,

provided that the Player who exits the Playing Surface under any of these
conditions will not be permitted to return to the Playing Surface for 20
minutes.

(vii) A Player who is requested by an Umpire to exit the Playing Surface under
the Blood Rule when the Interchange Cap has been reached will be
permitted to Interchange with any Player and return to the Playing
48

Surface, if a Club Medical Officer or Club Interchange Steward first


notifies the AFL Interchange Official.

(viii) On the first working day following the Match, the Club Medical Officer
must lodge with the AFL a written explanation relating to any Interchange
made in excess of the Interchange Cap.

(ix) A Medical Report in Schedule 1 Form 31 is required for all Stretcher Rule
and Medical Assessment Interchanges (in the case of a Head Injury
Assessment, a Head Injury Assessment form (in the form prescribed by
the AFL from time to time) and Standard Concussion Assessment Tool
(SCAT) form are also required).

(x) Any Club in breach of this Regulation:

(A) by exceeding the Interchange Cap will result in a free kick and a
50 metre penalty being awarded to the opposition Club, and the
Player entering the Playing Surface once the Interchange Cap is
reached will be ordered to immediately leave the Playing Surface
by the Umpire; and

(B) is liable to a sanction of up to 20 units for first offence and up to


40 units for second or subsequent offence(s).

12.10 Players exceeding Permitted Numbers

(a) A Club shall ensure that the number of Players on the Playing Surface during
the progress of a Match shall not exceed the number permitted by the AFL.

(b) In addition to any action taken by the Umpire during the progress of the Match
or sanction applicable under the Laws of Australian Football, the following
sanction shall apply:

Sanction: Up to 25 Units for first offence

Up to 50 Units for second offence

12.11 Listed Players May enter Arena

Except for Emergency Players, all Players listed on the Official Team Sheet (including
the Medical Substitute Player) may enter the Arena before the Match for the sole
purpose of performing an on field warm-up at the times and for the duration specified
by the AFL.

12.12 Emergency Listed Players

(a) The three (3) Emergency Players included in the Official Team Sheet shall not:

(i) enter the Arena after the Official Team Sheet has been lodged 60
minutes prior to the scheduled start time of the Match; and

(ii) sit on the Interchange Bench at any time throughout the Match.
49

(b) The three (3) Emergency Players included in the Official Team Sheet may enter
the Arena after the completion of the Match (after the second siren has
sounded).

12.13 Use of Interchange Board

Clubs are permitted to use an interchange board or boards as follows:

(a) boards must not exceed maximum size of 800mm x 600mm;

(b) two (2) boards may be used at the same time provided that the total size of the
two (2) boards combined must not exceed 800mm x 600mm;

(c) no sponsor advertising can be displayed on either side of the board;

(d) Clubs can determine what the board is made from (corflute, magnetic
whiteboard, etc);

(e) Clubs can determine the size and colour of the numbers/symbols displayed on
the board;

(f) Boards must not be attached to a stand or bench infrastructure; and

(g) Boards can only be displayed by a Club Football Official with Arena access
accreditation within the interchange area.

12.14 Staff and Officials Permitted onto the Playing Surface during the Match

Only the following people may enter the Playing Surface during the progress of a
Match:

(a) a Team Runner may enter the Playing Surface following the goal umpire
signalling a goal for the sole purpose of conferring briefly with Players of his or
her Club. The Team Runner must be making his or her way off the Playing
Surface as the Field umpire bounces or throws the football up to recommence
play after a goal;

(b) the Trainers listed on the Official Team Sheet (excluding the Interchange Bench
Trainer) solely for the purpose of:

(i) attending an injured Player;

(ii) assisting the removal of an injured Player by medicart or Stretcher where


the Umpire has stopped play to allow this to occur; or

(iii) running drinks to a Player during a break in play noting Trainers are not
permitted to enter the Playing Arena for this purpose during live play
(e.g. Trainers may enter the Playing Surface while a Player is having a
shot at goal but must exit prior to play recommencing),

who must then immediately leave the Playing Surface; and

(c) the Club Medical Officer and Physiotherapist of the Club, for the purpose of
attending to an injured Player or Players.
50

Sanction: Up to 20 units for first offence

Up to 50 units for second or subsequent offence(s) and/or a period


of suspension to be determined by the Executive General
Manager Football

12.15 Team Runner

(a) The AFL may issue guidelines relating to the conduct of Team Runners from
time to time (Runners Guidelines). If a Team Runner does not comply with the
Runners Guidelines, the Team Runner and/or the Team Runners Club may be
liable to a sanction as set out in this Regulation 12.15.

(b) A Club may appoint one Team Runner. A person cannot be appointed a Team
Runner:

(i) at any time during the year in which they have been listed with or played
for a Club; or

(ii) if they are a member of the Club’s coaching staff involved in the Club’s
selection or match committee in the year of their intended appointment.

(c) A Club shall register its Team Runner with the AFL by providing written notice
to the Executive General Manager Football within one (1) business day of the
Team Runner’s appointment.

(d) The Team Runner shall:

(i) dress in the uniform determined by the AFL; and

(ii) not have affixed any Communication Device.

(e) Where the Team Runner is unable to act, a Club shall record the name of the
substituted Team Runner on the Official Team Sheet to be handed to the AFL
Interchange Official prior to the commencement of a Match.

Sanction: Up to 20 units for first offence

Up to 50 units for second or subsequent offence(s) and/or a period


of suspension to be determined by the Executive General
Manager Football

12.16 Trainers

(a) A person may only be appointed as a Trainer to a Club if that person has:

(i) met the minimum standard of, and is currently accredited as, a Level One
Sports Trainer (Sports Medicine Australia) or obtained such other
qualification approved by the AFL in consultation with the AFL Medical
Officers Association; and

(ii) upon completion of a course under Regulation 12.16(a), been registered


with the AFL as a Club Football Official in accordance with this
Regulation.
51

Sanction: Up to 20 Units, payable by the Club

(b) Number of Trainers and Arena location

(i) A maximum of five (5) Trainers for each Club may participate in a Match.

(ii) One (1) Trainer must remain in the Interchange Area and may only enter
the Playing Surface to assist with a Stretcher (and will be included in the
number of Club Football Officials on the Interchange Bench for the
purposes of Regulation 12.2(g)(i)).

(iii) The remaining Trainers (a maximum of four (4)) must be positioned as


set out in Regulation 12.2(g)(iv).

(c) Obligations of Club

Each Club shall ensure that:

(i) the Trainers that participate in a Match are listed on the Official Team
Sheet; and

(ii) each Trainer is aware of and complies with any obligations imposed upon
the Trainer under these Regulations, the AFL Rules or any decision of or
guidelines issued by the AFL.

(d) All Trainers shall leave the Playing Surface immediately upon completing any of
the tasks outlined in this Regulation 12.16.

(e) A Trainer shall not:

(i) become involved in the play or interrupt the flow of play during any Match,
including engaging in conduct which in any way provides an advantage
to their Club or engaging in conduct which in any way provides a
disadvantage to the opposing Club. Such conduct includes but is not
limited to wiping the football or the boot of a Player or providing a towel
to a Player for that purpose;

(ii) carry messages from the coaching staff to any of the Players competing
during the Match; or

(iii) have affixed any Communication Device.

Sanction: Up to 40 Units, payable by the Club and/or a period of suspension


to be determined by the Executive General Manager Football.

12.17 Club Medical Officer/Physiotherapists

(a) The Club Medical Officer and the Physiotherapist shall sit on the Interchange
Bench (and will be included in the number of Club Football Officials on the
Interchange Bench for the purposes of Regulation 12.2(g)(i)) and shall only
enter the Playing Surface via the Interchange Area apart from an emergency
situation.

(b) The Club Medical Officer or the Physiotherapist shall not:


52

(i) carry messages from the coaching staff to any of the Players during the
Match; or

(ii) have affixed any Communication Device.

Sanction: Up to 40 units for first offence

Up to 80 units for second or subsequent offence(s) and/or a period


of suspension to be determined by the Executive General
Manager Football

12.18 Uniforms - Trainer

The clothing worn by a Trainer must:

(a) comply with guidelines issued by the AFL from time to time;

(b) include an AFL supplied vest indicating their respective function; and

(c) incorporate numerical identification from numbers 1 to 5, with the appropriate


number being recorded against the name of the Trainer on the Official Team
Sheet.

12.19 Uniforms – Club Medical Officer and Physiotherapist

The Club Medical Officer and Physiotherapist of the Club must:

(a) wear clothing that complies with the AFL Commercial Operations Guidelines;

(b) wear an AFL supplied vest indicating their respective function; and

(c) have their name recorded on the Official Team Sheet.

12.20 Communication Devices and Wearable Devices

(a) A Club shall not use and ensure that any person employed or otherwise
associated with the Club does not use any Communication Device on the
Playing Surface or between the Interchange Bench or Coaches box and a
Player or person on the Playing Surface. For the avoidance of doubt, Clubs may
use laptops, tablets or similar devices on the Playing Surface during breaks
between quarters for the purpose of displaying vision and statistics (including
GPS and physiological statistics) only. Mobile phones cannot be used at any
time including for the purposes of displaying vision and stats.

(b) A Club shall not without the prior permission of the Executive General Manager
Football (at their sole discretion) use and shall ensure that any person employed
or otherwise associated with the Club does not use without this permission GPS,
tracking, monitoring or other similar devices (Approved Wearable Device).

(c) A Club must ensure that all data and other information generated by or via an
Approved Wearable Device used by a person employed or otherwise associated
with the Club during a Match is made available to AFL on a live or near live basis
(and in all instances at a time no later than when any data or information is first
made available to the Club or any other person), at a location and in a format
53

specified by AFL and at no cost to AFL, for use by AFL and its licensees
(including other Clubs).

12.21 Sanctions

If in the opinion of an Umpire, the AFL Match Manager or the Executive General
Manager Football, a Club or person contravenes this Regulation 12, the Club shall be
liable to a sanction as specified at the foot of the relevant provision, or as determined
by the Executive General Manager Football up to the maximum amounts set out
below:-

Sanction: Up to 25 Units for a first offence

Up to 50 Units for a second or subsequent offence in the same season.


54

13. Reference to a Player’s Names


(a) Unless otherwise determined by the Executive General Manager Football, for
all purposes associated with the AFL Competition, a Player shall be known as
and referred to by the name under which he or she was first registered with the
AFL, or by the name by which he or she was usually known prior to that
registration, if he or she seeks registration under a different name.

(b) Without limitation and by way of example only, this Regulation shall:

(i) in the case of the AFL, apply to:

(A) recording the Player’s name in any publication of the AFL,


including the Football Record and any statistical information;

(B) recording, reading and acknowledging the Player’s name for any
awards of the AFL;

(C) completing any Notice of Report or any other documents to bring


a matter before the Commission or anybody appointed by the
Commission;

(D) sending any correspondence to a Player; and

(E) recording, stating or communicating a Player’s name in any press


release or public statement, whether it is made orally or in writing.

(ii) in the case of the Player’s Club, apply to:

(A) completing and lodging with the AFL the Club’s Official Team
Sheet;

(B) advising the AFL or the media of the Players who have been
selected to play for the Club in any Match;

(C) recording the Player’s name in any document of the Club,


including statistical information, newsletters or any other
publication circulated to the Club’s members and supporters;

(D) recording, reading and acknowledging the Player’s name for any
awards of the Club;

(E) recording, stating or communicating the Player’s name in any


press release or public statement, whether it is made orally or in
writing;

(F) recording the Player’s name on any List maintained by the Club;
and

(G) completing any documents which, by reason of the AFL Rules or


these Regulations, must be lodged with the AFL.

Sanction: Up to 50 units
55

14. Cooperation and Attendance at Meetings and Education


Sessions
14.1 Attending Meetings

Any person who neglects or refuses to attend any meeting to which that person has
been requested to attend by the AFL, save where the person requested is unable to
attend due to circumstances beyond the control of such person, shall be deemed to
have been involved in conduct unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL
and shall be dealt with by the Commission in such manner as the Commission in its
absolute discretion thinks fit.

14.2 Meeting

For the purposes of this Regulation, a meeting shall include but not be limited to:

(a) the attendance of any person before the Commission, any Commissioner, the
Investigations Manager, Special Investigator, Executive General Manager
Football, AFL Medical Officer, Arbitrator, Tribunal, Appeal Board or any other
person or persons appointed by the Commission or the Executive General
Manager Football to administer or perform any act or function under these
Regulations, the AFL Rules or the Memorandum and Articles of Association of
the AFL; and

(b) any event or function conducted by or under the auspices of the AFL including
without limitation the Brownlow Medal Presentation, Rising Star Award, All
Australian Awards, Season Launch Function, Hall of Fame Function and Grand
Final Parade.

14.3 Request to Meeting

For the purposes of this Regulation, any request to a person to attend a meeting, as
defined in this Regulation, shall be made in writing.

14.4 Attending Education Session

Each Club must ensure that it arranges for its employees, servants or agents to
undertake any and all education sessions relating to the AFL Rules & Regulations as
directed by AFL. A Club shall be liable to a sanction for failure to comply with this
Regulation.

Sanction: up to 20 units.
56

15. Umpires and Scoring


15.1 Public Comments on Umpires

Any person subject to these Regulations or AFL Rules, shall not make any public
comment about an Umpire or a decision made by an Umpire. Where a person
contravenes this Regulation, the person’s Club shall be liable to a sanction:

Sanction: Up to 20 units for first offence

Up to 100 units for a second or subsequent offence

15.2 Approaches to Umpires

(a) No person subject to these Regulations shall approach, talk to or intimidate an


Umpire at any time prior to, during or after a Match including during the quarter
time, half time or three quarter time interval or when the Umpires are entering
or leaving the Arena.

(b) Any team address shall be given outside the centre square.

Where a person contravenes this Regulation, the person’s Club shall be liable to a
sanction:

Sanction: Up to 20 Units for first offence

Up to 50 Units for second and subsequent offence

15.3 Scoring

Notwithstanding any provision of Law 16 of the Laws of Australian Football:

(a) the Executive General Manager Football may appoint any person or persons to:

(i) record the scores of a Match (Official Scorer); and

(ii) participate in a scoring consultation with the officiating Umpires as


provided for by the Score Review System (Score Reviewer);

(b) the Official Scorer(s) may record the score in accordance with the Laws
provided they may at their discretion disregard any error in the procedure for
signalling a score set out in Law 16.3; and

(c) subject to the general powers of the Commission or Executive General Manager
Football under any other AFL Rule & Regulation, the score recorded by the
Official Scorer(s) shall determine the result of a Match.
57

16. Reportable Offences and Reporting Procedures


16.1 Construction and Interpretation

(a) Any reference to two AFL years shall unless otherwise stated, refer to years in
which the Player was a registered AFL Player.

(b) In Appendix 1:

(i) A reference to any previous number of AFL years shall be a reference to


the period calculated retrospectively from the Round in which a Player
has been found guilty of a Reportable Offence or Reportable Offences,
to the corresponding Round in the relevant prior year. For instance,
where a Player has been found guilty of a Reportable Offence or
Reportable Offences in Round 10 in 2009, the previous period of 2 AFL
years shall be the period commencing from and including Round 10 in
2007; and

(ii) “Round” shall mean:

(A) a round of both the Pre-Season Competition and Home and Away
series of Matches, set out in the annual fixture of Matches,
published from time to time by the AFL;

(B) the week (by number) of the Final Series; and

(C) in the case of a representative Match, exhibition Match or practice


Match to which these Regulations apply, the date of such Match.

(c) Where a Player lodges a Notice of Early Plea or where a Player pleads guilty to
a Reportable Offence in accordance with these Regulations, that notification or
Plea and any record of proceedings and finding by the Tribunal, irrespective of
how a Player pleaded, shall apply only for the purposes of these Regulations
and for no other purpose. For clarification and the avoidance of doubt:

(i) a Notice of Early Plea or plea of guilty to a Reportable Offence shall not
be taken as an admission of liability for the purposes of any proceedings
other than those prescribed under these Regulations;

(ii) in respect of and for the purpose of any such other proceedings,
lodgement of a Notice of Early Plea or plea of guilty to a Reportable
Offence in accordance with these Regulations shall not be deemed to
include an express acceptance of liability; and

(iii) any evidence presented before the Tribunal including without limitation
any statements made and any transcript of proceedings, as well as any
finding by the Tribunal, shall not be relied upon in any such other
proceedings as evidence of liability.

