Rule changes and Fantasy

We saw seven rule changes announced this week. What will they mean for Fantasy? Not heaps, but here’s Warnie’s take. We’ll try to get some extra stats in the pre-season to see what changes we’re likely to see.

Remove the requirement for a Player to start in the Goal Square at each centre ball-up

Purely for speeding up the game as the ‘full forward’ and ‘full back’ will just need to be inside 50, rather than the goal square. Does it add to some extra congestion in the forward line? Maybe, but it will be pretty minimal.

Introduce a Free Kick for the last disposal Out of Bounds in between the 50m arcs

One of the key things that will affect rucks negatively – for hitouts at least – will be fewer boundary throw ins. The usualy 20 per game jas been modelled to reduce by 3 per game. It’s not a lot, but could see a few points drop for each ruck. Tristan Xerri has a big score build through tackles at contest. Maybe the ceiling for the rucks who rely on contests (hitouts, disposals, tackles, etc around stoppages) are going to be the most disadvantaged when it comes to Fantasy numbers.

According to the AFL modelling, the stoppages would decrease from 2025, but would be in line with what we saw in 2023 and 2024.

Although we have the insufficient attempt rule, maybe there could be a couple more free kicks against those with less than impressive disposal when kicking up the line.

At all centre ball-ups, a competing Ruck cannot cross the Centre Circle line and engage with the opposition Ruck, prior to contesting the football

The rise of the athletic, jumping ruck will be a story in 2026. The ball up now that the bounce is dead allows this rule. Last season 21% of centre bounce ruck contests had at least one ruck jumping. It was 63% in 2023. Around the ground stoppages and boundary throw in contests aren’t part of this rule (the wrestle will be fine!).

Around the ground, the Umpire may restart play without a nominated Ruck being present

Another way for our ruck to not have access to all the points? If they’re a bit too far away to make the contest, that will be an issue. This feels like a dumb exectution of the rule – and maybe not massively fixing the problem. I think they should do away with nomination and if it’s about third man up and wanting to keep it, just penalise the third man up… players/clubs will work it out quick enough.

A shrug (in a tackle) will be deemed Prior Opportunity (i.e., as an attempt to evade or fend an opponent)

Who’s on the hitlist here? Ginni and Wizard? Players will adapt, but this could see more frees against for some … but the key thing will be the frees for the tackler. The tackle definition is about whether there is a stoppage or a turnover, but if the free is paid, then we may see more tackles. Possibly some extra +8s?!

A Player must stand if they are within the Protected Area (i.e., within five metres) when a Mark or Free Kick occurs

This aims to tighten up the rule. It’ll be easier for the player to dispose of the ball and will keep an opponent out of the immediate play, but probably won’t really make much of a difference to Fantasy points.

Align the interpretation of ‘reasonable time’ for a Player to bring the football back into play from a Behind being scored and the time allowed for a set Kick around the ground. Currently, reasonable time for kick-ins is 12 seconds, whereas around the ground is eight (8) seconds. Players will now be allowed eight (8) seconds in both instances

Not really going to be an issue for us in Fantasy. There might be a bit more hustle for taking the kick in … so the ‘designated kick in player’ may not take ‘all’ of them. It could be a little bit more around the closest player.

Warnie

Co-captain of DT Talk since we started this thing in 2007. Best finish was 13th in 2009... that was a long time ago. Follow on Twitter: @WarnieDT