AFL fans got their first 'official' look at the league's seven new rules when Western Australia and Victoria clash at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
The officiating of the newly introduced last disposal out of bounds was of much focus in the lead-up to AFL Origin, and didn't take long to be part of the night, while the clamp down on the stand rule and shrugging in tackles have also been points of discussion ahead of the new season.
Here's how the AFL's seven newest rules took shape in the earliest look for fans in 2026...
Last disposal
Rule: Introduce a Free Kick for the last disposal Out of Bounds in between the 50m arcs
The first of the night came against Ed Richards 10 minutes into the first term. A kick off the ground trickled over the boundary, which would've been considered insufficient intent last year and perhaps led to a few extra seconds as players sat waiting for the umpire's call. Instead, Brad Hill was able to grab possession and move the ball in an instant, keeping the game flowing and at a quick tempo with no resistance.
In the second quarter, an under-the-pump Jack Sinclair opted to tap the ball back into play as opposed to letting a Max Holmes kick go over the line, avoiding a free kick to WA. The manoeuvre is exactly what the AFL would have wanted to see, with players opting against taking the boundary and bringing play to a halt.
One point of confusion arose in the third term when a grounded ball ricocheted off Zak Butters' foot and went out of bounds. Western Australia was awarded possession, signalling accidental grounded kicks will be factored in as disposals for the new rule.
Overall, the rule seemingly helped keep possession away from the boundary line and kept play flowing, as intended.