(d) For the avoidance of doubt, for the purposes of this Regulation 16, unless a
Reportable Offence concerns an incident relating to an AFL appointed Umpire,
a Match does not include an intra-Club practice match, with any incident arising
from any intra Club practice match to be dealt with by the relevant Club.
58

16.2 Match Review Officer

The Executive General Manager Football may from time to time appoint a person as
the Match Review Officer (Match Review Officer).

16.3 Qualifications

Save and except where the Executive General Manager Football otherwise
determines, a person shall not be appointed as the Match Review Officer if that person:

(a) has been a member of a Board of Directors of a Club;

(b) has been a Coach or assistant or specialty Coach of a Club; or

(c) has been a Player of a Club,

in the 12 months preceding the appointment.

16.4 Absent Members

If for any period and for any reason any person acting as the Match Review Officer is
absent or unable to attend to their duty, the Executive General Manager Football may
appoint a person who in their opinion is a suitable replacement.

16.5 Resignation

The Match Review Officer may resign by giving notice in writing to the Executive
General Manager Football.

16.6 Removal

The Executive General Manager Football may remove the Match Review Officer at any
time in their absolute discretion.

16.7 Secretary

The Executive General Manager Football shall appoint a Secretary to the Match
Review Officer (Match Review Secretary).

16.8 Role of Secretary

The Match Review Secretary shall:

(a) be an employee of the AFL;

(b) perform any function prescribed in these Regulations;

(c) assist the Match Review Officer in the efficient and proper performance of the
obligations and duties set out in this Regulation 16; and

(d) perform other functions as directed from time to time by the Executive General
Manager Football.
59

16.9 Reportable Offence

A Reportable Offence is any Reportable Offence identified in the Laws of Australian


Football or these Regulations, including Appendix 1 to these Regulations.

16.10 Report Made by Umpires

(a) Obligation to Charge

Where a person is involved in an incident which may constitute a Reportable


Offence, the Umpire shall report that person with such Reportable Offence and
refer the matter to the Match Review Officer.

(b) Reports During Course of Match

(i) Where an Umpire reports a person during the course of a Match, the
Umpire shall inform the person of the report:

(A) at the time of the incident;

(B) before the commencement of the next quarter; or

(C) where the incident occurs in the final quarter, as soon as practical
after the completion of the Match.

(ii) An Umpire may inform the Captain, acting Captain or Official of a Club
of a report where it is impractical to inform the person who has been
reported.

(c) Completion of Notice of Report Made During Match

(i) As soon as practical after the completion of the Match, the Umpire shall
complete a Notice of Report in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form
21.

(ii) Where an Umpire completes a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i), the Umpire shall:

(A) lodge the Notice with the Match Review Secretary on the day of
the Match; and

(B) retain a copy of the Notice.

(d) Method of Lodging

A Notice of Report, Incident Referral Form or any other Notice or Form referred
to in this Regulation 16 may be given or lodged by:

(i) delivering; or

(ii) transmitting,

to the intended recipient or the intended recipient’s Club.


60

16.11 Referral of Incident to Match Review Officer

(a) Completion of Incident Referral Form by Umpire

(i) As soon as practical after completion of the Match, the Umpire shall
complete an Incident Referral Form in the form prescribed in Schedule 1
as Form 25 in relation to any incident:

(A) that is not the subject of a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i); and

(B) which may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(ii) Where an Umpire completes an Incident Referral Form under Regulation


16.11(a)(i) the Umpire shall lodge a copy with the Match Review
Secretary by 10.00am on the next day after completion of the Match.

(b) Completion of Incident Referral Form by Umpire’s Observer

(i) As soon as practical after completion of the Match, the Umpire’s


Observer shall complete an Incident Referral Form in the form prescribed
in Schedule 1 as Form 25 in relation to any incident:

(A) that is not the subject of a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i); and

(B) which may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(ii) Where the Umpire’s Observer completes an Incident Referral Form


under Regulation 16.11(b)(i) the Umpire’s Observer shall lodge a copy
with the Match Review Secretary by 10.00am on the next day after
completion of the Match.

(c) Completion of Incident Referral Form by Umpire’s Manager

(i) The Umpire’s Manager may complete an Incident Referral Form in the
form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 25 in relation to an incident:

(A) that is not the subject of a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i); and

(B) which may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(ii) Where the Umpire’s Manager completes an Incident Referral Form under
Regulation 16.11(b)(i) the Umpire’s Manager shall lodge a copy with the
Match Review Secretary by 10.00 a.m. on the next day after completion
of the Match.

(d) Completion of Incident Referral Form by Club Chief Executive/General Manager

(i) The Chief Executive/General Manager of a Club may complete an


Incident Referral Form in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 25
in relation to an incident occurring during the last Match in which the Club
61

of the Chief Executive/General Manager competed, in relation to an


incident:

(A) that is not the subject of a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i); and

(B) which may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(ii) Where a Club Chief Executive/General Manager completes an Incident


Referral Form under Regulation 16.11(c)(i), the Chief Executive/General
Manager shall lodge a copy with the Match Review Secretary by 10.00
a.m. on the next day after the completion of the Match.

(e) Completion of Incident Referral Form by Executive General Manager Football

(i) The Executive General Manager Football may at any time complete an
Incident Referral Form in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 25
in relation to an incident:

(A) that is not the subject of a Notice of Report under Regulation


16.10(c)(i); and

(B) which may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(ii) Where the Executive General Manager Football completes an Incident


Referral Form under Regulation 16.11(e)(i) the Executive General
Manager Football shall lodge a copy of the Form with the Match Review
Secretary as soon as practical.

16.12 Review, Investigation and Charging by Match Review Officer

(a) Review Notice of Report, Incident Referral Form, video and other inquiries

(i) Upon receipt of any Notice of Report or Incident Referral Form or upon
the request of the Match Review Officer, the Match Review Secretary
shall convene a meeting with the Match Review Officer to commence by
11.00 a.m. on the first day after completion of the relevant Match or as
soon thereafter as practical.

(ii) The Match Review Secretary shall arrange for delivery to the Match
Review Officer of all available video of any incident referred to in any
Notice of Report, Incident Referral Form or any other incident which the
Match Review Officer suspects may constitute a Reportable Offence.

(iii) The Match Review Officer may seek other information and inform itself
on the basis of any other inquiries or investigations it deems appropriate
including without limitation, discussions with any Umpires or any other
person.

(iv) The Match Review Officer shall consider each Notice of Report, Incident
Referral Form and any other incident and as soon as practical, view any
video of the reported or referred incident and confer to ascertain whether
a person may have committed a Reportable Offence. The Match Review
Officer may review any video of any report or referred incident regardless
of the source of the video.
62

(b) Match Review Officer May Refer to AFL Integrity and Security Department

(i) Where the Match Review Officer forms the view that a report, incident or
matter warrants further investigation, the Match Review Officer may refer
the report, incident or matter to the AFL Integrity and Security
Department by notifying the AFL Integrity and Security Department of
particulars of the matter requiring investigation. Such notification may,
without prejudice to any other form of notice, be provided by completion
of the Notice prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 30.

(ii) As soon as practical after receiving a reference for investigation from the
Match Review Officer, the AFL Integrity and Security Department shall
investigate the matter and report in writing, to the Match Review Officer.

(c) Co-Operation

For the purpose of conducting an investigation under this Regulation, a person


shall upon request by the AFL Integrity and Security Department:

(i) fully co-operate with the AFL Integrity and Security Department;

(ii) truthfully answer any questions asked by any AFL Integrity and Security
Department personnel; and

(iii) provide any document, film, computer image, photograph, record or


video in that person’s possession or control requested by the any AFL
Integrity and Security Department personnel.

(d) Failure to Co-Operate

A person who fails to observe and comply with Regulation 16.12(c) or who
provides any information, or acts in a manner, which is in any respect false or
misleading or likely to mislead, shall be deemed to have been involved in
conduct which is unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL and shall
be liable to a sanction determined by the General Counsel in accordance with
AFL Rule 2.3.

(e) Evidence of Medical Condition

The Match Review Secretary may request that a Club provide a medical
certificate in relation to the nature and extent of any injury or the health of any
Victim Player. A request to provide a medical certificate in accordance with this
Regulation 16.12(e) shall:

(i) be in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 31;

(ii) be certified by the Club Medical Officer;

(iii) contain the particulars of injury, health and medical information of the
Victim Player, having regard to the specific incident allegedly giving rise
to a Reportable Offence;

(iv) contain sufficient information for a person other than a medical


practitioner to make a reasonable assessment as to the impact that the
63

alleged Reportable Offence is likely, based on objective medical facts, to


have had on the Victim Player; and

(v) be transmitted to the Match Review Secretary as soon as possible


following the request and, in any event, within three hours of such
request.

(f) Failure to Certify

A Club that fails to observe and comply with Regulation 16.12(e) or who
provides any information, or acts in a manner, which is in any respect false or
misleading or likely to mislead, shall be deemed to have been involved in
conduct which is unbecoming or prejudicial to the interests of the AFL and shall
be liable to a sanction determined by the General Counsel in accordance with
AFL Rule 2.3.

(g) Match Review Officer May Charge

(i) If after considering a Notice of Report, Incident Referral Form, any other
incident, any video, any other inquiries or documents and/or the results
of any investigation requested under this Regulation, the Match Review
Officer determines that a person has been involved in an incident which
constitutes a Reportable Offence, the Match Review Officer shall:

(A) charge that person by completing a Notice of Charge in the form


prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 29. For Reportable Offences
specified as “Classifiable Offences” in Appendix 1, the Notice of
Charge shall set out details of the Match Review Officer’s
determination in respect of the relevant factors referred to in
Appendix 1;

(B) lodge the Notice of Charge with the Match Review Secretary; and

(C) provide a copy of the Notice of Charge to the charged person,


their Club and any other Player and the Club of any other such
Player directly involved in the charge.

(ii) If after considering a Notice of Report, Incident Referral Form, any other
incident, any video, any other inquiries or documents and/or the results
of any investigation requested under this Regulation, the Match Review
Officer determines that a person has not been involved in an incident
which constitutes a Reportable Offence, the Match Review Officer may
record and publish brief reasons for the decision not to charge.

(h) Charge by Executive General Manager Football Notwithstanding any other


provision of these Regulations, if the Executive General Manager Football is of
the opinion that a person may have committed a Reportable Offence, whether
on the basis of an investigation, video evidence or otherwise, the Executive
General Manager Football may charge such person by completing a Notice of
Charge in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 29 and lodging the Notice
with the Match Review Secretary. At the time of lodging the Notice with the
Match Review Secretary, the Executive General Manager Football shall provide
a copy of the Notice of Charge to the charged person, their Club, any other
Player and the Club of any other such Player directly involved in the charge and
the Match Review Officer.
64

(i) The powers of the Executive General Manager Football under this
Regulation 16.12(h) may be exercised regardless of whether the
Executive General Manager Football has completed an Incident Referral
Form and lodged that with the Match Review Officer in accordance with
Regulation 16.11(e).

(i) Player May Enter Early Plea

(i) Subject to Regulation 16.12(i)(vi), where a Player has received a Notice


of Charge from the Match Review Officer under Regulation 16.12(g) or
the Executive General Manager Football under Regulation 16.12(h)
relating to any of the Reportable Offences set out in Appendix 1 and
where either matches or a fixed financial sanction is attributable, that
Player may elect to plead guilty to the offence.

(ii) A Player may elect to plead guilty to a Reportable Offence referred to in


Regulation 16.12(i)(i) by lodging with the Match Review Secretary a
Notice of Early Plea in the form prescribed in Schedule 1 as Form 28 by
11.00 a.m. on the day after notification of the charge.

(iii) Upon receipt by the Match Review Secretary of a Notice of Early Plea by
a Player in accordance with Regulation 16.12(i)(ii), the Player shall be
deemed to have accepted the relevant sanction set out in Appendix 1.

(iv) The sanction referred to in Regulation 16.12(i)(iii) shall be allocated to


the Player upon receipt by the Match Review Secretary of a Notice of
Early Plea (excluding where the Notice of Early Plea seeks to dispute the
classification of the relevant factors). Where a Player accepts a financial
sanction pursuant to Regulation 16.12(i)(iii), that financial sanction shall
become due and payable to the AFL by no later than 12.00 noon on the
day preceding the date of the next Match in which the Player’s Club is
scheduled to play.

(v) Where a Player has received a Notice of Charge from the Match Review
Officer under Regulation 16.12(g) or the Executive General Manager
Football under Regulation 16.12(h) and the Player disputes the
classification of the relevant factors set out in the Notice of Charge, the
Player may elect to plead guilty to the charge on the basis of a different
classification in which case the Player shall set out the different
classification in the Notice of Early Plea and lodge the same by 11.00am
on the first business day after notification of the charge. The classification
of the relevant offence (and subsequent sanction for that offence) will
then be determined by the Tribunal.

(vi) Where Early Plea Not Available

(A) Where the Match Review Officer or the Executive General


Manager Football as the case may be, determines in their
absolute discretion that in all the circumstances of the case, a
Notice of Charge should be determined by the Tribunal without
the Player having the option to enter an Early Plea, the Match
Review Officer or the Executive General Manager Football shall
provide written notification to that effect, to the Player by
completing a Notice of Referred Charge in the form prescribed in
Schedule 1 as Form 27 at the time of providing a copy of the
65

Notice of Charge in accordance with Regulation 16.12(g), in


which case the reported Player shall be dealt with by the Tribunal
in accordance with Regulation 16.12(j).

(B) Where the Match Review Officer charges a Player in accordance


with Regulation 16.12(g) for a Reportable Offence specified as a
“Classifiable Offence” in Appendix 1, and the relevant factors of
the Reportable Offence are graded by the Match Review Officer
in such a way that requires the Match Review Officer to directly
refer the Reportable Offence to the Tribunal in accordance with
the grading table in item 1(b) of Appendix 1, the charged Player
shall not have the option to enter an Early Plea and shall be dealt
with by the Tribunal in accordance with Regulation 16.12(j).

(C) Where the Match Review Officer charges a Player in accordance


with Regulation 16.12(g) for a Reportable Offence specified as a
“Direct Tribunal Offence” in Appendix 1, the charged Player shall
not have the option to enter an Early Plea and shall be dealt with
by the Tribunal in accordance with Regulation 16.12(j).

(j) Players Who Do Not Accept An Early Plea, Other Persons and Other Reportable
Offences

(i) Where:

(A) a Player does not elect to accept an Early Plea in accordance with
Regulation 16.12(i)(iii); or

(B) a person other than a Player is the subject of the Notice of Report;
or

(C) the Notice of Charge refers to a Reportable Offence other than


those set out in Appendix 1;

(D) notification referred to in Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(A) has been


given by the Match Review Officer or the Executive General
Manager Football;

(E) the Match Review Officer has charged a Player in accordance


Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(B); or

(F) the Match Review Officer has charged a Player in accordance


with Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(C),

the matter shall be dealt with by the Tribunal.

(ii) Where Regulation 16.12(j)(i) applies, the Tribunal Secretary shall fix and
give notice to the charged person, the charged person’s Club (if any) and
any other person or Club directly involved, of the date, time and place for
the hearing by the Tribunal.

(iii) The Tribunal Secretary or the Tribunal may vary the date, time and place
of hearing by notice in writing to the charged person and the charged
person’s Club (if any).
66

(Refer Regulation 19)

(k) Withdrawal of Charge

The Match Review Officer or the Executive General Manager Football as the
case may be, may withdraw any Notice of Charge at any time prior to a hearing
of the matter by the Tribunal by lodging a written notice with the Tribunal
Secretary and the charged person and the charged person’s Club (if any).

(l) Tribunal Fee

Where a Player is charged with a Reportable Offence specified as a


“Classifiable Offence” in Appendix 1, and a suspension is the prescribed
penalty, if the Player does not elect to accept an Early Plea in accordance with
Regulation 16.12(i)(iii) or where the Player disputes the classification of the
relevant factors set out in the Notice of Charge under Regulation 16.12(i)(v), a
payment to the AFL of the sum of $10,000 towards the cost of the Tribunal
hearing is applicable, which will be dealt with in accordance with Regulation
19.6(f). This payment is inclusive of Goods and Services Tax.

