AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES June 2017 Table of Contents 1. General 14 1.1 Definitions 14 1.2 Other Definitions 27 1.3 Interpretation 27 1.4 Reasonable and Severance 28 1.5 Interpretation by Commission and Amendment 28 1.6 Forms 28 2. Powers, Conduct and Sanction 29 2.1 Powers of the Commission and General Counsel 29 2.2 Limitations on Powers 31 2.3 Conduct Unbecoming or Prejudicial to the Interests of the AFL 32 2.4 Notifiable Conduct 33 2.5 General Offences 33 2.6 Suspect in criminal investigation, charged or arrested for criminal offence 34 2.7 Sanctions and payment 34 3. Investigators 36 3.1 Appointment 36 3.2 Reference to Investigator 36 4. Registration of Players 37 4.1 All Players to be Registered 37 4.2 Eligibility and Requirements for Registration 37 4.3 Contracts 38 4.4 Parent or Guardian 38 4.5 Lodgement Tuesday Prior to Play 38 4.6 Outstanding Fines or Penalties 38 4.7 Players Bound to One Club Not to be Registered With Another Club 38 4.8 Players Bound if Listed 38 4.9 Conduct Unbecoming or Prejudicial 39 5. Lists – Generally 40 5.1 Team 40 5.2 Primary List sizes 40 5.3 Minimum Primary List Size – Sanction 40 5.4 Lists to be Maintained by the AFL and circulated to Clubs 40 5.5 No Delisting 40 5.6 Notification of Changes to Primary Lists 40 5.7 Listing Contrary to Rules 41 5.8 Players Must be Listed to Play, Listed Player Not to Train With Another Club 41 5.9 Only Listed Players May Train With or Be Tested By a Club 41 5.10 Rule Extends to Associated Clubs 42 5.11 Club Interviews with Unlisted Players 42 5.12 Protection for School Exam Period is Paramount 43 5.13 Training Lists to be Lodged and Other Requirements 43 5.14 Information Circulated 43 5.15 Percentage 44 5.16 No Alterations to Lists Immediately Prior to Drafts 44 2 6. National Draft – Compulsory 45 6.1 Lodgement of Primary Lists of Players 45 6.2 Procedure for National Draft Selection Meeting 46 6.3 Player Eligibility for National Draft 48 6.4 Minimum Contract Term for Certain Players 49 6.5 Players not on List 49 6.6 Determination for the National Draft Bidding System 50 7. Pre-Season Draft – Non-Compulsory 51 7.1 Pre-Season Draft Date 51 7.2 Pre-Season and Final List Lodgement 51 7.3 Players to Nominate 51 7.4 Nominated Football Payments 52 7.5 Rule 7 to Apply 52 7.6 Deletion of Nominating Player from List 52 7.7 Players Eligible to be Drafted 52 7.8 Drafted Player Bound for 23 Months 52 7.9 Details of Football Payments 53 7.10 No Change to Football Payments 53 7.11 Actual Payments Exceeding Estimates 53 7.12 Clubs Not to Exceed Total Player Payments in Drafting Players 54 7.13 No Exchanges 54 7.14 Order of Selection 54 7.15 Passing on a Draft selection 54 8. Father/Son Rule 55 8.1 Players Eligible – All Clubs 55 8.2 Western Australian and South Australian Based Clubs 55 8.3 NSW and Queensland Based Clubs 56 8.4 Prior Nomination of Eligible Player 56 8.5 Nomination and Consent for Inclusion on Primary List 56 8.6 Players Eligible for More Than One Club 56 8.7 Father/Son Listing Forego Draft Selection 56 8.8 Father/Son Rookie Pre-Selection 56 9. Exchange of Player(s) for Player(s) and Draft Selections 58 9.1 Exchange Period 58 9.2 Failure to Lodge Notice 58 9.3 Limits on Exchange 58 9.4 No Financial or Other Consideration 58 9.5 No Further Exchanges of Players 58 9.6 Multiple Club Exchanges 59 9.7 Further Exchange of Draft Selection 59 9.8 Exchange of Rookie Players 59 10. Rookie List Players 60 10.1 Rookie List – Establishment and Number 60 10.2 Rookie List – Inclusion and Changes 60 10.3 Rookie List Selection 61 10.4 Listing Prior to Selection Meeting 62 10.5 Listing Prior to Selection Meeting – Scholarship List Player and/or International Scholarship List Player 63 10.6 Finalisation and Lodgement of Rookie List 63 3 10.7 Rookie Player not Bound to Club 63 10.8 Passing on a Draft selection 63 10.9 Retention of Rookie List Players 63 10.10 Inclusion of Rookie List Player onto Primary List 63 10.11 Payments to Rookie Players Outside Total Player Payments 64 10.12 Relocation of Player 65 10.13 Competing in State Body Competition 66 10.14 Eligibility of Rookie List Player 66 10.15 Nominated Rookies 66 10.16 Nominated Rookies – Mid Season 67 11. Alternative Talent Player 68 11.1 Clubs may sign Alternative Talent Players 68 11.2 Payments to Alternative Talent Players 68 12. Scholarship List 69 12.1 Scholarship List – Establishment and Number 69 12.2 Scholarship List – Inclusion and Changes 69 