Please see below for rule & interpretation changes to the AFL that are being adopted, or are not relevant and not being implemented, by OEFN Competitions for Season 2026.
Changes that ARE being adopted in OEFN Competitions:
CENTRE BALL-UP CONTESTS
At all centre ball-ups, competing rucks will now be unable to cross the centre line before engaging with their opposition ruck. This is born from a desire to see the jumping rucks return to the game.
ALIGN KICK-IN TIME
Umpires currently allow ‘reasonable time’ for a kick-in, which is deemed at around 12 seconds. However, ‘reasonable time’ for a mark or free kick paid around the ground is deemed at eight seconds. From 2026 onwards, both of these will align to be eight seconds.
RUCK NOMINATIONS
Umpires can now restart play without a nominated ruck being present. If there is no nomination, or the nominated ruck is too far away, the play will be restarted immediately.
SHRUGGING IN THE TACKLE
A shrug in a tackle will now be deemed prior opportunity. It will be similar to how a fend, or an attempt to evade a tackle is deemed prior opportunity.
Change being adopted with a VARIATION in OEFN Competitions:
LAST DISPOSAL/POSSESSION RULE
A free kick will now be awarded when the ball crosses the line from a clear disposal (Kick or Handball), bringing the Senior men’s competitions in line with the OEFN Women’s and all OEFN Junior competitions which have been operating under this rule since 2021.
OEFN Senior mens competitions will operate under the same rule as the South Australian Community leagues & SANFL, which have been utilising Last Disposal across the FULL ground for the last Ten seasons with great results, as has our Junior & Women’s football competitions since 2021. The utilisation of this rule aims to speed up theplay, keep the ball in motion more often and elevate some confusion around it’s predecessor, the Deliberate out of bounds rule.
OEFN LAST DISPOSAL/POSSESSION RULE
A Free Kick shall be awarded against a Player who: Kicks or handballs the football over the boundary line without the football being touched by another Player.
i) For the purposes of defining a kick, a kick shall be an intentional action, not accidental. When the ball comes off the foot or lower leg of a player without the intent of the player being to kick the ball, it will be deemed accidental contact and will not be determined as a kick by the umpire and therefore will result in a boundary throw in (or ball up 15 meters in from the boundary line if no boundary umpire is present).
Where a Player who does not have possession, stops the football being touched by an opposition Player, by shepherding the ball across the boundary line where the ball could have otherwise been touched by the player being blocked, then the umpire will not award a free kick but will instead order a boundary throw in or ball up.
If you’d like more information on the last disposal rule, see SANFL’s video explainer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EglKHkCY33I
Changes that are NOT relevant or NOT being implemented to OEFN Competitions:
- Removal of the Centre Bounce Rule
- Removal of Substitute player Rule
- Goal Square Starting Position (OEFN Competitions do not utilise the 6-6-6 rule)
- STAND – No Change to OEFN current ruling interpretation. (A player must Stand when requested by the Umpire to do so)