(m) Relationship to Laws of Australian Football

This Regulation 16 shall be read in conjunction with the Laws of Australian


Football but to the extent of any inconsistency, this Regulation 16 shall prevail.
67

17. Suspension and Disqualification


17.1 Ineligible to Play if Suspended or Disqualified

Subject to Regulations 17.3 and 17.5, a person who is suspended or disqualified by


the Commission, the Tribunal, the Appeal Board or any other League, Association or
body affiliated to or recognised as being competent by the AFL, as a result of
committing a Reportable Offence or otherwise, shall not play with any Club or hold any
office or act in any capacity for a Club until such suspension or disqualification has
expired or has been removed by the body which imposed it.

17.2 Suspension to be Served in Next Match or Matches

A Player suspended in accordance with Regulation 17.1 must serve the period of
suspension commencing from the date of the next Premiership Competition Match that
his or her Club is scheduled to play. For the avoidance of doubt, a suspension received
in a Pre-Season Competition Match or Club practice Match will be served commencing
in the first round of the Home & Away Competition.

17.3 Exception – Club Practice Match

A person who is suspended or disqualified may participate in any Pre-Season


Competition Match or Club practice Match unless otherwise directed by the
Commission or the body that has imposed the suspension or disqualification.

17.4 Club Practice Match

For the purposes of this Regulation 17.1, a Club practice Match includes intra or inter-
Club Matches played before the Home and Away Matches or otherwise, but specifically
excludes:

(a) Home and Away Matches; and

(b) Finals Series Matches.

17.5 Suspension of Players in State League Competition

If a Player is suspended by a State Body tribunal and he or she is unable to serve that
suspension in the State Body competition and, as a consequence, he or she is unable
to compete in a Home and Away or Finals Series Match(es), the following shall apply:

(a) the relevant State Body shall advise the AFL of the suspension imposed on the
Player by the relevant State Body tribunal; and

(b) the suspension shall be served by the Player being and remaining ineligible for
selection to compete in a Home and Away Match(s), matches in the Finals
Series for the period or any remaining period of the suspension.

17.6 Club that Plays Suspended Player

(a) Any Club which includes a suspended or disqualified Player in any Match shall
forfeit each Match in which the Player participates.

(b) Each such Match shall be awarded to the opposing Club and if the opposing
Club elects by lodging a notice in writing with the Executive General Manager
68

Football within seven (7) days from the date of the Match, the scores of both
Clubs in the Match shall be ignored for all the purposes.
69

18. Mêlées
18.1 Sanction Also on Club

(a) In addition or as a substitution to any sanction imposed on a Player, the Club or


respective Clubs of the Player or Players determined by the Match Review
Officer or Tribunal to have engaged in a Mêlée may be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Maximum 50 Units

(b) The Executive General Manager Football shall determine the amount of the
sanction (if any) to be applied to the Club.

(c) Any amount payable by a Club under this Regulation shall be paid by the Club
to the AFL within 14 days of being determined.
70

19. Tribunal
19.1 Establishment and Composition

(a) Appointment and Definitions

The General Counsel may from time to time appoint persons to a tribunal to be
known as the Tribunal.

(b) Functions

The function of the Tribunal shall be to deal with Reportable Offences in


accordance with these Regulations.

(c) Composition of Tribunal

(i) Subject to Regulation 19.1(c)(ii), whenever the Tribunal is to deal with a


Reportable Offence, the Tribunal shall comprise four persons being:

(A) a senior member of the legal profession appointed for that hearing
as Chairperson (Chairperson);

(B) a panel of three persons who in the opinion of the General


Counsel possess a knowledge of Australian Football to act as jury
members for that hearing as required under these Regulations
(Tribunal Jury Members).

(ii) Whenever the Tribunal is to deal with a Reportable Offence and the
prescribed penalty for the Reportable Offence as specified in Appendix
1 is a financial sanction, the charged Player may elect to have the matter
determined by a single Tribunal Jury Member who is a member of the
legal profession on the basis of written submissions only (Tribunal
Determination on Written Submissions). Where such an election is
made, these Regulations will be varied as the circumstances necessarily
require to accommodate the Tribunal Determination on Written
Submissions including as may be prescribed by guidelines made in
accordance with Regulation 19.2(g).

(d) Qualifications

Save and except where the General Counsel otherwise determines, a person
shall not be appointed to the Tribunal if that person:

(i) has been a member of a Board of Directors of a Club;

(ii) has been a Coach or assistant or specialty Coach of a Club; or

(iii) has been a Player of a Club,

in the twelve months preceding the appointment.

(e) Absent Members


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If for any period and for any reason a person appointed to the Tribunal is absent
or unable to attend a hearing by the Tribunal, the General Counsel may appoint
a person who in their opinion is a suitable replacement.

(f) Resignation

A person appointed to the Tribunal may resign by providing notice in writing to


the General Counsel.

(g) Removal

The General Counsel may remove a person appointed to the Tribunal at any
time in their absolute discretion.

(h) Appointment of Secretary

The General Counsel shall appoint a Secretary to the Tribunal (Tribunal


Secretary).

(i) Role of Secretary

The Tribunal Secretary shall:

(i) be an employee of the AFL;

(ii) keep an historic register of all matters before the Tribunal including
without limitation, a copy of any video relied upon by the Tribunal and a
record of all sanctions allocated to Players;

(iii) perform any function prescribed in these Regulations;

(iv) assist the Tribunal in the efficient and proper scheduling and running of
matters coming before it; and

(v) perform other functions as directed from time to time by the Tribunal.

19.2 Procedure and Evidence

(a) Regulate own Procedure

Subject to the further matters set out in this Regulation 19, the Tribunal may
regulate any proceedings brought before it in such manner as the Chairperson
thinks fit.

(b) Conduct of Hearing

(i) General

Any hearing by the Tribunal shall be conducted with as little formality and
technicality and with as much expedition as a proper consideration of the
matters before it permits.

(ii) Chairperson

The Chairperson shall determine all questions of law, evidence or


procedure and give such directions in such manner as the Chairperson
72

thinks fit. Without limitation, the Chairperson may give directions as to


the length, form and nature of submissions, the reception of evidence,
amendment of a report, adjournment of hearings and all other matters of
procedure including those referred to in Regulation 19.2(g). The
Chairperson may give directions to any person appearing before the
Tribunal and to the Tribunal Jury Members prior to or during any
deliberation on any question of fact.

(iii) Tribunal Jury Members

Whenever the Tribunal is to deal with a Reportable Offence, the Tribunal


Jury Members shall decide questions of fact and take direction from the
Chairman in relation to questions of law, evidence and procedure.

(c) Rules of Evidence

The Tribunal is not bound by the rules of evidence or by practices and


procedures applicable to Courts of record, but may inform itself as to any matter
in any such manner as it thinks fit.

(d) Video Evidence

Where the Tribunal considers that video evidence is capable of sustaining a


Reportable Offence, the Tribunal may make a finding against a person solely
on the basis of that video evidence.

(e) Expert Evidence

(i) A person who intends to adduce the evidence of a person as an expert


witness shall lodge with the Tribunal Secretary a written statement
containing:-

(A) the name and address of the witness;

(B) the qualifications and experience of the witness; and

(C) the substance of the evidence it is proposed to adduce from the


witness.

(ii) The time for compliance with Regulation 19.2(e)(i) shall be not later than
11.00am on the day after notification of the charge in relation to a
Reportable Offence.

(iii) Unless permission is granted by the Chairperson, a person shall not


adduce the evidence of an expert witness unless that person complies
with Regulations 19.2(e)(i) and (ii).

(iv) Where the Chairperson allows a person to adduce evidence from an


expert witness or on any other occasion, the Tribunal may at the direction
of the Chairperson, hear or receive any other expert evidence in relation
to the matters requiring its determination.

(f) Challenge to Jurisdiction, Formalities of Report and Other Technical Matters

Where a person intends at a hearing of the Tribunal to:


73

(i) challenge the jurisdiction of the Tribunal to deal with a matter;

(ii) challenge the constitution of the Tribunal;

(iii) challenge the formalities of the laying of any charge; or

(iv) raise any other matter requiring a legal or technical interpretation,

the person intending to adduce such material shall provide full written particulars
of all matters in respect thereof and forward a copy of such particulars to the
Tribunal Secretary and any other person who has an interest in the proceeding
including without limitation the Tribunal Counsel and the General Counsel, by
11.00am on the day after notification of the charge in relation to a Reportable
Offence.

(g) Guidelines

The AFL may make guidelines, not inconsistent with these Regulations, for the
practice and procedure with respect to a Tribunal hearing and Tribunal
Determination on Written Submissions. Any such guidelines shall be directory
in nature and any decision of the Tribunal is not invalid by reason of a guideline
not being followed. Without limitation, such guidelines may direct:

(i) the manner of a hearing including pleading, order of witnesses,


directions, evidence by telephone, teleconferencing or
videoconferencing, persons entitled to attend the hearing and any other
matters deemed appropriate by the Chairperson; and

(ii) the length, form and nature of the written submissions.

19.3 Obligations of Tribunal

(a) Natural Justice and Other Obligations

The Tribunal shall:

(i) provide any person whose interest will be directly and adversely affected
by its decision, a reasonable opportunity to be heard;

(ii) hear and determine the matter before it in an unbiased manner; and

(iii) make a decision that a reasonable Tribunal could honestly arrive at.

(b) Express Exclusion

The Tribunal shall endeavour to hear and determine any charge or matter
referred to it before the person’s Club is next scheduled to compete, irrespective
of whether the Tribunal hearing is scheduled at short notice or whether the
hearing of the matter may affect the person’s or the person’s Club’s preparation
for the next scheduled Match. To the extent that the rules of natural justice
require that:

(i) a person be given adequate notice of or sufficient time to prepare for a


hearing; or
74

(ii) the Tribunal hearing be scheduled at a time that does not affect the
person’s or the person’s Club’s preparation for the next scheduled
Match,

those requirements are expressly excluded from these Regulations.

19.4 Standard of Proof

The Tribunal Jury Members shall decide on the balance of probabilities whether a
Reportable Offence has been sustained.

19.5 Onus of Proof

Unless otherwise provided in the AFL Rules & Regulations, no person appearing before
the Tribunal shall bear an onus of establishing that an alleged offence has been
committed.

19.6 Decision and Sanctions

(a) At the conclusion of the hearing and where a charge is sustained in respect of
the Reportable Offences set out in Appendix 1, the Tribunal Jury Members must
apply the sanction prescribed in Appendix 1 in accordance with the classification
of the Match Review Officer or the Executive General Manager Football under
Regulations 16.12(g) or 16.12(h) save where:

(i) the Tribunal Jury Members determine that the relevant Reportable
Offence or Offences should be classified differently in which case the
sanction shall be determined by the Tribunal Jury Members by reference
to Appendix 1 as it applies to the reclassified Offence or Offences; or

(ii) there are exceptional and compelling circumstances which would make
it inappropriate or unreasonable to apply the consequences in Appendix
1 to the classification of the Match Review Officer, the Executive General
Manager Football or the Tribunal Jury Members as the case may be, in
which case the Tribunal Jury Members may impose such sanction or
sanctions as they in their absolute discretion think fit.

(b) For the purposes of Regulation 19.6(a)(ii), exceptional and compelling


circumstances may include:

(i) a Player has an exemplary record;

(ii) where a Reportable Offence was committed in response to provocation;

(iii) where a Reportable Offence was committed in self-defence;

(iv) where there are multiple Reportable Offences that arise from the same
event of course of conduct.

(c) Where the matter was referred directly to the Tribunal in accordance with:

(i) Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(A) the sanction shall be determined by the


Tribunal Jury Members as they in their absolute discretion see fit;
75

(ii) Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(B), the sanction shall be determined by the


Tribunal Jury Members as they see fit but, unless exceptional and
compelling circumstances apply in which case Regulation 19.6(a)(ii) will
apply, the sanction will be determined within the parameters of the
grading table in item 1(b) of Appendix 1;

(iii) Regulation 16.12(i)(vi)(C), the sanction shall be determined by the


Tribunal Jury Members as they in their absolute discretion think fit.

(iv) The Tribunal Jury Members may determine that while a specified
Reportable Offence has not been committed, the charged Player
attempted to commit a Reportable Offence in which case the Player may
be found to have committed the offence of attempting to commit the
relevant Reportable Offence. The Tribunal Jury Members may
alternatively determine that a Reportable Offence has not been
committed in which case no sanction shall apply.

(d) In the case of a matter involving a Reportable Offence which is not set out in
Appendix 1, the Tribunal Jury Members may at the conclusion of the hearing,
subject to any contrary provisions in any relevant Code, Policy, Rules or
Regulations, impose such sanctions as they in their absolute discretion think fit.

(e) Where a Player has lodged a Notice of Early Plea disputing the classification of
the Match Review Officer or Executive General Manager Football (as
applicable) but pleading guilty to the Reportable Offence as classified and set
out by the Player in the Notice of Early Plea and where the Tribunal Jury
Members determine that the Reportable Offence should be classified in
accordance with that set out by the Player, the sanction to apply shall be that
set out in Appendix 1 for the penalty applicable to the Tribunal Jury Members’
classification.

(f) For the purposes of this Regulation:

(i) A Player is successful if, and only if the Tribunal Jury Members determine
that the charge is not sustained in accordance with Regulation 19.6(a) or
where Regulation 19.6(e) applies.

(ii) Where a Player is successful, the payment made under Regulation


16.12(l) shall be refunded on receipt by the AFL of an appropriate tax
invoice.

(iii) Where a Player is not successful, the payment made under Regulation
16.12(l) shall not be refunded, unless the Tribunal determines that it
would be manifestly unjust and unfair not to refund the whole or part of
such payment in which case, the whole or part may be refunded.

19.7 Other Powers

(a) The Tribunal may make any interim orders it thinks fit in any proceedings before
it.

(b) The Chairperson may give directions on any matter or thing not provided for by
these Regulations in relation to any proceeding before the Tribunal.
76

19.8 Reasons for Decisions

At the conclusion of a Tribunal hearing or a Tribunal Determination of Written


Submissions, the Tribunal will give brief reasons for any decision made by it under this
Regulation.

19.9 Appointment and Obligations of Tribunal Counsel

The General Counsel may from time to time appoint one or more Tribunal Counsel
(Tribunal Counsel) who may be barristers and/or solicitors, to present the evidence in
support of the charge or matter, respond to any matters put in defence and address the
Tribunal at any hearing. Persons so appointed shall be known as Tribunal Counsel
who without limitation, shall:

(a) advise the Tribunal of the particulars of the charge or matter before it;

(b) tender any evidence in support of the charge or matter, including without
limitation any videotape or investigation report;

(c) call, examine, cross-examine and re-examine witnesses;

(d) make submissions in relation to the charge or matter; and

(e) address the Tribunal by way of summing up prior to any final submissions by
any representative of a person charged or otherwise appearing to be dealt with
by the Tribunal and (where applicable) prior to the Tribunal Jury Members
retiring to consider their finding.

19.10 Powers of Tribunal Counsel

Prior to or at any time during a hearing before the Tribunal, Tribunal Counsel may:

(a) withdraw or apply to adjourn any Notice of Charge or matter; or

(b) with the consent of the Chairperson, amend any Notice of Charge including,
without limitation, by substitution of a charge or addition of a charge in the
alternative.

19.11 Representation

At any hearing before the Tribunal a person may:

(a) appear in person; or

(b) subject to leave of the Chairperson, be represented by a barrister, solicitor or


agent on such terms, if any, as the Chairperson directs.

19.12 Representative

Where the Chairperson is of the opinion that a representative of a Player or person


appearing before the Tribunal has failed to observe directions of the Chairperson or
otherwise acted in a contemptuous, irresponsible or discourteous manner, the
Chairperson may withdraw leave for that person to represent the Player or person and
if appropriate, adjourn the proceedings to enable the Player or person to obtain fresh
representation.
77

19.13 Persons Entitled to be Present

(a) At any hearing before the Tribunal, the charged Player or person must attend at
the time and place specified in the Notice of Charge or other notice.

(b) If a required person fails to appear at the time and place specified in the Notice
of Charge or other notice, the Tribunal may proceed to hear and the Tribunal
Jury Members may determine the charge or matter and any sanction in the
absence of the person.

(c) Tribunal Counsel may attend and appear before the Tribunal at the date, time
and place and fixed for the hearing of the Tribunal. Where Tribunal Counsel fails
to attend before the Tribunal, the Tribunal may hear and determine the charge
or matter in the absence of Tribunal Counsel.

