Super sub can come on at any time

AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson. Source: Herald Sun

League chiefs yesterday announced sides would not have to wait for an injury, a break or a stoppage to send on their 22nd man.

Under a radical change to rules this year, clubs are allowed three interchange players and a substitute, who can take the field only when replacing a teammate who cannot return.

The sub will wear a green vest before coming on, while the player he replaces must don a red vest, indicating his day is over.

The substitution will become official when a plastic substitute card is handed to an AFL bench official.

Clubs must name their sub from their selected side 90 minutes before the bounce, and place an "S" next to his name on the team sheet.

But plans for AFL officials to use soccer-style interchange boards to notify fans, TV viewers and opposition teams of the substitution have been shelved. Instead the sub's entry will be signalled on the scoreboard.

"Substitutions will be able to occur at any point of a match and for any reason, including the quarter-time, halftime and three-quarter time breaks," AFL football operations manager Adrian Anderson said yesterday.

"The emergency umpire on the interchange bench will notify the on-field umpires of the substitution via the umpires' existing communication device, and this will also be communicated to the broadcasters and the scoreboard operator.

"If a club sends a substitute player on field before notifying the interchange steward, the opposition will receive a free kick and 50m penalty."