The year the rules were rewritten to reshape Australian football

Countries & Cities · Published 13 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2019, the AFL didn't just change its roster; it fundamentally altered the geometry of the game. From mandated starting positions to new penalties for off-the-ball interference, a series of structural shifts aimed to redefine how players move and compete on the field.

The 123rd season of the Australian Football League (AFL) introduced several significant alterations to the laws of the game. One of the most visible changes was the '6-6-6 rule,' which mandated specific starting positions at centre bounces. Each side had to position two players on the wings, four within the centre square, plus six inside every 50m arc—with one person in each goal square. Infractions resulted in a warning per game followed by free kicks.

Other tactical shifts addressed spatial dynamics and player safety. Any free kick or mark taken under nine metres from a defensive goal line was relocated to that nine-metre boundary. Furthermore, for behinds' kick-ins, the full back could stop kicking to himself from the goal square, while the marking distance increased from 5m to 10m away from the kick-off line. The push-in-the-back rule was also relaxed to allow players to place hands on an opponent's back to protect their position in a marking contest, provided they did not push.

The season also saw logistical and technological milestones. It marked the first year of 4K resolution broadcasts for 46 ultra-high-definition games on Foxtel. On the field, Richmond Football Club secured its twelfth premiership by defeating Greater Western Sydney by 89 points in the Grand Final. Individual honors were distributed among stars like Nat Fyfe, who won the Brownlow Medal, and Dustin Martin, who took home the Norm Smith Medal.

Geographically, the season expanded its footprint. Replacing a game held in Cairns from 2011 to 2018, Townsville’s Tony Ireland Stadium saw its first AFL premiership match during round 13 between St Kilda and Gold Coast.

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