Interchange numbers are continuing to climb despite the introduction of the substitute rule last year.
The AFL introduced the sub rule as a measure to slow the pace of the game by impacting on rotations and preventing potential injuries. AFL clubs, after a season of adjusting to the new rule, are once again probing the interchange envelope, but it is Adelaide that has made rotation a fine art. The Crows have found a way around the intent to slow the pace of the game by increasing the frequency of their rotations, giving players a shorter but more intense spell on the ground.
Adelaide’s average of 150 rotations in a game is a new high in interchange numbers, allowing players to consistently outnumber the opposition at the contest. The Western Bulldogs are the only team in the competition using the bench less frequently than they did in 2011. The Bulldogs last year averaged 130 rotations per game- presently they are averaging only 120 interchanges.
