The sub

In the Australian Football League (AFL), a “sub” is a player who is listed as an emergency and can be used as a replacement for another player during a match. Each team can have five players on the bench, with one of those emergencies designated as the “sub”. The “sub” can replace an injured player or change the team’s tactics during the match.

The “sub” player can only enter the field for the player they are replacing. Once the “sub” has been used, they cannot return to the field, and the player they replaced cannot return to the match.

This rule has been introduced to ensure that the teams are not disadvantaged if one of their key players suffers an injury during the match. The Substitution rule also adds an element of strategy to the game, where coaches have to make quick decisions on their team’s gameplay and tactics during the match.