Laws of the Game

3.0 Teams

 

 

 

  
 

 

  

 

 
 
3.1 The team shall of fourteen to eighteen players, on the field of play at any one time and up to four interchange players.
3.1.1 The controlling body shall determine the number of players.
3.1.2 Prior to the commencement of play an official of each team shall hand to the field umpire a list of names and numbers of the players comprising the team and indicating the captain and interchange players who will not take part in the match at its commencement.
3.1.3 At any time during the course of the match, one of the players not then taking part in the match may be interchanged with one of the participating players.
3.1.4 Should circumstances require a player's number to be changed the team runner should advise a field umpire during the next interval, or at the first available opportunity if the change occurs during the final quarter.
3.1.5 The official runner and other team officials approved by the Controlling Body must wear the uniform determined by the Controlling Body and be easily identifiable by the Umpire (by way of arm band or otherwise) and name/s shall appear on the team sheet of the team concerned. It shall be the responsibility of the Controlling Body to document circumstances in which such officials may enter the playing area and to produce guidelines covering the specific duties when on the arena. Umpires shall report any breach of such guidelines to the controlling body.
   
3.2 The procedures for the interchange of players shall be as follows:
3.2.1 If there is in attendance a steward appointed by the controlling body to supervise the operation of this law, the captain, the official runner or one other nominated club official, shall request permission from the steward, to make the replacement of one named player by another named player.
3.2.2 The steward shall be stationed throughout the match in a prominent position as close to the boundary line as the controlling body shall approve.
3.2.3 Players shall leave and enter the playing ground through the interchange area during the match unless the player is taken from the playing ground on a stretcher, in which case he may be taken from the playing ground at any point. His replacement shall enter the playing ground through the interchange area. The replaced player may return to the playing ground by way of normal interchange.
 
3.2.4 The steward, on being satisfied that the proposed replacement is permitted under the provision of this law, shall give his permission which shall hold good for a period of three minutes from it being given, but shall then lapse if not acted upon.
3.2.5 When it is necessary for a player to be taken from the playing ground on a stretcher, the field umpire shall stop play at the first appropriate opportunity after he is advised that a stretcher is on the playing ground and play will not recommence until the stretcher has left the playing ground and is outside the boundary fence or located in an area approved by the controlling body.
3.2.6 When a player has been, or appears to have been, so seriously injured as to prevent his being removed immediately from the playing ground, the steward may approve his replacement prior to leaving the ground.
3.2.7 If a steward is not in attendance, the field umpire shall perform these duties. A request to make a replacement shall only be made during a period when time is being added to the playing time.
3.2.8 The steward and field umpire shall respectively report to the controlling body any breach of the provisions of this law.
   
3.3 The field umpire shall at the request of either captain, stop the match and call the players of the opposing team into line for the purpose of a team count. Such players shall line up in the centre square and remain until dismissed by the field umpire. The field umpire shall report to the controlling body upon every such request and result.
3.3.1 If a team has been counted and found to have more than the permitted number of players on the field, taking into account players ordered from the field where a replacement of such players is not permitted, a Controlling Body shall impose a penalty by way of reverse of match result, annulment of score or part thereof, fine or censure as it shall consider proper.
   
3.4 Subject to the approval of the Australian Football League, the controlling body in each State may reduce or increase the number of players who shall take part in any match. A State controlling body may similarly grant this authority to an affiliated league or association.
 

 

 

  
 
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