12.3 Scholarship List Selection 71 12.4 Inclusion of Scholarship List Player onto Primary List 71 12.5 Inclusion of Scholarship List Player onto Rookie List 71 12.6 Payments to Scholarship List Players Outside Total Player Payments 72 12.7 Compensation – Scholarship List Players 72 12.8 Scholarship List – Continuing Eligibility 72 12.9 National and Pre-Season Draft - Eligibility of Scholarship List Player 72 12.10 Annual Development Program 72 12.11 Breach of Rule 12 73 12.12 Guidelines 73 12.13 Over Age Players 73 13. International Scholarship List 74 13.1 International Scholarship List – Establishment and Number 74 13.2 International Scholarship List – Inclusion and Changes 74 13.3 International Scholarship List Selection 76 13.4 Inclusion of International Scholarship List Player onto Primary List 76 13.5 Inclusion of International Scholarship List Player onto Rookie List 76 13.6 Payments to International Scholarship List Players Outside Total Player Payments 77 13.7 Compensation – International Scholarship List Players 77 13.8 National and Pre-Season Draft - Eligibility of International Scholarship List Player 77 13.9 Annual Development Program 77 13.10 Breach of Rule 13 77 13.11 Guidelines 77 14. Club Academies 78 14.1 Club Academies 78 14.2 Academy Eligibility 78 14.3 Club Academy Agreement and Benefits 78 14.4 Listing of Club Academy Player 79 14.5 Payments to Club Academy Players Outside Total Player Payments 80 14.6 Club Academy Player – Continuing Eligibility 80 14.7 Annual Activity Plan 80 4 14.8 Over Age Players 80 14.9 Breach of Rule 14 81 14.10 Guidelines 81 15. Next Generation Academies 82 15.1 Next Generation Academies 82 15.2 Next Generation Academy Eligibility 82 15.3 Next Generation Academy Agreement 82 15.4 NGA Minimum Requirements 82 15.5 Next Generation Academy Annual Activity Plan 83 15.6 Football NGA Benefits 83 15.7 Payments to NGA Players Outside Total Player Payments 83 15.8 Qualified NGA Players 84 15.9 Over Age NGA Players 85 15.10 Breach of Rule 15 85 15.11 Guidelines 86 16. Western Sydney Football Club (‘WSFC’) Establishment Rules 87 16.1 List size and TPP allowance 87 16.2 Contracting local talent – 2009 and 2010 87 16.3 Nomination of 17 year olds - 2010 87 16.4 Rookie Draft - 2010 87 16.5 Previously Listed Players or Players that have previously nominated for the Draft 88 16.6 Priority Zone Selections – New South Wales and NT 88 16.7 Uncontracted Players - 2011 89 16.8 Exchange Period 89 16.9 Trade Incentives – 2011 and 2012 90 16.10 National Draft - 2011 90 16.11 Participation in Pre-Season Draft - 2011 90 16.12 Uncontracted Players - 2012 91 16.13 Rookie Draft - 2011 91 16.14 Father/Son 91 16.15 Exceptional and Compelling Circumstances 92 17. Free Agency 93 17.1 Free Agents 93 17.2 Restricted Free Agents 93 17.3 List of Free Agents and Restricted Free Agents 94 17.4 Movement of Free Agents 94 17.5 Movement of Restricted Free Agents 95 17.6 Compensation 97 17.7 Rule 6.5 – Compliance Paramount 97 17.8 Rule 16.12 – Priority 97 18. Relist – Exceptional and Compelling Circumstances 97 18.1 Application for Relisting 97 18.2 Grounds for Relisting 98 18.3 Approval Procedure 98 19. Special Assistance 99 19.1 Scope of Rule 99 19.2 Special Assistance 99 5 19.3 Determinations of the Commission 99 19.4 Priority May be Traded 99 20. No Commissions 100 20.1 No Commissions Offered or Paid by Clubs 100 20.2 No Commissions Offered or Paid by Associates of Clubs 100 20.3 Authorisation of Payment 100 20.4 Guidelines 100 20.5 Club to Notify of Conduct in Contravention of Rules 20.1 or 20.2 100 21. Arbitration 101 21.1 Definitions 101 21.2 Minimum Payments Apply 101 21.3 Players May Apply to Arbitrator to Determine Football Payments 101 21.4 Contents of Notice 102 21.5 Service on AFL and the Club 102 21.6 Answering Notice 102 21.7 AFL to Schedule Arbitration 102 21.8 Arbitrator to Determine 102 21.9 Time for Determination 103 21.10 Arbitrator to Consider 103 21.11 Player May Remain Bound 103 21.12 Player May be Eligible to be Selected at Next Draft 103 21.13 Player's Notice to constitute offer 104 21.14 Appeals 104 22. Exceptional and Compelling Circumstances 105 22.1 Grounds for Release 105 22.2 Application for Release 105 22.3 Contents of Notice 105 22.4 Notice to be Circulated 105 22.5 Clubs May Join in Appeal 105 22.6 Time for Hearing Appeal 105 22.7 Requirements for Release 106 22.8 Lowest Club to Have Right to Employ Player 106 22.9 Compensation 107 22.10 Listing 107 23.