It's been 144 days since the 2020 season wrapped up. Here is everything you need to know that has changed ahed of this season.
ON THE FIELD
- Quarter lengths have returned to 20 minutes plus time-on just as they were in 2019. Quarters were slashed to 16 minutes plus time-on for the 2020 season only.
- Each club will be allowed to make 75 interchanges per game in 2021, down from 90 permitted in 2020.
- A new man on the mark rule has been introduced in order to speed up ball movement. The defending player won't be able to move laterally on the mark and will be forced to become a statue when the umpire calls him to 'stand'. Any infringement before 'play on' is called will result in a 50m penalty.
- Following a behind, the player on the mark defending the kick-in has been pushed back by five metres. Last year the defending player was required to be 10m back from the goalsquare, this year it's been extended to 15m.
THE FIXTURE
- After a 17-game home and away season in 2020, the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season returns to the traditional 22 matches for each club.
- The entire fixture of match-ups has been locked in with only the first six rounds of timeslots announced before the start of the season. The rest of the season will be released in blocks throughout the year.
- The Toyota AFL Grand Final will return to a traditional 2.30pm start on Saturday, September 25 at the MCG after last year saw the decider played at night at the Gabba.
- Team announcements will continue the day before each game at 6.20pm AEDT
CONCUSSION RULES
- The AFL has doubled the mandatory break for a concussion from six days to a minimum 12-day break. All players who suffer a concussion will miss at least one match under standard fixturing, meaning if a player is concussed in a preliminary final, they'll miss the Grand Final.
CROWD FIGURES
We can't wait to welcome our members and fans home. The SCG (36,000) will be able to operate at 75 per cent to start the season.
- Football will return to Victoria with 50 per cent crowds at the MCG (50,000), Marvel Stadium (28,961) and GMHBA Stadium (18,546) from round one.
- The Adelaide Oval (40,000) and Perth's Optus Stadium (45,000) will be able to house 75 per cent crowds from round one.
- Giants Stadium (18,000) will also be able to operate at 75 per cent to start the season.
- There are no current restrictions on crowd limits at the Gabba or Metricon Stadium in Queensland.
- All venues will be subject to change depending on individual state rules.
CAP SQUEEZES
- The salary cap dropped by nine per cent from 2020 into 2021 with each player mandated to take a minimum of 3.5 per cent cut. The remainder was made up of a reduction in list sizes, with players who re-signed after the 2020 contract freeze which was put in place during the lockdown (and committed to a bigger cut) able to move their difference into future seasons.
- Maximum list sizes have dropped from 47 players in 2020 to 44 in 2021, inclusive of two Category B rookies (players from alternative backgrounds such as Next Generation Academies or non-football pathways). Minimum list sizes now sit at 37.
- Category B rookies are now eligible for senior selection without the need to be upgraded to the senior list.
- Football department spending per club (soft cap) has dropped from more than $9 million to a tick over $6 million. It has resulted in a reduction in coaches at a number of clubs across the competition.
PRE-SEASON STRUCTURE
- The length of the pre-season was dramatically cut for senior players. First-to-fourth-year players completed two weeks of training before Christmas with all others required back only post-Christmas for the first time.
- The official pre-season competition – the AAMI Community Series – was cut from two matches per club to one.
SECOND-TIER COMPETITION
- Following the disbandment of the NEAFL, 22 clubs will form the new VFL and East Coast Second-Tier Competition, including Sydney playing in the East Coast VFL. It will be made up of eight standalone clubs without an alignment to an AFL team. The 16-game season will begin on April 17.
