Gerard's Editorial | Change sweeping the AFL (03.03.26)

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Good morning. Two days to go. They can scarcely have been an AFL season with

greater change than what we're about to embark upon in 2026.

As we contemplate the journey ahead, it's worth taking a step back to appreciate the scope

of the alterations. It has come progressively so that you could miss the full extent of what

might be viewed as the AFL spring cleaning or its long overdue homework. After a couple of years

of inertia, change has been sweeping. The top 10 represents the biggest structural change since

the arrival at the expansion teams. The finals given a shake up for the first time this

century with the introduction of the wildcard games. The parameters for success are no longer eighths,

but 10 or six depending on your point of view. The unique tradition of the Bounce is gone.

The sub has been scrapped for the second time and the interchange evolves to a five man bench.

The fixture was quietly meddled with to increase the degree of difficulty for the top teams

and give equalization and artificial stimulus. What happened as the 2026 draw was announced was

equivalent to the handicap, giving the favourites an extra kilo as they headed to the barriers

for the Melbourne Cup to make the race a bit more sporting. Origin was restored with an ambition

to nurture representative 40. A suite of rule changes is highlighted by the desire to see the

Ruckman Leap and the introduction of the last disposal out of bounds to keep the game flowing.

The arc has better tools and a mandate to intervene in a more concerted application of technology

in the decision making, a phenomenon with mixed results across the sporting worlds.

The Tribunal has greater flexibility system when it comes to concussion,

but more rigidity in regards to the gut punch and umpires have been allowed into the modern era

when it comes time to cast their brown low votes shielding the highest individual on up from

increasing ridicule. What it still to be declared is whether the grand final was shift from its

afternoon time slot and the magnitude of change to the bidding systems for Father and Son and Academy

talent addressing the underlying compromises to equalization. The changes span from radical to

subtle necessary to interventionist fixing the broken windows to building for the future.

In the era of the national competition it's the broadest sweep of changes the game has undergone

and it should fuel the unknown with consequences both desired and unintended.

This is the first big play of the Andrew Dillon years as this administration chooses the direction

for the game under its stewardship. Change is hard to sell to a football community that so often

defaults to the idea to leave the game alone, but standing still is going backwards in modern sport

on and off the fields. Rugby League is bold, brash, ambitious and united and more of a competitor

than any time previously and the AFL's actions suggest a realization that it's time to get back

in the ring. The league has given the game a mighty shake spring cleaning or long overdue

homework take your pick. Now we wait to see how it presents for a season where the stakes are high

by every measure. I saw a little bit of it on the TV yesterday and you know as they've done

the last few years executed it really well and it's a good way for them to start their season. We do

things differently and what we found in the last couple of years is actually that focus on

New South Wales and Queensland has really helped grow awareness in New South Wales and Queensland

and at the same time hasn't taken away from our round one. The last two round ones have been

in the two highest 10th round we've had the hat of over 400,000.

Andrew Dylan is in Sydney. He's pounding the pavement so to speak. He's going to join me

from our Sydney studios at 10 o'clock. There can scarcely have been an AFL season with greater change

than what we are about to embark upon in 2026.

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