Laws of the Game

The 2007 Laws of the Game publication contains the Laws of Australian Football as administered and controlled by the AFL.  

The key change for the 2007 Toyota AFL Premiership Season and NAB Cup season, which was approved by the AFL Commission late in 2006, was that under Rule 15.4.5 a free kick will apply wherever a player bumps or makes forceful contact from front on when that player has his head down over the ball.

The Commission also decided that under Rule 19.2.2 that “intentionally, recklessly or negligently bumping or making forceful contact to an opponent from front on when that player has his head down over the ball” will be a reportable offence and strict sanctions will be applicable.

Under the ruling a player can bump an opponent’s body from side on but any contact forward of side on will be deemed to be front on. A player with his head down in anticipation of winning possession of the ball or after contesting the ball will be deemed to have his head down over the ball for the purposes of this law.

There will also be stricter interpretations of the Laws of two aspects of the Game for the 2007 season, including stricter policing of hands in the back in marking contests and relating to dangerous tackles such as by unnecessarily and dangerously driving an opponent into the ground with their arms pinned.

 2007 Laws of the Game  1.3MB