(d) Subject to any contrary direction of the Chairperson in any case, proceedings
before the Tribunal shall be open to members of the media accredited by the
AFL.

19.14 Victim Player, Other Player and Weight to be Given to Evidence

(a) At any hearing before the Tribunal, no person shall call evidence from a Victim
Player, without leave of the Chairperson.

(b) Subject to the Chairperson granting leave in accordance with Regulation


19.14(a) in relation to evidence from the Victim Player, at any hearing before
the Tribunal no person shall make an allegation against a Player other than the
charged Player unless the Player other than the charged Player:

(i) has been given notice by the person intending to make an allegation that
an allegation will be made; and

(ii) the Chairperson is satisfied that the Player other than the charged Player
against whom an allegation is to be made has had a reasonable
opportunity to respond to the allegation, including through oral evidence
at the Tribunal hearing.

(c) The Chairperson may direct the Tribunal Jury Members in relation to the weight
to be given to evidence adduced in accordance with Regulation 19.14(a) and
19.14(b).

(d) A Club shall ensure that it provides a certificate of its Club Medical Officer in
relation to the extent of any injury or the health of any Player against whom a
Reportable Offence is alleged to have been committed, upon request of the
Match Review Secretary, the Tribunal Secretary or any Tribunal Counsel.
Where such a request is made of a Club, the Club shall ensure that it provides
the certificate of its Club Medical Officer as soon as possible following the
request and in any event, within three hours of such request.

19.15 Validity of Charge and Hearings

(a) Where there is any procedural irregularity in the making of a charge or any other
matter, the Tribunal shall still hear and determine the matter unless it is of the
opinion that the irregularity has caused or may cause injustice if the matter was
heard. Without limitation, the Chairperson may direct that a Notice of Charge
78

be amended to ensure that a matter before the Tribunal is decided according to


its merits and not on the basis of a technicality. The power to amend shall
include the power to substitute another charge.

(b) A decision of the Tribunal is not invalid because of any defect or irregularity in,
or in connection with, the appointment of any person comprising the Tribunal.

(c) Subject to Regulations 19.3(a), 19.3(b), 19.6(c), 19.6(d) and 19.6(e), any
procedure or requirement regulating the function of the Tribunal is directory in
nature and a decision of the Tribunal is not invalid by reason of that procedure
or requirement not being fulfilled.

19.16 Co-operation with Tribunal

(a) Subject to Regulations 19.16(b) and except in relation to Tribunal


Determinations on Written Submissions, a person shall appear before the
Tribunal if requested to do so by the Tribunal Secretary or the Tribunal.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units

(b) The Chairperson may excuse a person from appearing before the Tribunal if the
Chairperson is of the opinion that the person is suffering from an injury or
medical condition that would prevent that person’s attendance.

(c) Any person who appears before the Tribunal and who in the opinion of the
General Counsel or Chairperson has:

(i) failed to fully co-operate with the Tribunal;

(ii) failed to truthfully answer any questions asked by the Tribunal Counsel
or the Tribunal;

(iii) failed to provide any document in that person’s possession or control


relevant to the matter to be determined by the Tribunal following a
request by the Tribunal;

(iv) makes any false or misleading statement or makes a statement or acts


in a manner calculated to or which is likely to mislead engages in any
improper or insulting behaviour at any time before the Tribunal; or

(v) engages in conduct designed to inhibit, frustrate or pervert the proper


administration of justice in relation to any proceeding before the Tribunal,

shall be dealt with by the General Counsel or Chairperson as they in their


absolute discretion think fit.

19.17 Contact with Witnesses

(a) An Official or Player, or any person acting on behalf or in concert with the Official
or Player, shall not contact or procure another to contact a person of another
Club who is or ought reasonably to be regarded as a person required to give
evidence before the Tribunal, where that contact is intended to or may otherwise
mislead the Tribunal or unfairly affect the conduct of the Tribunal hearing. A
person who contravenes this Regulation shall:
79

(i) be deemed to have engaged in conduct which is unbecoming and


prejudicial to the interests of a just and fair hearing; and

(ii) be dealt with by the Tribunal Jury Members as they in their absolute
discretion think fit.

(b) In addition to any sanction or determination made in respect of an Official or


Player under Regulation 19.17(a)(ii), the Tribunal Jury Members may impose a
sanction on such Official’s or Player’s Club as they in their absolute discretion
think fit, save where the Club satisfies the Tribunal Jury Members that the
conduct of the Official or Player was not entered into with the consent,
acquiescence or knowledge of the Club.

19.18 Public Comment and Criticism

(a) A person subject to these Regulations shall not publicly comment on:

(i) the contents of a Notice of Charge prior to the conclusion of any


determination by the Tribunal, as the case may be:

(ii) a Notice of Investigation and any matter touching upon or concerning an


Investigation under these Regulations, until completion of such
investigation and relevant determination by the Tribunal; or

(iii) an Incident Referral Form and any matter touching upon or concerning
an incident referral form until that matter has been dealt with by the Match
Review Officer and determined by the Tribunal (if required to be
determined by the Tribunal).

(b) Where a person contravenes Regulation 19.18(a), the person’s Club shall also
be liable to a sanction unless the person establishes to the reasonable
satisfaction of the General Counsel that such public comment was not intended
to influence or affect the conduct of the Tribunal hearing or the process of the
investigation, as the case may be.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units

(c) No person subject to these Regulations shall make any unfair, unreasonable or
excessive public criticism of:

(i) the Match Review Officer;

(ii) a Tribunal decision;

(iii) any member of the Tribunal; or

(iv) any other matter touching upon or concerning the Match Review Officer,
Tribunal or a determination made by either.

The General Counsel shall determine in their absolute discretion in any case,
whether any public criticism is unfair, unreasonable or excessive. Where a
person contravenes this Regulation, the person’s Club shall also be liable to a
sanction.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units


80
81

20. Appeal from Tribunal Decision


20.1 Regulation Paramount

Regulation 20 prescribes the procedures for an appeal commenced by the person the
subject of a determination by the Tribunal under Regulation 19.6, or the General
Counsel. To the extent that any rule in Regulation 20 is inconsistent with any other
Regulation, the provisions of Regulation 20 shall prevail.

20.2 Person May Appeal

The person the subject of a determination by the Tribunal under Regulation 19.6 may
appeal to the Appeal Board by no later than 12.00 noon on the day following the
decision of the Tribunal on one or more of the following grounds:

(a) that there was an error of law;

(b) that the decision was so unreasonable that no Tribunal acting reasonably could
have come to that decision having regard to the evidence before it;

(c) the classification of the level of the offence was manifestly excessive or
inadequate; or

(d) that the sanction imposed was manifestly excessive or inadequate.

20.3 General Counsel May Appeal

The General Counsel may appeal to the Appeal Board in respect of a determination of
the Tribunal under Regulation 19.6 within the time and on one or more of the grounds
referred to in Regulation 20.2.

20.4 Appointment

(a) The General Counsel may from time to time appoint persons to sit on an appeal
board to be known as the Appeal Board.

(b) Persons appointed to an Appeal Board hearing in respect of a determination of


the Tribunal under Regulation 19.6 must not have been appointed as the
Chairperson or Tribunal Jury Members for that Tribunal hearing.

20.5 Composition for Appeal Board Hearing

On any occasion when an appeal is brought before the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board
shall comprise three persons being:

(a) a person who is a senior member of the legal profession appointed for that
hearing as Chairperson (Chairperson of the Appeal Board);

(b) a panel of two persons who in the opinion of the General Counsel possess a
sufficient knowledge of Australian football and the law in respect of appellate
tribunals (Appeal Board Panel).

The Appeal Board so constituted shall conduct a hearing in respect of any appeal.
82

20.6 Qualifications

Save and except where the General Counsel otherwise determines, a person shall not
be appointed to the Appeal Board if that person:

(a) has been a member of a Board of Directors of a Club;

(b) has been a Coach or assistant or specialty Coach of a Club; or

(c) has been a Player of a Club,

in the twelve months preceding the appointment.

20.7 Absent Members

If for any period and for any reason any person comprising the Appeal Board for a
particular matter is absent or unable to attend a hearing of the Appeal Board, the
General Counsel may appoint a person who in their opinion is a suitable replacement.

20.8 Resignation

A person comprising the Appeal Board may resign by providing notice in writing to the
General Counsel.

20.9 Removal

The General Counsel may remove a person from the Appeal Board at any time at its
absolute discretion.

20.10 Appointment of Secretary

The General Counsel shall appoint a Secretary to the Appeal Board (Appeal Board
Secretary).

20.11 Role of Secretary

The Appeal Board Secretary shall:

(a) be an employee of the AFL;

(b) perform any function prescribed in these Regulations;

(c) assist the Appeal Board in the efficient and proper scheduling and running of
matters coming before it; and

(d) perform other functions as directed from time to time by the Appeal Board.

20.12 Notice of Appeal by Person

An appeal under Regulation 20.2 or Regulation 20.3 shall be brought by lodging with
the Appeal Board Secretary a duly completed Notice of Appeal in the form prescribed
83

in Schedule 1 as Form 17 and in the case of an appeal under Regulation 20.2 shall be
accompanied by payment to the AFL of:

(a) the sum of $2,500 towards the costs of the appeal, which sum shall not be
refundable in any circumstances; and

(b) the further sum of $2,500 which shall be dealt with in accordance with
Regulations 20.25 or 20.27.

All amounts referred to in this Regulation are inclusive of Goods and Services Tax.

20.13 Lodgement of Notice of Appeal

A Notice of Appeal shall be lodged by:

(a) delivering; or

(b) transmitting,

that Notice addressed to the Secretary of the Appeal Board provided it is received by
the Secretary no later than the time prescribed in Regulation 20.2.

20.14 Time for Hearing of Appeal

(a) Notification

Upon receipt of a Notice of Appeal, the Appeal Board Secretary shall:

(i) fix the date, time and place for the hearing of the appeal as soon as
practicable;

(ii) advise all parties interested in the appeal in writing of those particulars;

(iii) provide each person appointed to sit on the Appeal Board and Tribunal
Counsel with a copy of the Notice of Appeal;

(iv) cause a transcript of the hearing before the Tribunal to be prepared; and
as soon as practicable; and

(v) provide each person appointed to sit on the Appeal Board, Tribunal
Counsel and the appellant with a copy of the transcript of the hearing
before the Tribunal.

(b) Variation of Time or Place

The Appeal Board may vary the date, time or place specified under Regulation
20.14(a) and upon doing so shall as soon as practicable provide all parties
interested in the appeal with written notice of any such variation.

(c) Attendance

(i) An appellant shall attend and appear before the Appeal Board at the
date, time and place fixed for the hearing of the appeal. Where an
appellant fails to attend before the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board may
hear and determine the appeal in the appellant’s absence.
84

(ii) Tribunal Counsel may attend and appear before the Appeal Board at the
date, time and place fixed for the hearing of the appeal. Where Tribunal
Counsel fails to attend before the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board may
hear and determine the appeal in the absence of Tribunal Counsel.

20.15 Procedure and Evidence

(a) Subject to the further matters set out in this Regulation 20, the Appeal Board
may regulate any proceedings brought before it in such manner as the
Chairperson of the Appeal Board thinks fit.

(b) The Appeal Board is not bound by the rules of evidence or by practices and
procedures applicable to Courts of record, but may inform itself as to any matter
in such manner as it thinks fit.

20.16 Obligations of Appeal Board

(a) The Appeal Board shall:

(i) provide any person whose interest will be directly and adversely affected
by its decision a reasonable opportunity to be heard;

(ii) hear and determine the matter before it in an unbiased manner; and

(iii) make a decision that a reasonable body could honestly arrive at.

(b) Subject to Regulations 20.14(b) and 20.17(b), the Appeal Board shall
endeavour to hear and determine an appeal brought under this Regulation 20
before the appellant’s Club is next scheduled to compete, irrespective of
whether the appeal is heard at short notice or whether the hearing of the appeal
may affect the appellant’s or the appellant’s Club’s preparation for the next
scheduled Match. To the extent that the rules of natural justice require that:

(i) a person be given adequate notice of or sufficient time to prepare for an


appeal; or

(ii) the appeal be scheduled at a time that does not affect the appellant’s or
the appellant’s Club’s preparation for the next scheduled Match,

those requirements are expressly excluded from these Regulations.

20.17 Adjournment and Stay of Sanction

(a) Subject to Regulation 20.17(b)(ii), where the Tribunal imposes a sanction that
prevents the appellant from participating in a Match, the appellant shall serve
that sanction pending the determination of the appeal.

(b) Subject to Regulation 20.17(c), the Appeal Board may of its own motion or upon
application of any party to the appeal, order:

(i) that an appeal be adjourned; or

(ii) a stay of the execution of the sanction imposed by the Tribunal pending
the determination of the appeal.
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(c) The Appeal Board shall make an order under Regulation 20.17(b)(ii) only where
it is satisfied that there are exceptional and compelling circumstances that make
it harsh and unreasonable if an order was not made. In determining that
question, the Appeal Board shall without limitation have regard to:

(i) the merits of the appeal and the appellant’s prospects of success;

(ii) the interests of other Clubs and Players;

(iii) the effect on the results of the AFL Competition; and

(iv) the need to permit the due and proper administration of Australian
Football in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles of
Association, AFL Rules and these Regulations.

20.18 Representation

(a) At any hearing before the Appeal Board a person may:

(i) appear in person; or

(ii) subject to leave of the Appeal Board, be represented by a barrister,


solicitor or agent on such terms, if any, as the Chairperson directs.

(b) At any hearing before the Tribunal, Tribunal Counsel shall be entitled to appear
until or unless excused by the Chairperson of the Appeal Board.

20.19 Representative

Where the Appeal Board is of the opinion that a representative of a Player or person
appearing before the Appeal Board has failed to observe directions of the Appeal Board
or otherwise acted in a contemptuous, irresponsible or discourteous manner, the
Appeal Board may withdraw leave for that person to represent the Player or person
and if appropriate, adjourn the proceedings to enable the Player or person to obtain
fresh representation.

20.20 Review

(a) The Appeal Board shall hear all appeals by way of a review of the evidence
presented before the Tribunal and determine whether one or more of the
grounds referred to in Regulation 20.2 have been established.

(b) Neither the appellant nor Tribunal Counsel may produce fresh evidence at the
hearing of an appeal without leave of the Appeal Board. If an appellant or
Tribunal Counsel seek leave to produce fresh evidence, the Appeal Board shall
not grant such leave unless:

(i) the evidence could not by reasonable diligence have been obtained by
the appellant or Tribunal Counsel prior to the conclusion of the hearing
before the Tribunal; and

(ii) the evidence is of sufficient probative value that, considered with other
evidence which was before the Tribunal, the Tribunal would have
reached a different decision.
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20.21 Decisions of Appeal Board

Where the Appeal Board determines that one or more of the grounds set out in
Regulation 20.2 have been established, the Appeal Board may confirm, reverse or
modify the decision of the Tribunal the subject of the appeal and make such orders and
give such directions in such manner as it thinks fit.

20.22 Majority Decisions

Any question on appeal before the Appeal Board must be decided according to the
opinion of a majority of those constituting the Appeal Board.

20.23 Reasons for Decisions

At the conclusion of a hearing before the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board will give brief
reasons for a decision under Regulation 20.21.

20.24 Onus and Standard on Appeal

On the hearing of an appeal the appellant shall bear the onus of establishing on the
balance of probabilities, one or more of the grounds set out in Regulation 20.2.

20.25 Appeal Fee

For the purposes of this Regulation, an appeal is successful if, and only if the Appeal
Board determines that one or more of the grounds set out in Regulation 20.2 has been
established.

(a) Where an appeal is successful, the payment made under Regulation 20.12(b)
shall be refunded on receipt by the AFL of an appropriate tax invoice.

(b) Where an appeal is not successful, the payment made under Regulation
20.12(b) shall not be refunded, unless the matter involves a monetary sanction
and the Appeal Board determines that it would be manifestly unjust and unfair
not to refund the whole or part of such payment in which case, the whole or part
may be refunded.

20.26 Costs

Each party to an appeal shall bear their own costs.

20.27 Abandon Appeal

(a) Subject to Regulation 20.27(b), an appellant may abandon an appeal prior to


any hearing by giving written notice to the Secretary to the Appeal Board in
which case the payment under Regulation 20.12(b) shall be refunded.

