2020 SANFL Rule Changes

The SANFL has made adjustments to its interchange rules for season 2020, with teams now permitted to field a matchday squad of 22 players.

League and reserve matches will now consist of 22 players per side, with a maximum of four players to be allowed on the interchange bench.

The rule is the first adjustment to be made to the interchange in more than 20 years of SANFL competition, bringing it now in-line with the AFL and other competitions around the country.

To complement the increase in bench size, interchange rotation caps will also be increased from 60 per match to 75 for the 2020 season.

Rule changes have also be made to the ruck contest in 2020, with the SANFL adopting the AFL’s “3rd man up” rule, meaning only one player from each team can compete at a stoppage.

SANFL will also adopt the AFL’s 6-6-6 policy of offering a warning to a team who breaches the rule before imposing a free kick and 25m penalty.