It seems unfair.
The coach calls you into his office and sits you down whilst a hidden camera is set up as you're told you're going to live out your dream of playing AFL football.
When the day arrives, the club's interchange steward signals you to the back of the interchange bench (admittedly already knowing this is the case) as you take your place as the substitute.
You wait eagerly for the call to remove the jacket but hopefully not too abruptly because that may mean a teammate would be injured.
You finally get on the ground and before you know it, the final siren has sounded.
Then, you'll be asked to run more laps post-game to maintain the conditioning element of being a professional athlete, or suit up for the reserves outfit if they're playing in the following days.
This has been the reality for too many AFL players. It just doesn't sit right.
| Year | Debuts | Started as Sub |
| 2024* | 67* | 18* |
| 2023 | 70 | 11 |
| 2022 | 84 | 7 |
| 2021 | 94 | 5 |
Admittedly, there can be cases made for making a debutant the sub, despite the anti-climatic feeling once the ball is bounced.
Easing a debutant into the elite level can be a benefit to their development whilst also maintaining selection integrity among the team.
It can also be used as a tactical measure, given the sub is likely to enter the game filled to the brim with energy, injecting himself into the latter part and ideally making an impact immediately.
However, the other side of the coin can result in a dejected player, whose hype and elation of becoming an AFL player aren't quite met by the reality of stepping foot onto the ground late in the game.
Yes we know that all 18 clubs and their coaches have full autonomy over the selection process, but, should the league's heads put in a caveat to the substitute role?
"Can't be used on debutants?"
If the fans had their say, the sub-rule would be abolished, according to AFL.com.au's survey.
47 per cent were in favour of five on the bench and no sub; 36 per cent said to keep it as is (four benched, one sub); while the remaining 17 per cent wanted the bench to be a blast from the past, returning to just four players on the bench, no sub.
Melbourne's Kynan Brown was one of the latest victims of debuting as the sub.
View this post on Instagram.
Port Adelaide's Will Lorenz also weathered the same fate.
Both players, after making their lifelong dreams of playing AFL football, started the game as subs and were subsequently dropped the following week (albeit Brown was a late in for Jake Bowey).
Calls for the AFL to remove the rule have become topical.
Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd wants it gone.
“We make so many changes to our game, yet we still have the sub-rule which nobody likes,” Lloyd said on 3AW.
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury shared the same view.
“I've never liked it. If it's four or five (on the bench), just get rid of it,” Pendlebury said on SEN Breakfast.
“I couldn't imagine playing your first game and being the sub. Like, I think it's ridiculous.
“I'd love to make it five or four on the bench, I don't care, as long as it goes.”
Seems like the eyes have it. Over to you now, AFL.