(b) Subject to Regulation 20.25(b), where an appellant abandons the appeal during
the conduct of the appeal, the payment made under Regulation 20.12(b) shall
not be refunded.

20.28 Validity of Appeal and Hearings

(a) Where there is any procedural irregularity in the manner in which an appeal has
been brought, the Appeal Board may still hear and determine the appeal unless
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it is of the opinion that the irregularity has caused or will cause injustice if the
appeal was heard.

(b) A decision of the Appeal Board is not invalid because of any defect or irregularity
in, or in connection with, the appointment of an Appeal Board Member.

(c) Subject to Regulations 20.16(a) and 20.16(b), any procedure or requirement


regulating the function of the Appeal Board is directory in nature and a decision
of the Appeal Board is not invalid by reason of that procedure or requirement
not being fulfilled.

20.29 Public Comment and Criticism

(a) A person subject to the AFL Rules and Regulations shall not publicly comment
on the contents of a Notice of Appeal prior to the determination by the Appeal
Board. Where a person contravenes this Regulation, the person’s Club shall be
liable to a sanction unless the person establishes to the reasonable satisfaction
of the General Counsel that such public comment was not intended to influence
or affect the conduct of the Appeal Board hearing.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units

(b) No person subject to the AFL Rules and Regulations shall make any unfair,
unreasonable or excessive public criticism of a decision of the Appeal Board or
of any member of the Appeal Board or any other matter touching or concerning
the Appeal Board or a determination made by it. The General Counsel shall
determine in their absolute discretion and in any case, whether any public
criticism is unfair, unreasonable or excessive. Where a person contravenes this
Regulation, the person’s Club shall be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Maximum 50 Units

20.30 Exhaust Internal Appeal

A person shall exercise their right of appeal under this Regulation 20 and have any
appeal heard and determined by the Appeal Board before commencing any relevant
proceedings or becoming a party to any relevant proceedings in a court of law.
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21. Brownlow Medal


21.1 Voting

(a) The field Umpires shall within a reasonable time following the conclusion of a
Home and Away Match, record their opinion of the three fairest and best Players
in the Match and place it in a sealed envelope marked "Brownlow Medal". The
officiating field Umpires shall sign across the seal of the envelope.

(b) For each Home and Away Match, the Player determined as the:

(i) fairest and best Player, shall receive three votes;

(ii) second fairest and best Player, shall receive two votes; and

(iii) third fairest and best Player, shall receive one vote.

(c) A Field Umpire nominated by the AFL Umpires’ Head Coach shall lodge such
envelope at the offices of the AFL, or such place as nominated by the AFL Head
of Umpiring, on the first working day after the Match.

21.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of Brownlow Medal

(a) At the end of the Home and Away Matches in each year, the votes recorded by
the field Umpires shall be counted and the Player receiving the highest number
of votes shall be awarded the Brownlow Medal.

(b) Where two or more Players receive an equal number of votes, each shall be
declared the joint winner and shall be awarded a Brownlow Medal.

(c) Subject to Regulation 21.5, any Player who has been found guilty of a
Reportable Offence in a Home and Away Match in which Brownlow Medal votes
have been cast shall be ineligible to receive the Brownlow Medal in that season.

21.3 Ineligible Players Still Receive Votes

The field Umpires shall award votes to the Players who they consider to be the fairest
and best, irrespective of whether such Players:

(a) have been found guilty of a Reportable Offence in a Match during that season;
or

(b) have been reported during the Match for which votes are to be awarded.

21.4 Reportable Offence

Any reference in this Regulation to a Player having been found guilty of a Reportable
Offence means a Reportable Offence as defined in these Regulations.

21.5 Exception

Notwithstanding that a Player has been found guilty of a Reportable Offence in a Home
and Away Match in which "Brownlow Medal" votes have been cast, the Player shall
remain eligible to receive the Brownlow Medal in that season if the sanction for the
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Reportable Offence is a financial sanction only as set out in Appendix 1 of these


Regulations or as determined by the Tribunal.

22. AFL Rising Star Award


22.1 Voting

(a) A panel of 3 members appointed by the Executive General Manager Football


(AFL Rising Star Nomination Panel) shall at the completion of each round of
Home and Away Matches nominate the best performed Eligible Player to that
stage of the AFL Season as the weekly AFL Rising Star.

(b) The AFL Rising Star Nomination Panel shall take into account each Eligible
Players performance in the round of Home and Away Matches just completed
together with the performances of Eligible Players in previous Home and Away
Matches in that season when deciding who is the best performed Eligible Player
to that stage of the AFL Season.

(c) An Eligible Player may only be nominated as a weekly AFL Rising Star once in
any one AFL Season.

22.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of AFL Rising Star Award

(a) At the end of the Home and Away Matches in each year, the All Australian
Selectors shall select the winner of the AFL Rising Star Award for that year from
the players nominated as the weekly AFL Rising Star (Weekly Nominees).

(b) At the conclusion of the Home and Away Matches, each All Australian Selector
shall nominate the 5 best performed Eligible Players from the Weekly Nominees
based on their performance during the Home and Away Matches in that AFL
Season on the following basis:

(i) best Eligible Player, shall receive five votes;

(ii) second best Eligible Player, shall receive four votes;

(iii) third best Eligible Player, shall receive three votes;

(iv) fourth best Eligible Player, shall receive two votes; and

(v) fifth best Eligible Player, shall receive one vote.

(c) The votes recorded by each All Australian Selector shall be counted and the
Eligible Player receiving the highest number of total votes shall be declared the
winner of the AFL Rising Star Award.

(d) Where two or more Players receive an equal number of votes, each shall be
declared the joint winner and shall be awarded the AFL Rising Star Award.

(e) Subject to Regulation 22.5, any Eligible Player who has been found guilty of a
Reportable Offence in that year shall be ineligible to receive the AFL Rising Star
Award in that year and shall not receive votes under Regulation 22.2(b).
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22.3 Players Still Receive Nominations

The AFL Rising Star Nomination Panel may nominate an Eligible Player as a weekly
AFL Rising Star even if the Eligible Player has been found guilty of a Reportable
Offence in that AFL Season.

22.4 Reportable Offence

Any reference in this Regulation to an Eligible Player having been found guilty of a
Reportable Offence means a Reportable Offence as defined in these Regulations.

22.5 Exception

Notwithstanding that an Eligible Player has been found guilty of a Reportable Offence
in that AFL Season, the Eligible Player shall remain eligible to receive votes under
Regulation 22.2(b) and the AFL Rising Star Award in that year if the sanction for the
Reportable Offence is a financial sanction only as set out in Appendix 1 of these
Regulations or as determined by the Tribunal or in the case of State League Tribunal,
the sanction was not a suspension or disqualification from participating in a Match.

22.6 Eligible Player

For the purposes of this Regulation an Eligible Player is a Player who:

(a) is under the age of 21 on 31 December in the year immediately prior to the year
in which the AFL Rising Star Award is to be awarded; and

(b) has not played more than 10 AFL Home and Away and Finals Series Matches
before the start of the AFL Season in the year in which the AFL Rising Star
Award is to be awarded.
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23. Coleman Medal


23.1 Winner

The Coleman Medal shall be awarded each AFL Season to the Player that kicks the
highest number of goals during the Home and Away Matches in that AFL Season as
determined by the AFL Official Statistician.

23.2 More than One winner

Where two or more Players kick an equal number of goals during the Home and Away
Matches, each shall be declared the joint winner and shall be awarded the Coleman
Medal.
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24. Norm Smith Medal/ANZAC Medal


24.1 Voting

(a) A panel appointed by the Executive General Manager Football shall immediately
following the conclusion of the Grand Final or Anzac Day Match as the case
may be, record their opinion of the three best Players in the Grand Final or
Anzac Day Match as the case may be and provide them to a nominated AFL
representative.

(b) The Executive General Manager Football shall nominate one of the panel
members as Chairperson and one of the panel members as Deputy
Chairperson.

(c) Each Panel member shall award votes on the following basis:

(i) best Player, shall receive three votes;

(ii) second best Player, shall receive two votes; and

(iii) third best Player, shall receive one vote.

24.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal

(a) At the conclusion of the Grand Final or Anzac Day Match as the case may be,
the votes recorded by each panel member shall be counted and the Player
receiving the highest number of votes shall be awarded the Norm Smith
Medal/Anzac Medal.

(b) Where two or more Players receive an equal number of votes (Equal Leader),
the Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal will be awarded to the Equal Leader that
received the most number of 3 votes. If the Equal Leaders received the same
number of 3 votes the Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal will be awarded to the
Equal Leader that received the most number of 2 votes. If the Equal Leader
received the same number of 2 votes the Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal will
be awarded to the Equal Leader that received the most number of votes from
the Chairperson. If none of the Equal Leaders received votes from the
Chairperson the Norm Smith Medal/Anzac Medal will be awarded to the Equal
Leader that received the most votes from the Deputy Chairperson.
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25. All Australian


25.1 All Australian Selection Committee

(a) The All Australian Selection Committee shall consist of:

(i) the Chief Executive Officer;

(ii) the Executive General Manager Football; and

(iii) the All Australian Selectors.

(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the Chairperson of the All Australian
Selection Committee.

25.2 Meetings

(a) The All Australian Selection Committee shall meet following or near the
completion of the Home and Away Matches in each year and select the All
Australian team.

(b) The All Australian Selection Committee shall meet at such other times during
the year as they see fit.

(c) No formal period of notice of meetings need be given and meetings may be
convened on any period of notice as determined by the Chief Executive Officer
of the AFL.

(d) The quorum required for All Australian Selection Meetings shall be as
determined by the Chief Executive Officer.

(e) The conduct of meetings of the All Australian Selection Committee, including
voting and selection procedures shall be regulated in such manner as the Chief
Executive Officer thinks fit.

25.3 Selection Criteria

(a) The All Australian Selection Committee shall consider a Player’s performance
during the Home and Away Matches and other matches as designated by the
Chief Executive Officer (Selection Period) when selecting the All Australian
Team.

(b) Any Player who played a Home and Away Match during the AFL Season is
eligible for selection to the All Australian team regardless of whether the Player
has been found guilty of a Reportable Offence during the AFL Season.

(c) The All Australian Selection Committee shall select the best performed 22
Players over the selection period, regardless of Club affiliation, in the All
Australian team subject to the requirement that the team shall be balanced as if
participating in a Match.

(d) The Chief Executive Officer may issue selection criteria guidelines to the All
Australian Selection Committee which guidelines the All Australian Selection
Committee shall take into account when selecting the All Australian team.
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25.4 All Australian Captain, Vice Captain, Coach and Umpire

(a) The All Australian Selection Committee shall select one of the All Australian
team members as All Australian Captain and one other All Australian team
member as All Australian Vice Captain.

(b) The Coach of the Premiership team shall be the All Australian coach.

(c) The AFL Umpiring Department shall select the best performed umpire over the
selection period as All Australian Umpire.
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26. Mark of the Year/Goal of the Year


26.1 AFL Mark/Goal of the Year

A panel appointed by the Executive General Manager Football (AFL Mark/Goal of the
Year Nomination Panel) shall at the completion of each round of Home and Away
Matches nominate the Player that takes the best mark/goal in that round of Home and
Away Matches as the weekly nominee for the AFL Mark/Goal of the Year (Weekly
Nominee) and two runners-up each week (Selection) in each category. The AFL may
provide for the public to nominate the best mark/goal in each round of Home and Away
Matches from the Selections (Public Nominee).

26.2 Counting of Votes and Awarding of AFL Mark/Goal of the Year

(a) At the end of the Home and Away Season in each year, the All Australian
Selectors shall select the winner of the AFL Mark/Goal of the Year for that year
from the Nominees, and any Public Nominees that differ from the Weekly
Nominees.

(b) At the conclusion of the Home and Away Season, each All Australian Selector
shall nominate their 5 best marks/goals from the Weekly Nominees/Public
Nominees:

(i) best mark/goal, shall receive five votes;

(ii) second best mark/goal, shall receive four votes;

(iii) third best mark/goal, shall receive three votes;

(iv) fourth best mark/goal, shall receive two votes; and

(v) fifth best mark/goal, shall receive one vote.

(c) The votes recorded by each All Australian Selector shall be counted and the
Player whose mark/goal receives the highest number of total votes shall be
declared the winner of the AFL Mark/Goal of Year.

(d) Where two or more marks/goals receive an equal number of votes, each Player
shall be declared the joint winner and shall be awarded the AFL Mark/Goal of
the Year.
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27. Eligibility for Awards


27.1 Eligibility for Awards

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the AFL Rules and Regulations, the
Commission may in its discretion determine that a Player is not eligible for any of the
awards referred to in Regulation 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 or 26 if that Player is found guilty of
an offence under the AFL Anti-Doping Code, the Illicit Drug Policy or the AFL Rules &
Regulations.
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28. Dr. William. C. McClelland Trophy


28.1 Name & Award

The name of the perpetual trophy to be awarded to the Club that finishes in first position
on Final Premiership Ladder at the end of the Home and Away Matches in each year
shall be titled the "Dr. William. C. McClelland Trophy" (Trophy).

28.2 Trophy

The Trophy shall be retained at the offices of the AFL and a replica presented to the
winning Club.
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29. Broadcasting of AFL Spectacles


29.1 Introduction

(a) The AFL is responsible for:

(i) the administration and viability of the AFL competition; and

(ii) the promotion and development of Australian football.

(b) The sale of broadcast rights is a critically important means of generating income
for the AFL.

(c) The promotion and development of Australian football is significantly assisted


by the high quality and extensive broadcast of AFL Spectacles.

(d) Income from the sale of broadcast rights and the quality and extent of the
broadcast of AFL Spectacles is maximised by the AFL dealing exclusively in the
right to broadcast AFL Spectacles.

(e) The AFL from time to time considers whether AFL Clubs should receive a
distribution of part of the annual operating surplus of the AFL which includes the
income received by the AFL from the sale of broadcast rights.

(f) Distributions of part of the annual operating surplus of the AFL are important
sources of revenue for AFL Clubs and in particular assist AFL Clubs to
adequately remunerate players participating in the AFL competition.

(g) The AFL from time to time makes grants and provides for payment to other
bodies involved in the administration, promotion and development of Australian
football.

(h) Grants by the AFL and such other payments to Australian football bodies are
vitally important to the promotion and development of Australian football at junior
and other levels.

29.2 Definitions

(a) “broadcast” means any service (by whatever means or process) which is or in
the future becomes a content service for the purposes of the Broadcasting
Services Act 1992 (Cth) and includes, but is not limited to any internet, wireless
or on-line service, any television or radio transmission, mobile telephony
devices or any service making available to any member of the public
(simultaneously with or consecutively to any other member of the public) text,
sounds or images.
99

(b) “AFL Spectacles” means all matches of Australian football and events
conducted by or under the auspices of the AFL including without limitation all
practice or exhibition matches involving AFL Clubs, the Pre-Season
Competition, Home and Away Matches, the Finals series, the State of Origin
series, the counting of votes for the presentation of the Brownlow Medal, the
AFL Player Draft(s), International Rules Series, Rising Star Award, Hall of Fame
function, Grand Final parade, AFL Combine and the AFL All Australian Team.

(c) “Authorised Broadcaster” means any broadcaster nominated by the AFL from
time to time as being authorised to broadcast AFL Spectacles.

(d) “Draft Selection Meeting” has the same meaning referred to in the AFL Rules.

29.3 Broadcast Rights Vest in AFL

The AFL shall be entitled to grant all rights in relation to the broadcast of AFL
Spectacles.

29.4 Rights Exclusive to AFL

The entitlement to grant all rights to broadcast AFL Spectacles shall be the absolute
and exclusive right of the AFL.

29.5 AFL Clubs Not to Grant Rights

An AFL Club shall not directly or indirectly broadcast AFL Spectacles or grant any rights
to broadcast AFL Spectacles to any other person.

