By Nick Creely
The Victorian Football League has announced a series of list rule changes which will be implemented for the 2020 season.
Following a review into the VFL and NEAFL competitions by the AFL Football Operations department and league managers, it has been determined that list sizes, structure and access to additional players for AFL clubs varied greatly.
Head of talent pathways and state league competitions, Tristan Salter, said the rules changes will help strengthen State League competitions across the board while still allowing flexibility to meet each competition’s unique requirements.
“Our goal is to achieve a consistent set of rules and regulations, list rules and player access across State Leagues to ensure the level of competition and experience for developing players is as equal as possible,” he said.
“These measures have been put in place to not only promote consistency across State League competitions, but maintain competitive balance within each competition.
“The changes to playing list structure also enables a closer connection to NAB League clubs to ensure a strong pathway exists for aspiring players.
“These changes also reflect the AFL’s objectives of providing greater opportunity for tier two talent to reach the elite level via the NAB AFL National, Pre-Season and Mid-Season drafts.”
In 2020, the VFL will adopt the following rule changes:
VFL clubs will have a development list introduced, made up of 19-year-old players.
• VFL clubs will have a development list introduced, made up of 19-year-old players.
• All clubs will be required to play 23 players per match, which will include one 19-year-old development player and one under-21 player (i.e traditional 23rd player).
• List structures for 2020 will be as follows:
o Non-AFL clubs can list up to 46 players, including 40 primary listed players and six development list players.
o AFL aligned clubs can list up to 36 players, including 30 primary listed players and six development list players.
o AFL clubs can list up to 30 players, including 24 primary list players and six development list players.
• An additional rookie list of two players is available to all VFL teams which will include NGA players and players who meet the AFL category B Rookie criteria.
• A father/son rule will be introduced in 2020 which allows a club to list a player whose father played 100 games or more for the club (including AFL and AFL aligned clubs). These players will be listed on a club’s development list.
• Aside from current finals eligibility rules, no other playing restrictions will apply in the finals series.
The changes could greatly increase the likelihood of talent local players from competitions such as AFL Outer East, West Gippsland and the Mornington Peninsula to grab a chance at VFL level, and for youngsters from local clubs join a development list.
