Skip to content

AFLrules.md

Latest commit

 

History

History
47 lines (40 loc) · 10.3 KB

AFLrules.md

File metadata and controls

47 lines (40 loc) · 10.3 KB
Raw

AFL Sydney Seniors Rules: Finals Selection & Player Eligibility

(Note: The links below will direct you to the specific pages in the PDF. The PDF page numbers in the links account for the title and table of contents pages.)

1. Minimum Game Requirements to Qualify (Qualifying "Up")

To be eligible to play finals in a specific Grade, a player must meet the minimum threshold of home and away matches played during the current season:

  • Standard Minimum: A player must play a minimum of six (6) home and away games for their club,. For graded divisions (e.g., Division One, Two, Under 19.5, etc.), these six games must be played in that specific Grade or a lower ranked Grade for that club,,,,. (Appendix 2, Table 1)
  • Masters Minimum: A player must play a minimum of three (3) home and away games in the Masters division. (Appendix 2, Table 1)
  • Two Teams in the Same Competition: If a club has two teams in the same competition, a player must have played at least five (5) home and away matches specifically for the team they intend to play finals for, or a lower ranked team,. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(L))
  • Matches on the Same Weekend: If a player plays more than one match on the same day or weekend during the home and away season, only the match in the highest grade is counted towards finals eligibility,. Exception: If a player plays an Underage Competition (U19.5 or U20) and a senior match on the same weekend, only the Underage match counts. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(A)(i))

2. The 7-Game Cap on Higher Grade Matches (Qualifying "Down")

There is a strict limit on how many higher-grade matches a player can participate in before losing eligibility for lower-grade finals:

  • Men's Competitions: Any player who has played a combined total of seven (7) or more home and away matches in any higher Men’s grade (including VFL) is not eligible to play finals matches in a lower division. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(D))
  • Women's Competitions: Any player who has played a combined total of seven (7) or more home and away matches in any higher Women’s division(s) is not eligible to play finals matches in a lower division. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(D))

3. Weekend Specific Intricacies and Exemptions

The rules strictly regulate how many finals a player can participate in and offer specific exemptions based on club-wide performance:

  • One Final Per Weekend: A player is generally only permitted to play in one (1) finals match for their club on any given weekend. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(B)(i))
  • Grand Final Restriction: Once a player has participated in a Grand Final, they are ineligible to participate in any subsequent Finals matches in a lower division for the remainder of the series, unless exceptional circumstances are approved by the CMC,. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(B)(ii))
  • Exception for Two Finals in One Weekend: A club may request a CMC exemption for a player to play a second finals match on the same weekend only if they are replacing a player in a higher Grade who is a late withdrawal due to injury (with no other eligible players available), and the player had already qualified for the lower Grade final on a stand-alone basis. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(C))
  • "All Teams" Playing Exemption: If a club has all its Senior Men’s and Underage teams (or all Women’s and Underage teams) playing in finals on the same weekend, a player is eligible to participate in any grade, provided they have met the basic 6-game minimum and are age-eligible,. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(E) & (F))
  • Consecutive Teams Playing Exemption: If a club has multiple consecutively ranked teams playing in finals on the same weekend, a player is eligible to play one (1) Club grade lower than the lowest grade for which they are eligible on a standalone basis,. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(G))
  • "Week Off" Exemption: If a higher-ranked grade earns a week off in its Finals series, the CMC may grant an exemption for up to two (2) players to play in a consecutively ranked lower grade Final,. However, these players become ineligible to play in the higher-ranked grade Final the following week. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(H))

4. Special Player Categories & External Pathways

Finals eligibility is treated differently for players participating in representative or cross-competition pathways:

  • Talent Pathways: Matches played in elite pathways (AFL National Championships, Coates Talent League, AFL Futures) count towards finals eligibility for the player's primary club. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(M))
  • VFL Top-Up Matches: Up to three (3) Sydney Swans/GWS GIANTS VFL 'Top Up' or 'Women’s Winter Series' matches count towards finals eligibility,. However, these matches only apply towards the club's highest Men's/Women's senior grade or Men's U19.5 Div 1 team. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(N)-(O))
  • VFL Listed Players: If the Swans or GIANTS VFL teams play on the same weekend as their aligned Men’s Senior Grade finals match, an unselected VFL player is eligible to play in the Men’s Senior Grade match irrespective of qualification. Otherwise, Primary or Rookie VFL listed players must play a minimum of six (6) home and away matches for their AFL Sydney aligned Club to play Men’s Senior Grade finals,. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(P))
  • Student Permits: Matches played on Student Permits do not count towards finals eligibility. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(Q))
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): Players who played for two clubs under an MOU can only play finals for the club where they played the most home and away matches,. If matches are even, they must choose one club. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(K))
  • Women's Premier Division Interchange: A lower division player on an interchange cannot play finals for their Women’s Premier Division interchange club unless they formally transfer to that club. (Rule 11.8)

5. Medical, Service, and Fixture Dispensations

A club may apply to the Competition Management Committee (CMC) to vary the number of matches required to qualify for finals if the player meets specific criteria and has played at least one (1) home and away match for the club,,:

  • Services Personnel: Posted a significant distance away during the season.
  • Injury, Pregnancy, or Illness: Missed six (6) or more consecutive matches (or 2+ for Masters).
  • Fixture Impacts: The competition had three (3) or more byes or multiple cancelled matches. (Appendix 2, Rule 1(J))

6. Club and Team Finals Regulations

Beyond individual player eligibility, clubs and specific teams are bound by the following during the finals series:

  • Financial Standing: A club that is in arrears to the League for more than 90 days is ineligible to play finals Matches until the overdue amount is paid or a financial arrangement is adhered to,. The next placed team on the ladder fills the ineligible team's place. (Rule 17.8)
  • Forfeits in Finals: If a team forfeits a Finals Match, they are ineligible to participate in any further matches for the duration of the Finals and may face fines up to $1,000,. (Rule 16.5.8)
  • Team Sheets: Finals Team Sheets must be submitted into PlayHQ by 7:00pm the day prior to the scheduled match (Grand Finals require submission by 10:00am the Friday prior). Men's and Women's Premier Division must still submit by 10:00am Friday. (Rule 15.7.1, Table 27)
  • On-Field Player Numbers: During Finals Matches, rules requiring teams to match reduced on-field playing numbers do not apply. Either team may field up to the maximum number of on-field players specified for their grade. (Rule 14.4(G))