29.6 Ground Management Authority

Each AFL Club shall use its best endeavours to ensure that its Ground Management
Authority:

(a) shall not permit, allow or assist any other person to broadcast any AFL
Spectacle otherwise than in accordance with arrangements made and approved
by the AFL with an Authorised Broadcaster;

(b) shall provide any Authorised Broadcaster with access to the necessary facilities
required for the broadcast of AFL Spectacles including without limitation
reasonable and unobstructed camera positions required for the broadcast of
AFL Spectacles;

(c) shall provide such assistance to any Authorised Broadcaster and its servants
and agents as is necessary to ensure that the AFL fulfils to the maximum
possible extent, its obligations to any Authorised Broadcaster;

(d) shall in cases where a number of Authorised Broadcasters attend the relevant
venue for the purposes of providing a broadcast of any AFL Spectacle, provide
separate facilities necessary for the broadcast of the AFL Spectacle by each
Authorised Broadcaster; and

(e) shall not permit, allow or assist any other person to permit or allow the admission
into the relevant venue of any equipment used in the broadcast of any AFL
Spectacle including without limitation television and video cameras, on any day
100

when any AFL Spectacle is played at the venue save as permitted under
Regulation 29.6 or as is otherwise specifically authorised by the AFL.

29.7 Alternative Venue

Any AFL Club which fails to or is unable to procure its Ground Management Authority
to comply with each of the requirements set out in sub-paragraphs (a) – (e) of
Regulation 29.6 shall immediately upon notice by the AFL facilitate the scheduling or
re-scheduling of any or all Matches in which the AFL Club is to participate, to an
alternative venue suitable for the playing of AFL Matches, as directed by the AFL and
without limitation such AFL Club shall fully co-operate with and assist the AFL in
scheduling or re-scheduling the Match or Matches as the case may be.

29.8 Failure to Comply with Regulation 29.6 or 29.7

(a) Any AFL Club which fails to comply with or observe Regulations 29.6 or 29.7
shall not be entitled to:

(i) any Premiership Points for any AFL Match won by the Team of the
relevant AFL Club at a venue where the Ground Management Authority
has not complied with each of the requirements set out in sub-paragraph
(a) – (e) of Regulation 29.6;

(ii) be considered to receive any of the annual operating surplus of the AFL
in respect of any year when such a failure occurs; and

(iii) participate in any Draft Selection Meeting, (including priority selections


or exchange of players) for a period of 24 months from when such failure
occurs.

(b) Where any AFL Club fails to comply with or observe Regulation 29.6 or 29.7
and that AFL Club wins an AFL Match at a venue where the Ground
Management Authority has not complied with each of the requirements set out
in sub-paragraphs (a)-(e) of Regulation 29.6, the losing AFL Club in such AFL
Match shall not be awarded any Premiership Points and the scores shall be
ignored for the purposes of the calculation of percentages.

29.9 Equipment in Venues

An AFL Club shall not, and shall ensure that each of its Officers, servants and agents
do not:

(a) bring into a venue where an AFL Spectacle is conducted; or

(b) use at the relevant venue,

any equipment that may be used in the broadcast or recording of an AFL Spectacle
(including without limitation television and video cameras) on any day when an AFL
Spectacle is conducted at the relevant venue save as otherwise specifically authorised
by the AFL.

Sanction: If an AFL Club breaches this Regulation 29.9, the Commission, the Chief
Operating Officer, or the person nominated by the Chief Executive
Officer, may deal with this matter in such manner as the Commission,
Chief Operating Officer, or the person nominated by the Chief Executive
101

Officer, in their absolute discretion thinks fit and without limiting their
power they may impose a monetary sanction of such amount as they
think fit.

29.10 Equipment in Venues - Assistance

An AFL Club shall not permit, allow or assist any other person to:

(a) bring into a venue where an AFL Spectacle is conducted; or

(b) use at the relevant venue,

any equipment that may be used in the broadcast or recording of an AFL Spectacle
(including without limitation television and video cameras) on any day when an AFL
Spectacle is conducted at the relevant venue save as otherwise specifically authorised
by the AFL or in accordance with arrangements made and approved by the AFL with
an Authorised Broadcaster.

Sanction: If an AFL Club breaches this Regulation 29.10, the Commission, the Chief
Operating Officer, or the person nominated by the Chief Executive
Officer, may deal with this matter in such manner as the Commission,
Chief Operating Officer, or the person nominated by the Chief Executive
Officer, in their absolute discretion thinks fit and without limiting their
power they may impose a monetary sanction of such amount as they
think fit.
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30. AFL Broadcaster & Media Access Policy


30.1 Obligations

Each Club shall:

(a) comply with, observe and perform and ensure that each of its Officers, Players
and Coaches complies with, observes and performs any obligations contained
in the AFL Broadcaster & Media Access Policy;

(b) not by its conduct or the conduct of its Officers, Players and Coaches, do
anything that would prejudice the full effect and operation of the AFL Media
Relations Policy; and

(c) provide all reasonable assistance to the AFL for the purposes of providing
information to the media and assisting in maintaining a good working
relationship with the Media.

30.2 Cooperation With Media

Without limiting the obligations imposed on a Club under Regulation 30.1, a Club shall
fully cooperate with the Media by:

(a) ensuring its Senior Coach and leading Players attend any pre-Match Media
conference that may be arranged from time to time by the AFL;

(b) providing Accredited Media Representatives reasonable access to its dressing


rooms after the completion of a Match;

(c) ensuring that its Senior Coach attends the post-Match Media conference at the
time prescribed;

(d) providing adequate facilities at which the post-Match Media conference can be
conducted;

(e) providing reasonable access to its Coaches, Players, Officers and other
employees to be interviewed:

(i) after a Match;

(ii) before or after Club training sessions;

(iii) during the week between Matches; and

(iv) at such other times as may be arranged between the media and the Club,
or directly with the Coach, Player or Officer; and

(f) ensuring its Coaches, Players, Officers and other employees do not cover up or
in any way interfere with any Media cameras at a Match, including any cameras
located in the Coaches box.

30.3 Sanction

A Club which fails to comply with the AFL Broadcast & Media Access Policy shall be
subject to the sanction as prescribed in the AFL Broadcaster & Media Access Policy or
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if no amount is set out, such sanction as the General Manager – Finance, Clubs and
Broadcast may determine in their absolute discretion.
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31. Stadium Roofs


31.1 Roof Opening

(a) Any roof of a stadium shall remain open on the day of a Match unless otherwise
determined by the Executive General Manager Football, or their appointee, in
that person’s absolute discretion. Without limitation, the Executive General
Manager Football, or their appointee, may direct that any roof of a stadium be
closed or partially closed on the day of a Match having regard to whether the
conditions for and comfort of those in attendance (including Players) would
generally be enhanced by closing or partially closing the roof and whether
shadows will encroach upon the Playing Surface.

(b) The AFL may publish guidelines concerning the opening and closing of a
stadium roof, including times when a roof can be opened and closed on the day
of a Match.

31.2 Contact with Roof

(a) A Player commits a Reportable Offence if he or she intentionally, recklessly or


negligently kicks or otherwise causes the football to hit any part of a stadium
roof’s structure.

(b) Where a Player intentionally, recklessly or negligently kicks or causes the


football to hit any part of a stadium roof’s structure which is above the Playing
Surface, the field Umpire shall award a free kick to the nearest Player on the
opposing team at a position on the Playing Surface nearest to where the football
hit the roof structure.

(c) If a Player accidentally kicks or causes the football to hit any part of a stadium
roof’s structure, the football shall be out of play and the following shall apply:

(i) if the football hits any roof beams which run the length of the Playing
Surface along a wing, the boundary Umpire shall throw the football back
into play from a position on the boundary line nearest to where the
football hit the roof beam; or

(ii) if the football hits any other part of the stadium roof structure which is
above the Playing Surface, the field Umpire shall bounce the football at
the position on the Playing Surface nearest to where the football hit the
stadium roof structure.
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32. Delay in Commencement & Forfeiture Of Match


32.1 Failure to Enter Arena on Time

If the commencement of a Match is delayed by reason of one or both Teams failing to


enter the Arena by the scheduled starting time, in addition to any other sanctions
contained in these Regulations, such Club or Clubs who fail to enter the Arena by the
prescribed starting time shall pay to the AFL the following amounts:

(a) If the delay exceeds 10 minutes but is less than 15 minutes – Sanction of up to
20 Units

(b) If the delay is more than 15 minutes but less than 30 minutes – Sanction of up
to 40 Units

(c) If the delay is not less than 30 minutes but not more than 45 minutes – Sanction
of up to 60 Units

(d) If the delay is in excess of 45 minutes – Sanction of up to 100 Units

32.2 Executive General Manager Football to Determine Sanction

The amount of Sanction imposed on a Club or Clubs under Regulation 32.1 shall be
determined by the Executive General Manager Football in its absolute discretion.

32.3 Forfeiture

Subject to Regulations 33.2, 33.3 and 33.4, if a Club is unable to do all things necessary
for the commencement of play for a period exceeding 60 minutes from the scheduled
starting time:

(a) the General Manager or other Senior Official of the Home Club shall notify the
Executive General Manager Football or such other person who they may
designate from time to time ("the Notice");

(b) if both Clubs are able to commence play at the time or will be able to commence
play within a reasonable time of the Notice, they shall commence as soon as
possible subject to the Executive General Manager Football or other person
designated by them, ruling that the Match shall not commence due to insufficient
time (taking into account facilities such as lights) for the Match to be completed;

(c) if play is not able to be commenced or if the Executive General Manager Football
or other person designated by them determines that the Match should not
commence as provided in Regulation 32.3(b), the Match shall be deemed to be
forfeited and the Premiership Points awarded to the Club whose team was
positioned to commence play at that time or, in the case of a Finals Series or
Pre-Season Competition Match, the Club whose team was positioned to
commence play at that time will be declared the winner of the Match. For Home
and Away Matches, the percentage of each Club shall also be adjusted by
attributing the average winning score from the relevant round of Matches to the
Club awarded the Premiership Points and the average losing score from the
relevant round of Matches to the Club which forfeited the Match. Forfeiture shall
be in addition to any other sanction contained in these Regulations.

Any Match forfeiture by a Club pursuant to this Regulation 32.3 shall not be replayed.
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32.4 Abandonment

If neither Club is able to commence play in accordance with Regulation 32.3, the Match
shall be deemed to be abandoned and, for Home and Away Matches, no Premiership
Points shall be awarded or percentage adjusted for either Club. A Match abandoned
in accordance with this Regulation shall not be replayed.

32.5 Travel Arrangements

In order to comply with its obligations under this Regulation, a Club must travel to the
destination of any interstate Match in which it is scheduled to compete during the Pre-
Season Competition, Premiership Competition or the Finals Series at least 1 day prior
to the scheduled Match unless otherwise advised by the AFL at its absolute discretion.

Sanction: Up to 100 units.

32.6 Commission May Vary

Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 32.1, 32.3 and 32.4 the Commission
may determine the outcome of any Match which is not completed within the scheduled
time and without limiting the generality of the foregoing may direct that all or part of the
Match be replayed or that a result be declared which deems a Club, by itself, its
servants, agents or supporters, responsible for the failure of the Match to be completed.
107

33. Incomplete Match


33.1 Match Not Able to Commence or Continue

(a) Subject to Regulation 33.1(b), a Match is only unable to commence or continue


if the circumstances which have prevented the commencement or caused the
cessation of play are advised as soon as possible to the Executive General
Manager Football, or other persons designated by them from time to time, and
the Executive General Manager Football or such designated person decides
that the Match is not able to proceed.

(b) The Executive General Manager Football, or the person designated by them,
may determine that a Match is unable to commence or continue when
circumstances exist which increase the risk of injury to those participating in the
Match.

33.2 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Home and Away Matches

If any Home and Away Match is unable to commence or continue or to be completed


within the time scheduled for the Home and Away Match for reasons beyond the control
of the Club (which for the purposes of this Regulation 33 includes any Officer, servant,
agent or independent contractor of the Club), the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Home and Away Match Not Commenced

If a Home and Away Match is unable to commence for reasons beyond the
control of the Club, the Executive General Manager Football shall endeavour to
reschedule the Home and Away Match so that a result can be obtained. If the
Home and Away Match cannot be rescheduled, each Team shall be awarded
two Premiership Points and the Teams’ percentage shall not be adjusted.

(b) Prior to Half Time

(i) If a Home and Away Match has commenced but is not able to proceed
at any time within the time scheduled for the Home and Away Match, the
teams shall depart from the Arena for a period of up to 60 minutes.

(ii) If the Home and Away Match is unable to re-commence within a 60


minute period or such other period determined by the AFL and the
elapsed playing time of the Home and Away Match did not reach the half
time interval, the Home and Away Match shall be deemed to be drawn.

(iii) Each Team shall be awarded two Premiership Points and the scores of
the teams at the time the Home and Away Match was interrupted shall
be used in the calculation of percentage.

(c) Beyond Half Time

(i) If a Home and Away Match has progressed beyond the half time interval
and is unable to proceed at any time within the time scheduled for the
Home and Away Match, the teams shall depart from the Arena for a
period of up to 60 minutes.

(ii) If the Home and Away Match is unable to re-commence within a 60


minute period or such other period determined by the AFL, the scores of
108

the teams at the time the Home and Away Match was interrupted shall
be deemed to be the final scores of the Home and Away Match and shall
be used in the calculation of percentage.

(iii) The Team with the highest score shall be declared the winner and
awarded the four (4) Premiership Points.

33.3 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Finals Series Matches

If any Finals Series Match is unable to commence or continue or to be completed within


the time scheduled for the Finals Series Match for reasons beyond the control of the
Club (which for the purposes of this Regulation 33 includes any Officer, servant, agent
or independent contractor of the Club), the following provisions shall apply:

(a) Finals Series Match Not Commenced

If a Finals Series Match is unable to commence for reasons beyond the control
of the Club, the Executive General Manager Football shall reschedule the Finals
Series Match so that a result can be obtained.

(b) Finals Series Match Commenced

(i) If a Finals Series Match has commenced but is not able to proceed for
reasons beyond the control of the Club, at any time within the time
scheduled for the Finals Series Match, the teams shall depart from the
Arena for a period of up to 60 minutes.

(ii) Subject to Regulation 33.3(c), if the Finals Series Match is unable to re-
commence within a 60 minute period or such other period determined by
the AFL, the Executive General Manager Football shall reschedule the
Finals Series Match so that a result can be obtained.

(iii) If the Finals Series Match is rescheduled pursuant to Regulation


33.3(b)(ii), the Finals Series Match will recommence in the
circumstances it was interrupted. At the time of the interruption, the
Umpires will make a record of the following: the team scores at the time,
the quarter and time remaining in the quarter, the team in possession of
the ball (if applicable), the position of the ball on the Playing Surface, and
any other relevant information required for an equitable resumption of
play.

(c) Result Enforced

The Executive General Manager Football, or such other person designated by


them from time to time, may determine in their absolute discretion to enforce the
result of the Finals Series Match at the time of the interruption, if the continuation
of the Finals Series Match would not normally be expected to alter the ultimate
result.

33.4 Events Beyond Control of Clubs – Pre-Season Competition

(a) Match not Commenced

If a Pre-Season Competition Match is unable to commence for reasons beyond


the control of the Club, the Executive General Manager Football shall endeavour
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to reschedule the Match so that a result can be obtained. If the Match cannot
be rescheduled, the Match will be declared a draw.

(b) Match unable to be completed

(i) If a Pre-Season Competition Match has commenced but is not able to


proceed at any time within the time scheduled for the Match, the teams
shall depart from the Arena for a period of up to 60 minutes.

(ii) If the Match is unable to re-commence within a 60 minute period or such


other period determined by the AFL, the scores of the teams at the time
the Match was interrupted shall be deemed to be the final scores of the
Match and the Team with the highest score shall be declared the winner.

33.5 Re-Commencement of Play

Where a Club is directed to recommence play by the Executive General Manager


Football or the designated person referred to in Regulation 33.1 and where such Club
fails, refuses or neglects to recommence play, the Club shall be deemed to have
forfeited the Match and the Premiership Points shall be awarded to the opposing Club
(or in the case of a Finals Series or Pre-Season Competition Match the opposing Club
will be declared the winner of the Match). Percentage shall be determined on the basis
of the scores of the two Clubs at the time the Match is forfeited.

33.6 Commission May Vary

Notwithstanding anything contained in Regulation 33.2 or 33.3 the Commission may


determine the outcome of any Match which is not completed within the scheduled time
and without limiting the generality of the foregoing may direct that all or part of the
Match be replayed or that a result be declared which deems a Club, by itself, its
servants, agents or supporters, responsible for the failure of the Match to be completed.
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34. Use of Stretchers


34.1 Injured Player Requiring Stretcher

Any Player who is injured during a Match and who, in the opinion of the Club Medical
Officer or Club Physiotherapist, requires the assistance of a Stretcher or medicart, shall
be attended by Club training staff and a Stretcher as soon as possible so as to ensure
the health and safety of the Player.

