AFL commits to Match Review System overhaul

The AFL has committed to an overhaul of its match review system, formalising several changes to its judicial process.

The MRO shake-up has been a key order or business for league footy boss Greg Swann, who vowed to crackdown on gut punches in his first week in the job.

After league-wide consultation, the AFL last Thursday wrote to clubs confirming the adjustments.

They include:

• NEW legislation that means players who push opponents in contests into another player from either team will be offered suspensions.
• THE ability to suspend players for less than three weeks even when a player is concussed if there are “other factors relevant to the impact”.
• PLAYERS who gut punch will “usually” be offered a one-match suspension.

Swann told SEN last July he was on a mission to stamp out the off-the-ball act.

“Guys punching guys in the guts — give them a week (suspension),” Swann said.

“It probably has stopped a little bit (this year), but if we did (ban players) then it stops completely.”

But it’s understood the AFL has tempered its initial black and white crackdown.

The prospect of a player missing a Grand Final for a push-off in a contest viewed as a strike or losing a Brownlow under the same circumstance has been among the concerns.

As a result, the explanation of grading impact for intentional strikes now reads: “Intentional strikes to a victim player’s body or head will usually be classified as medium impact at a minimum (resulting in at least a one-match sanction), rather than the previous grading as low impact.”

Coaches and players have long argued the MRO should be given greater flexibility in the matrix when it comes to suspending players whose rough conduct act results in concussion.

The “three weeks or nothing” was a debatable topic throughout 2025, with the likes of Paul Curtis and Justin McInerney considered harshly done by when served with three-week bans.

The “grading for impact” amendment reads: “Whilst an intentional or careless act causing a concussion will usually be graded as severe impact, when other factors relevant to impact, including the observable level of force, are more consistent with a lesser impact grading … a lesser impact grading may be imposed.”

But in approving the change, the AFL commission made it clear that should be a rarity and that a player serving anything less than a three-week ban when another player is concussed might only happen once or twice a season.

The AFL had last year sought club feedback on the changes, with football managers contacted by SEN satisfied with the league’s transparency and presentations.