The “surreal feeling” of winning a flag as a sub
Following a five-year hiatus, the AFL reintroduced substitutes for season 2021. Between 2011 and 2015, the ‘sub rule’ allowed clubs to tactically include a player in the match-day 22 who they felt could make a difference at some stage of the game. But it did come at the expense of a teammate. The new rule extends the interchange bench to five players with one unable to play a part until a match-ending injury or concussion is sustained by a teammate. So it brings about a case of fortune (or misfortune...