34.2 Club Medical Personnel

A Stretcher may only be called by the Club Medical Officer or Club Physiotherapist as
listed on the Official Team Sheet provided that if the Club Medical Officer or Club
Physiotherapist are unavailable at a time when a Player requires the assistance of a
Stretcher, a Trainer listed on the Official Team Sheet or a Medical Officer of the other
Club may call for a Stretcher.

34.3 Direct Access

(a) Subject to Regulation 34.3(b) if a Stretcher is called for, the Stretcher must be
taken to the injured Player by the shortest and most direct route and the Player
must, as soon as possible upon being attended by the Club training staff, leave
the Arena on the Stretcher by the shortest and most direct route.

(b) If the Player is assessed by a Club Medical Officer or Club Physiotherapist as


in fact being capable of leaving the Playing Surface without the aid of a
Stretcher, then the Player must either leave the Arena via the most direct route
as advised by the Club Medical Officer or return to the Interchange Bench via
the Interchange Gates. The AFL Interchange Official and Club Interchange
Steward must also be notified.

(c) Without limiting the provisions of this Regulation, a Player for whom a Stretcher
is called must leave the Playing Surface immediately upon a direction by a field
Umpire that the Player be so removed unless the Club Medical Officer notifies
the field Umpire that it would be dangerous to do so. On being removed from
the Playing Surface by a Stretcher, the Player may be taken to the Club's
dressing room or medical room for examination and treatment.

34.4 Player Not to Resume

A Player for whom a Stretcher is called, even if he or she does not leave the Playing
Surface on the Stretcher, shall not resume playing for a period of 20 minutes of play
(including time on but excluding the quarter-time, half-time and three quarter time
breaks) from the time when the Player left the Arena. Nothing in this Regulation
derogates from a Club’s responsibility to comply with Rule 26.2 in relation to
examination by a Club Medical Officer.

34.5 Interchange Official to be Notified

Where a Player is removed from the Playing Surface on a Stretcher or otherwise in


accordance with Regulation 34.3, the AFL Interchange Official shall record the time
when the Player left the Playing Surface. A Player wishing to resume playing after
being removed from the Playing Surface on a Stretcher or otherwise in accordance
with Regulation 34.3 shall, subject to Regulation 34.4 and Rule 26.2, re-enter the
Playing Surface through the Interchange Gate and the AFL Interchange Official shall
111

note the time elapsed between the Player being removed from and re-entering the
Playing Surface.

34.6 Breach

If a Stretcher is called in accordance with this Regulation and:

(a) the Player for whom the Stretcher is called does not leave the Playing Surface
as soon as possible after being attended by Club training staff; or

(b) the Player for whom the Stretcher is called is not removed from the Playing
Surface immediately upon a direction by a field Umpire that the Player be so
removed save where the Club Medical Officer notifies the field Umpire that it
would be dangerous to do so; or

(c) the Stretcher is not taken to the injured Player or the injured Player is not
removed from the Playing Surface to the Club’s dressing room or medical room
by the shortest and most direct route or otherwise in accordance with Regulation
34.3.

(d) the Executive General Manager Football determines in their absolute discretion
the Stretcher has been called primarily for tactical use,

the Club shall be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: up to 25 Units

34.7 Resuming Play within 20 Minute Period

Where a Player resumes playing within a period of 20 minutes (including time on but
excluding the quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter time breaks) from the time when
the Player was removed from the Playing Surface, a Free Kick and Fifty Metre Penalty
will be awarded to the opposition Club. The penalty will be applied from where the ball
was at the time that the Player re-entered the Playing Surface. The Player involved will
also be ordered from the Playing Surface until such time as the full 20 minutes has
elapsed and the Club may be liable for a further sanction.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units;

34.8 Motorised conveyance

(a) A Club shall not use a motorised device for conveying an injured Player
(“motorised conveyance”) unless it has first obtained the written approval of the
Executive General Manager Football.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units

(b) The Executive General Manager Football may have regard to any matters which
they consider relevant in exercising their discretion to approve or disapprove the
use of a motorised conveyance including without limitation:

(i) whether the venue at which the motorised conveyance is proposed to be


used allows the motorised conveyance to obtain direct access between
the dressing rooms and the Arena;
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(ii) whether the motorised conveyance will allow the Player to be safely
removed from the Arena;

(iii) whether the motorised conveyance is of an appropriate structure and


size to safely place a Player onto and remove a Player from the
motorised conveyance; and

(iv) whether the Trainers and other medical staff of a Club (including the
driver) have received sufficient training in the use of the motorised
conveyance.

(c) The Executive General Manager Football may, without being obliged to do so,
consult with the AFL Medical Officer prior to exercising their discretion to
approve or disapprove the use of a motorised conveyance.

(d) The Executive General Manager Football may impose, vary or revoke any
conditions or requirements relating to the use of a motorised conveyance.
Where a Club fails to comply with any condition or requirement so imposed, the
Club shall be liable to a sanction.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units

(e) A Club shall not display or otherwise promote any name, trademark, logo or
advertising on a motorised conveyance.

Sanction: Up to 50 Units

(f) Use of Motorised conveyance

(i) An approved motorised conveyance shall only enter the Arena to attend
an injured Player after the Field Umpire has stopped play and a Stretcher
has been called for by the Club Medical Officer or Club Physiotherapist.

(ii) An approved motorised conveyance must be driven at a safe speed to


ensure the safety of the injured Player and all other persons on the
Arena.

(iii) A Club shall ensure that any approved motorised conveyance shall take
an injured Player directly to the Club’s change rooms and shall not return
to the Arena until it is called for the use of another Player.

Sanction: Up to 10 Units for contravening any of the provisions


contained in this Regulation 34.8(f).

(g) An ambulance shall be in attendance at each Match and nothing in this


Regulation shall prevent an ambulance from entering the Arena should the need
arise.

34.9 Injured player exits the Playing Surface outside of the Interchange
Gates

In the case that a Player is injured on field and the Club Medical Officer determines
that it is in the Player’s best interests to exit the Playing Surface outside of the
Interchange Gates and take them directly to the Club dressing rooms (whether by
stretcher or not), the Club Interchange Steward must advise the AFL Interchange
113

Official of the situation including the name of the Player. The Emergency Umpire will
communicate with the Field Umpire to stop play and once approved by the Emergency
Umpire the replacement Player may enter the Playing Surface via the Interchange
Gates. The injured Player who exited outside the Interchange Gates must not return
to the Playing Surface unless declared fit by the Club’s Medical Officer and until 20
minutes of playing time, excluding breaks, has elapsed since the Player left the Playing
Surface.
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35. Medically Unfit Players


35.1 Prohibition on Playing Medically Unfit Player

No Club shall, by itself or its Officers, any Coach, servant or agent, permit or allow any
Player to play or train or continue to play in any Match or train where it suspects or
where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that such Player:

(a) may not be responsible for their actions;

(b) is not in a fit state to play or continue to play, having due regard to their health
and safety; or

(c) pursuant to any guidelines issued by the AFL should not continue to play or
train.

Sanction: Maximum 50 units

35.2 Examination of Medical Officer

Where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a Player:

(a) has suffered an injury which may cause the Player not to be responsible for his
or her actions; or

(b) is not in a fit state to play or continue to play or train, having due regard for his
or her health or safety,

the Club shall immediately cause such Player to be examined by its Club Medical
Officer and unless such Club Medical Officer certifies that the Player is cognisant of
and responsible for his or her actions or in a fit state to play or train having due regard
for his or her health and safety, the Player shall not play or train or to continue to play
in any Match or train and no Club or any Officer or Coach shall permit, allow or direct
any such Player to play or train or continue to play in any Match in which the Club is
engaged or continue to train.

Sanction: Maximum 50 Units

35.3 IV Fluids in AFL

(a) A Player who receives intravenous fluid rehydration must not play or continue
to play in any Match for a period of 24 hours following the completion of the
rehydration and until the Player receives a clearance from the Club Medical
Officer. No Club or any Officer or Coach shall permit, allow or direct any such
Player to play or continue to play in any Match in which the Club is engaged for
a period of 24 hours following the completion of the rehydration and until the
Player receives a clearance from the Club Medical Officer.

Sanction: Maximum 100 units and/or loss of Premiership points.

(b) If a Player is notified that he or she must give a sample for testing in accordance
with the AFL Anti-Doping Code, such Player shall not receive and no Club or
any Officer or Coach shall permit, allow or direct any such Player to receive
intravenous fluid rehydration until after the Player has given the sample for
testing unless the Player is permitted to receive intravenous fluid rehydration
115

under the Intravenous Fluid Rehydration guidelines published by the AFL from
time to time.

Sanction: Maximum 25 units and/or banned from competing in any AFL


Competition for up to 12 matches for a first offence.

Maximum 50 units and/or banned from competing in any AFL


Competition for up to 2 years for a second offence.

Maximum 100 units and/or banned from competing in any


AFL Competition for life.

35.4 Public Liability Insurance

(a) In this Regulation 35.4, “Personal Injury” has the same meaning given to that
term in the AFL’s public liability insurance policy in place from time to time.

(b) If for whatever reason the AFL is not fully and unconditionally indemnified under
its public liability insurance policy for any Personal Injury which a Player may
sustain from training for or participating in the AFL Competition, the relevant
Club must not allow the Player to train for or participate in the AFL Competition
from and upon receipt by the Club of a notice from the AFL to the effect that the
AFL is not so indemnified.

Sanction: Forfeiture of each match in which the Player participates; and/or


maximum 100 Units

(c) If:

(i) the AFL is not for whatever reason, fully and unconditionally indemnified
under its public liability insurance policy for any Personal Injury which a
Player may sustain from training for or participating in the AFL
Competition; or

(ii) the General Counsel is of the opinion that the AFL will or may not for
whatever reason be fully and unconditionally indemnified under its public
liability insurance policy for any Personal Injury which a Player may
sustain from training for or participating in the AFL Competition,

then the General Counsel may make such determination or take such action as
they, in their absolute discretion, thinks fit, to give effect to Regulation 35.4(b).
If a Club or Player of a Club fails to comply with any determination or action of
the General Counsel under this Regulation 35.4(c), the Club shall be liable to a
sanction.

Sanction: Forfeiture of each match in which the Player participates; and/or


maximum 100 Units
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36. Bleeding and Blood Borne Infections


36.1 The Meaning of Active Bleeding

"Active Bleeding" means the existence of an injury or wound which continues to bleed.
Active Bleeding does not include minor bleeding from a graze or scratch which has
abated and can be readily removed from a Player or any part of their uniform.

36.2 Participation in Matches When Actively Bleeding

(a) Unless Regulation 36.6 applies:

(i) a Player must not remain on the Playing Surface for so long as he or she
is Actively Bleeding;

(ii) a Club or Team must not allow any of its Players to remain on the Playing
Surface for so long as the Player is Actively Bleeding;

Sanction: First offence: 5 Units

Second and each subsequent offence: 10 Units

(b) Unless immediate treatment needs to be given having due regard to a Player's
health and safety, a Club or Team must not allow any Player who is Actively
Bleeding to be treated on the Playing Surface.

Sanction: First offence: 5 Units

Second and each subsequent offence: 10 Units

36.3 Active Bleeding - Role of Umpire

(a) Where a field Umpire is of the opinion that a Player is Actively Bleeding the field
Umpire must:

(i) stop play at the first available opportunity;

(ii) direct the Player concerned to immediately leave the Playing Surface;

(iii) allow a replacement Player to enter the Playing Surface in accordance


with the procedure set out in Regulation 36.3(b); and

(iv) re-commence play.

(b) Where a Player is directed by a field Umpire to leave the Playing Surface
because he or she is Actively Bleeding, the following procedure shall apply:

(i) without limiting the obligations imposed on a Club and Player under
Regulations 36.1 and 36.2, the Player must immediately leave the
Playing Surface through the Interchange area;

(ii) the bleeding Player may be Interchanged in accordance with the


procedure set out in the Laws of Australian Football but shall not return
or take any further part in any match until and unless:
117

(A) the cause of any such bleeding has been abated;

(B) the injury is securely bound to ensure the all blood is contained;

(C) any blood stained article of uniform has been removed and
replaced; and

(D) any blood on any part of a Player’s person has been thoroughly
cleaned and removed.

(iii) a Team may replace the bleeding Player with an Interchange Player, who
must enter the Playing Surface by the interchange area and take up their
playing position within 30 seconds of the field Umpire signalling and
directing the bleeding Player to leave the Playing Surface;

(iv) the AFL Interchange Official shall record the time and inform the
emergency Umpire (or in their absence the third boundary or goal
Umpire), when the 30 seconds allowed for the interchange of Players
has elapsed. The emergency Umpire shall in turn signal to the field
Umpire that the 30 second period has elapsed; and

(v) upon receiving the signal that the 30 second period has elapsed, the field
Umpire shall re-commence play provided the bleeding Player has left the
Playing Surface and it is otherwise safe to do so. The field Umpire shall
re-commence play irrespective of the position of the interchange Player.

(c) Where a Player refuses to or does not immediately leave the Playing Surface
when directed to do so by a field Umpire, the following will apply:

(i) the field Umpire must warn the Player that a Free Kick will be awarded
and that the Player may be reported if he or she does not leave the
Playing Surface;

(ii) if the Player still refuses to leave the Playing Surface, the field umpire
must award a Free kick to the Player of the opposing Team who is
nearest to where the warning was given or where play was stopped,
whichever is the greatest penalty;

(iii) if the Player refuses to leave the Playing Surface:

(A) the field Umpire shall report the Player for misconduct in failing to
follow a direction of an Umpire;

(B) the Match will immediately end and be forfeited by the reported
Player's Team; and

(C) Law 11.2 of the Laws of Australian football will apply to any Match
which is forfeited.

36.4 Procedure When Player Not Actively Bleeding

Where a field Umpire is of the opinion that a Player is not Actively Bleeding, but the
Player has blood on any part of their body or uniform, the following will apply:
118

(a) at the first available opportunity, the field Umpire must signal and direct the
Player to obtain treatment. After the signal is given, play will continue;

(b) the Player may remain on the Playing Surface after the signal is given by the
field Umpire, but must immediately:

(i) in the case of blood being on any part of their uniform, have the piece of
uniform removed and replaced; and/or

(ii) in the case of blood being on any part of their body, have the blood
removed and the cause of any bleeding (if any), treated and covered so
that all blood is contained;

(c) if after treatment, the field Umpire is of the opinion that blood is still appearing
on any part of the Players' body or uniform, the Player is deemed to be Actively
Bleeding and Law 24.3 will apply.

36.5 Failure to Obey Direction

(a) A Player's refusal to promptly obey a direction of a field Umpire given under Law
24.3 or 24.4 is a Reportable Offence;

(b) Any fine, period of suspension or other sanction determined by the Tribunal or
Appeal Board shall be in addition to any sanction which may be imposed upon
a Player under Regulation 36.2.

36.6 Special Circumstances at the End of a Quarter

A Player awarded a Mark or Free Kick may kick the football after the field Umpire has
signalled that play has come to an end, even though he or she is at that time Actively
Bleeding. However, this Regulation is subject to Law 15.6 of the Laws of Australian
Football.

36.7 Deliberate Smearing of Blood

Regardless of any other provision in this Regulation 36, if a Player intentionally smears
or otherwise causes blood to be placed on another Player's body or uniform, the field
Umpire must immediately stop play and allow that Player such time as is necessary to
have the blood removed or item of uniform removed and replaced.

36.8 Protective Gloves

Each Club or Team must ensure that any doctor, Trainer and any other person treating
Players of a Team wear protective gloves as may be approved from time to time by the
AFL.

Sanction: Maximum 5 Units

36.9 Disposal of Bloodied Clothing and Other Material

Each Club or Team must ensure that:

(a) any bloodied item of uniform or clothing of a Player is placed as soon as possible
in a hygienic sealed container and laundered to ensure the removal of all blood;
and
119

Sanction: Maximum 5 Units

(b) all towels, wipes, bandages, dressings and other materials used in the treatment
of bleeding Players must be placed in a hygienic sealed container and discarded
or destroyed in a hygienic manner.

