The 2016 AFL season: A year of rule shifts and historic droughts
In short: The 120th AFL season was defined by significant structural changes and unexpected outcomes. From the introduction of a thirty-second shot clock to the Western Bulldogs securing their second premiership, the year reshaped the competition's landscape while seeing Essendon face a historic setback.
The 2016 season, running from 24 March to 1 October, introduced several pivotal regulatory changes. To combat player exhaustion, officials revised interchange rules, restricting squads to four substitutes and 90 total rotations per match, whereas 2015 allowed 120. Additionally, the protected zone around players with a mark or free kick was doubled from five metres to ten metres. To assist with game flow, a thirty-second countdown clock was introduced for set shots, though it was removed during the final two minutes of quarters to prevent tactical clock management.
On the field, the Western Bulldogs claimed the premiership, defeating Sydney by 22 points in the Grand Final. This victory was accompanied by Jason Johannisen winning the Norm Smith Medal. The season also saw individual excellence from Patrick Dangerfield of Geelong, who won the Brownlow Medal with 35 votes, breaking a record for the most votes under the 3–2–1 system, and the Leigh Matthews Trophy. Meanwhile, Josh Kennedy of West Coast secured the Coleman Medal by kicking 80 goals during the home-and-away season.
The year was also marked by significant disciplinary and historical footnotes. Thirty-four players were suspended due to doping infringements related to the 2012 Essendon Football Club supplements program, with seventeen of those players remaining active in the league. In a historic low for Essendon, the club was awarded the wooden spoon for the first time since 1933, ending an 83-year drought. Round 21 saw the inaugural AFL-sanctioned LGBT pride match for premiership points, played by Sydney and St Kilda.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2016 AFL season
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