Opinion Number Of Players In A Team ......... How Would You Structure It ??

Remove this Banner Ad

Mar 20, 2002
24,567
25,481
Mosman Village
AFL Club
Carlton
The number of players in a team has changed a fair bit over the past decade or so and the bozos at AFL house haven't stopped tinkering with it either. The fabric of the game & the overall tactics employed have suffered as a consequence too IMO.

Everyone footy follower has their own theory on how it should be structured and for varying reasons.

So, if you were the AFL CEO, how would you do it ??


1. ONFIELD TEAM
(the players on the field for the opening bounce)

(a) 16

(b) 18

(c) 20

2. INTERCHANGE PLAYERS
(players who can go on & off the field over the whole match)

(d) 0

(e) 2

(f) 4

(g) 6

3. RESERVES
(used tactically but the player coming off cannot take any further part in the match)

(h) 0

(i) 2

(j) 4

(k) 6

4. MEDICAL SUBS
(can only go onto the field to replace a seriously injured team-mate)

(l) 0

(m) 1

(n) 2

(o) 3


Choose one from each category and see what it looks like !!

(sorry, was going to do a poll but it was going to be way too big with so many options)




For me, it's :

(a) 16 onfield

(d) 0 interchange

(k) 6 reserves

(l) 0 medical subs
 

Log in to remove this ad.

15 on the field.

BP - FB - BP
HB - CHB - HB
W - R - W
HF - CHF - HF
FP - FF - FP

That's how the team is named but you can have 2 players on ball for the centre bounce. Opens up more strategy for teams about who goes in the middle to get the clearance.

8 on the bench.
15 rotations per qtr.

So you can essentially sub your whole team out once per qtr. If you want a mid to have 3 spells on the bench then other players aren't going to get a break.

No subs/reserves.

Players get hurt. That's just reality. If we keep expanding then it'll never stop but watch them go to 5 interchange for a few years. Then it'll be 5 + a sub, then 6 interchange etc
 
Mine would be. 18 as it is. tweak the rules so we get more of a pre 2000 set up. i miss the days when the full forward stood in the goal square at all times waiting for the ball to come down so he could lead etc.

18 on field, no sub 4 on bench
 
18 a side on field, that’s pretty much unique in world sport so keep it. Down to two interchange slots and up to two full substitutes. Don’t want anyone mincing off the ground after they’ve kicked a goal. Medical ints/subs for injuries, blood and head knocks only - keep one on standby but hope not to need it.

Followers to be a distinct division again. One field umpire, there’s only one ball to follow.
 
18 on the field.

4 on the bench.

0 reserves.

0 medical subs.

Cap rotations to 8 a quarter.

On a side note - less umpires. Ideally back to one field umpire but that seems impractical for the modern game. Could maybe work if umpires had a rotating bench too?
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Opinion Number Of Players In A Team ......... How Would You Structure It ??

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top