AFL AAMI Community Series Opens Today as 2026 Rule Changes Reshape the Game

The pre-season is here. The AAMI Community Series opens today — February 25 — with matches running through Saturday, March 1. Eight days later, the 2026 AFL premiership season begins for real when the Sydney Swans host Carlton at the SCG on March 5.

But the pre-season fixtures this week carry more weight than usual. Three significant rule changes will be tested under match conditions for the first time, and clubs need answers before Round 1.

The Rule Changes That Matter

The AFL Commission has confirmed three structural changes for 2026. Each one shifts the tactical landscape.

Five-player interchange replaces the substitute rule. The medical substitute, introduced in 2021, is gone. Clubs now carry five interchange players on their bench. The practical impact: more rotations, fresher legs in the fourth quarter, and greater squad depth rewarded across the season. Coaches who manage their rotations well gain a measurable edge.

No more centre bounces. The field umpire will throw the ball up at centre bounces — the start of quarters and after every goal. The traditional bounce, a spectacle unique to Australian football, has been retired from competitive play. The AFL cited consistency and injury prevention. Ruck coaches will need to adjust their training. Tap work changes when the ball arrives differently.

Top-10 finals. The finals series expands from eight to ten qualifying teams across a five-week series. Teams finishing seventh through tenth play a wildcard round. The top six receive a bye. This extends the season’s relevance deeper into September and keeps more clubs alive longer — a deliberate move to maintain engagement across all 18 markets.

Community Series to Watch

The pre-season schedule has been structured to give coaches meaningful preparation time. Match simulation sessions ran from February 16 to 21 behind closed doors. The Community Series now provides public, broadcast-quality football.

Collingwood will be closely watched after reports that Jordan De Goey has spent significant time through the midfield during pre-season. The 29-year-old’s engine room role could reshape the Magpies’ centre clearance dynamic.

Adelaide trialled Riley Thilthorpe at