Sanction: Maximum 5 Units

36.10 Dressing Rooms

Each Club or Team must ensure that all dressing rooms and other areas occupied by
the Teams prior to, during or immediately following the completion of any Match are
kept clean and that no blood shall remain on any surface, equipment, hand basin, toilet,
shower, bath or other area. All such surfaces, equipment and areas shall be cleansed
and disinfected immediately after contact with blood.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units

36.11 Hygiene

Each Club or Team must ensure that:

(a) Players do not urinate (other than in a toilet) in or about any dressing rooms,
interchange bench area or on the Playing Surface prior to, during or immediately
following the completion of any Match; and

(b) each of its Players observe a high standard of personal hygiene.

Sanction: Maximum 20 Units

36.12 Trainers

Unless Regulation 36.4 applies, a Trainer or other personnel responsible for the
treatment of Players shall not provide treatment to a Player on the Playing Surface for
any cut, abrasion or other injury involving the discharge of blood.

Sanction: Maximum 10 Units


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Annexure 1 – Final Eight System


121

Annexure 2 – Official Team Sheet


122

Annexure 3 - Late Amendment to Official Team Sheet


AFL REGULATION 12.3 – AMENDMENT TO OFFICIAL TEAM SHEET

(For changes after the lodgement of team sheet and prior to the commencement of the match)

Match:______________________ v _______________________ Round:______________

1. PLAYER(S) TO BE REPLACED

Name: No.:

Starting Position (circle one): (i) Starting 18

(ii) Interchange Bench / Medical Substitute

Name: No.:

Starting Position (circle one): (i) Starting 18

(ii) Interchange Bench / Medical Substitute


2. REPLACEMENT PLAYER(S)

Name: No.:

Starting Position (circle one): (i) Starting 18

(ii) Interchange Bench / Medical Substitute

Name: No.:

Starting Position (circle one): (i) Starting 18

(ii) Interchange Bench / Medical Substitute

3. FINAL INTERCHANGE BENCH / MEDICAL SUBSTITUTE (at commencement of match)

Name: No.:

Name: No.:

Name: No.:

Name: No.:

Name: (Medical Substitute) No.:

4. TIME LODGED WITH AFL INTERCHANGE OFFICIAL__________________________

Signed : ………………………………………… …………………………………………

AFL Club Team Manager AFL Interchange Official

Print Name: ………………………………………… …………………………………………


123

Annexure 4 – Interchange Gates


124

Annexure 5 – Protective Equipment Application


TO: Executive General Manager Football
AFL
140 Harbour Esplanade
DOCKLANDS VIC 3008

I, the undersigned, being the Football Manager/Chief Executive Officer of the


_________________.Club, hereby apply approval for Player__________ (name player) to wear during
match(es) set out below, the item of Protective Equipment indicated. In support of this application, I
provide the following particulars:-
1) Match(es)
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2) Description of the medical condition of Player (Note: A report from a duly qualified medical
practitioner as to the medical condition of the Player must be attached).
___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3) Description of the Protective Equipment


___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

4) Benefits for Player wearing Protective Equipment


___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

(Attach further page if necessary)

Signed: _______________________________ Signed: _______________________________


(FOOTBALL MANAGER/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER) (AFL CLUB MEDICAL OFFICER)

Print Name: _______________________________ Print Name: ____________________________


Date: _______________________________ Date: ____________________________
Signed: _______________________________ Print Name: ____________________________
(PLAYER)

Date: _______________________________
Approval/Disapproval of AFL Medical Officer on Date: _______________________________
Signed: _______________________________
Approved/Disapproved by
Executive General Manager Football on Date: _______________________________

Signed: _______________________________
125

Appendix 1 – Reportable Offences


A Reportable Offence occurs where a Person or Player commits any of the offences set out in
Law 22.2.2 of the Laws of Australian Football (the Laws) or any other offence referred to in
Regulation 16.9. Broadly speaking, there are three categories of Reportable Offences, being:
 Classifiable Offences
 Direct Tribunal Offences
 Fixed Financial Offences

1 Classifiable Offences
(a) Which Reportable Offences are Classifiable Offences?

Classifiable Offences are those Reportable Offences (specified in the table


below) which are graded by the Match Review Officer (MRO) in order to
determine an appropriate sanction for that offence.

Classifiable Offences

Striking Headbutt or Contact Using Head

Kicking Unreasonable or Unnecessary Contact to


the Eye Region

Kneeing Unreasonable or Unnecessary Contact to


the Face

Charging Tripping

Rough Conduct

Forceful Front-On Contact

(b) Grading Classifiable Offences

The MRO will grade Classifiable Offences in accordance with the following table:

Conduct Impact Contact Sanction


4+ Matches
Intentional Severe High/Groin
(Tribunal)
3+ Matches
Body
(Tribunal)
High/Groin 3 Matches
High
Body 2 Matches
High/Groin 2 Matches
Medium
Body 1 Match
High/Groin 1 Match
Low
Body Fine*
126

3+ Matches
High/Groin
(Tribunal)
Severe
2+ Matches
Body
(Tribunal)
High/Groin 2 Matches
High
Careless Body 1 Match
High/Groin 1 Match
Medium
Body Fine*
High/Groin Fine*
Low
Body Fine*
* Refer (e) below for the low-level fine structure

As indicated in the table above, the determination of a sanction for a Classifiable


Offence will be made based on an assessment of whether:
1. the Conduct is Intentional or Careless;
2. the Impact is Severe, High, Medium or Low; and
3. the Contact with the other Player/Person is High/Groin or to the Body.

1. Conduct
In considering a charge in respect of a Classifiable Offence, there will be a
determination as to whether the Player’s conduct has been Intentional or
Careless. If the Player’s conduct is found to fall short of being careless no
charge will be laid against the Player.

A Player intentionally commits a Classifiable Offence if the Player engages


in the conduct constituting the Reportable Offence with the intention of
committing that offence. An intention is a state of mind. Intention may be
formed on the spur of the moment. The issue is whether it existed at the time
at which the Player engaged in the conduct.

A Player’s conduct will be regarded as Careless where his conduct is not


intentional, but constitutes a breach of the duty of care owed by the Player
to all other Players. Each Player owes a duty of care to all other Players,
Umpires and other persons (as applicable) not to engage in conduct which
will constitute a Reportable Offence being committed against that other
Player, Umpire or other person. In order to constitute such a breach of that
duty of care, the conduct must be such that a reasonable Player would not
regard it as prudent in all the circumstances. Further, a Player will be
careless if they breach of their duty to take reasonable care to avoid acts
which can be reasonably foreseen to result in a Reportable Offence.

Note:
For the purpose of categorising Careless conduct, the following is provided
in respect of Laws 22.2.2(a)(v) (Rough Conduct) and 22.2.2(a)(vi) (Front-
On Contact):

Rough Conduct (High Bumps)


A Player will be guilty of Rough Conduct where in the bumping of an
opponent (whether reasonably or unreasonably) the Player causes forceful
contact to be made with any part of his body to an opponent’s head or
127

neck. Unless Intentional, such conduct will be deemed to be Careless,


unless:
 the Player was contesting the ball and it was reasonable for the
player to contest the ball in that way; or
 the forceful contact to the head or neck was caused by
circumstances outside the control of the player which could not
reasonably be foreseen.

Front-On Contact
Bumping or making forceful contact to an opponent from front-on when that
opponent has his head down over the ball is a Reportable Offence. Unless
Intentional, such conduct will be deemed to be Careless, unless:
 the player was contesting the ball and it was reasonable for the
player to contest the ball in that way; or
 the bump or forceful contact was caused by circumstances outside
the control of the player which could not reasonably be foreseen.
A Player can bump an opponent’s body from side-on but any contact
forward of side-on will be deemed to be front-on. A Player with his head
down in anticipation of winning possession of the ball or after contesting
the ball will be deemed to have his head down over the ball for the
purposes of this Law.

2. Impact
Consideration will be given as to whether the Impact is Low, Medium, High
or Severe. In determining the level of Impact, regard will be had to the
following factors:

 the extent of force and in particular, any injury sustained by the


Player who was offended against;
 the potential to cause injury;
 the impact between the offending Player and the Victim Player,
but also any other impact to the Victim Player as a result of such
impact; and
 the body language of the offending Player in terms of flexing,
turning, raising or positioning the body to increase or reduce the
force of impact.

Low Impact is the minimum impact required for a Classifiable Offence and
this requires more than just a negligible impact. The MRO may however
consider the potential to cause injury to upgrade Impact from negligible to a
higher level of impact.

3. Contact
Regard will be had to whether Contact to the Victim Player was High/to the
Groin or to the Body. In the interests of protecting the health and welfare of
Players, sanctions for head-high contact and contact to the groin will be
more severe.

High contact is not limited to contact to the head and includes contact above
the shoulders.

Contact to the Groin includes contact to the crease or hollow at the junction
of the inner part of each thigh with the trunk together with the adjacent region
and including the testicles.
128

Where contact is both High and to the Body, the contact will be classified as
High.

Contact shall be classified as High or to the Groin where a Player's head or


groin makes contact with another Player or object such as the fence or the
ground as a result of the actions of the offending Player.

(c) Reductions in base sanction for an early guilty plea

For Classifiable Offences where the sanction is fixed at one, two or three
matches of suspension, there is no reduction in sanction for an early guilty plea.
The sanction for a low-level Classifiable Offence (those resulting in a fine) will be
decreased by a fixed percentage where a Player submits an early guilty plea
(refer section (e) below).

(d) Contesting a Classifiable Offence charge

A Player charged with a Classifiable Offence may contest that charge at the
Tribunal in its entirety or may seek to downgrade the charge. A Player who
successfully contests a charge will not receive a sanction or will receive a lesser
sanction in respect of the charge. The Tribunal may also determine that the
relevant offence should be classified differently under the Table of Offences. If
exceptional and compelling circumstances apply which would make it
inappropriate or unreasonable to apply the outcome of the classification under
the Table of Offences, the Tribunal may impose a sanction in their absolute
discretion.

Successful contest: If a Player successfully contests the classification of a


charge at the Tribunal (such that the Tribunal determines to downgrade the
charge), he will be entitled to receive the sanction for that lesser offence.

Partially successful contest: A Player who contests two or more aspects of a


charge, but who is only successful in one aspect, may be sanctioned with a
downgraded charge, however, the challenge will be regarded as unsuccessful, and
for Classifiable Offences resulting in fixed one, two or three match suspensions the
club will be levied $10,000.

Unsuccessful contest: A Player who unsuccessfully contests a charge will


receive the original sanction (subject to the Tribunal’s discretion to classify the
charge differently), and for Classifiable Offences resulting in fixed one, two or three
match suspensions the club will be levied $10,000.

(e) Multiple low-level Classifiable Offences

Where a Player commits multiple low-level Classifiable Offences in a single AFL


Season, each of which attracts a sanction of a fine (as per the table in section
1(b) above), that sanction (and sanction following an early guilty plea) for the
second, third and subsequent low-level Classifiable Offences will be as follows:

Low-Level Classifiable
Sanction Early Guilty Plea
Offence
First offence $3,000 $2,000
129

Second offence $5,000 $3,000


Third and subsequent
$8,000 $5,000
offences

(f) Impact of a Bad Record on Classifiable Offences

The sanction for Classifiable Offences will not be automatically increased where a
Player has a bad record. However, the MRO has the discretion to directly refer the
Player to the Tribunal in their absolute discretion, which includes as a result of a
bad record at AFL or State League level.

(g) Impact of a Good Record on Classifiable Offences

Players will not automatically receive a reduced sanction for a good record.
However, if a Classifiable Offence is contested or referred to the Tribunal, a
Player with an exemplary record could argue that their good record constitutes
exceptional and compelling circumstances (which would make it inappropriate to
apply the consequences in the Table of Offences to the determined
classification). This record refers only to matches played at AFL or State League
level. In such circumstances, the Jury members would determine the appropriate
sanction in their absolute discretion.

2 Direct Tribunal Offences


(a) Which Reportable Offences are Direct Tribunal Offences?

Direct Tribunal Offences are those Reportable Offences (specified in the table
below) which are referred by the MRO directly to the Tribunal for determination
without grading (ie without an assessment of the offence using the Classification
Table):

Direct Tribunal Offences

Intentional Contact with an Umpire

Eye Gouging

Stomping

Striking an Umpire

Spitting on or at an Umpire

Spitting on Another Person

Attempting to Strike an Umpire

Behaving in an Abusive, Insulting, Threatening or Obscene Manner


Towards or in Relation to an Umpire
130

Serious Misconduct
(b) Determination of Direct Tribunal Offences

The Tribunal will determine Direct Tribunal Offences as it would any other offence
which is referred to it.

(c) Tribunal sanctions

The Tribunal will determine the appropriate sanction for a Direct Tribunal Offence
in its absolute discretion. The Chairperson will communicate Tribunal outcomes
with a verbal explanation briefly outlining the reasons for the decision, developed
in conjunction with the Jury.

3 Fixed Financial Offences


Fixed Financial Offences are Reportable Offences which attract a fixed financial sanction
only (as per the following table).

Sanction (Early Guilty Plea sanction in brackets)

Fixed Financial Offences


Third & Subsequent
First Offence Second Offence
Offences

Abusive, Insulting, Threatening, Obscene


$2,500 ($1,500) $3,500 ($2,000) $5,000 ($3,500)
Language Towards or in Relation to an Umpire

Instigator of Melee $2,500 ($1,500) $3,500 ($2,000) $5,000 ($3,500)

Spitting at Another Player $2,500 ($1,500) $3,500 ($2,000) $5,000 ($3,500)

Striking $2,500 ($1,500) $3,500 ($2,000) $5,000 ($3,500)

Unreasonable or Unnecessary Contact with an


$2,500 ($1,500) $3,500 ($2,000) $5,000 ($3,500)
Umpire

Attempt to Strike/ Kick/ Trip $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Careless Contact with an Umpire $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Disputing Decision $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Melee $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Obscene Gesture $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Pinching $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Scratching $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Tripping $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Staging $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Unreasonable or Unnecessary Contact with an


$1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)
Injured Player

Wrestling $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500) $4,000 ($2,500)

Interfering with Player Kicking for Goal $1,000 ($500) $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500)

Not Leaving Playing Surface $1,000 ($500) $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500)

Shaking Goal Post $1,000 ($500) $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500)

Time Wasting $1,000 ($500) $1,500 ($1,000) $2,500 ($1,500)

Any Other Act of Misconduct that is not a The financial sanction for a first, second, third or subsequent act of
Classifiable Offence or Direct Tribunal Offence misconduct will be determined by the MRO in its absolute discretion.
131

The increased sanctions for second, third or subsequent Fixed Financial Offences will only
apply where a Player has been found guilty of the same Fixed Financial Offence within
the previous two AFL Years, except for Engaging in a Melee and Wrestling charges, where
the record for these offences will be considered jointly.

4 Multiple Reportable Offences in the One Match


If a Player is found guilty of two or more Reportable Offences arising from the one match,
the sanctions for those offences will be added together to form the final sanction handed
to that Player. If any of the two or more Reportable Offences arising from the one match
have a sanction of a fine, they will be considered individually in the application of section
1(e).

5 Offences Incurred in the AFL Grand Final


Reportable Offences which arise out of the AFL Grand Final will attract the same sanction
as normal except as follows:

 If the offence ordinarily attracts a sanction of two or more matches, then it will be
referred directly to the Tribunal, where the Tribunal will determine the appropriate
sanction in its absolute discretion (penalty at large).

 The sanction for the following Fixed Financial Offences will be doubled.

Engaging in a Melee
Instigator of a Melee
Engaging in Wrestling

6 AFL Years
A reference to any previous period of AFL Years will be a reference to the period
calculated retrospectively from the round in which a Player has been found guilty of a
Reportable Offence or Reportable Offences. In the case of the finals, it is calculated by
reference to the same week number in the previous final series.

Other individual matches (such as representative matches, exhibition matches or


practice matches which are subject to AFL Regulations) are calculated retrospectively
from the date of the match or reprimand for those matches.
132

Schedule 1 – Prescribed Forms

FORM NO. FORM NAME APPLICABLE REGULATION

FORM 17 Notice of Appeal 20.12

FORM 21 Notice of Report 16.10

FORM 25 Incident Referral Form 16.11

FORM 27 Notice of Referred Charge 16.12

FORM 28 Notice of Early Plea 16.12

FORM 29 Notice of Charge 16.12

FORM 30 Notice for Investigation 16.12

FORM 31 Medical Report 16.12

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