AFL to cap weekly contact drills for men’s and women’s leagues starting 2027

The Australian Football League announced a policy change that will limit contact-training time for all clubs beginning in 2027. Under the plan, each team may conduct no more than 120 minutes of contact drills per one outlet, of which only 60 minutes can be high-intensity. Clubs must keep records of their contact sessions and submit them to the AFL upon request.

The initiative applies equally to the men’s and women’s competitions and is intended to reduce the incidence of concussions and other head-related injuries. By mandating regular audits, the league hopes to create a more consistent safety environment across all teams. The rule will be enforced through monitoring and compliance checks by the AFL.