Laws of Australian football 1897-1939
| Year | Laws | Changes |
|---|---|---|
| 1897-1898 |  Laws of the Australian game of football (VFL) | Minimum height of goal posts mandated Field umpire required to approve ball Goal to count for six points, behinds to count one point. Both tallied for final score Spectator interference concerning scores removed Ball to be thrown in if goes out of bounds (not bounced) Free kick when a kick-off from behind goes directly out of bounds Introduction of goal square Length of kick for a mark extended to 10 yards Area of protection at free-kick extended to 10 yards Time wasting penalised by a free-kick (not bounce) and reported Unduly interfering with a player kicking for goal to be reported Length of run without bounce extended to 10 yards Free kick to the tackler if a held player fails to immediately drop the ball Fre kick to a player held unduly after dropping the ball when held Illegal footwear may now be replaced during match Forced behind allowed (now results in score) Pushing from behind permitted [amended after round 1 to previous law] |
| 1899-1900 | Laws of the Australian game of football (VFL) | Player numbers limited to 18-per side |
| 1901-1905 | Laws of the Australian game of football (VFL) | Provision for replacing incapacitated umpire |
| 1906-1909 |  Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Dimensions of ball proscribed Half time extended to 15 minutes. Ball touched after the first sound of the bell shall be dead Free kick for ball kicked in from beyond the goal square No player to be within 10 yards of goal square prior to kick-in Clarification of free-kick for handing or throwing the ball to another player Free kick for striking with fist or elbow |
| 1910 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Boundary umpires given power to report. Player allowed to be pushed or shouldered if the ball is within 5 yards (noted in instructions only) Codification of the role of boundary umpires (if appointed) and specific duties including: sole judge of out of bounds; throw in between 5-8 yards and more than 10 yards high towards centre of ground, only five yards long if within 20 yards of behind post; signal with white flag on wrist; repeated out of bounds in same place results in boundary umpire bouncing ball five yards into playing ground. |
| 1911 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Provision for a circle of 5 feet in diameter in the centre of the ground. No players to encroach before the bounce. Removal of provision for players to begin 'in proper position' Field umpire to be sole judge of sound of bell. Clarification that a goal is kicked by an attacking player. Play on to be called if a player deviates from the mark while kicking for goal. Goal umpires given power to report players. Increase in distance of throw in from out of bounds now between 5-15 yards Stipulation that the ball must be thrown in over the boundary umpires head. Notes for field and boundary umpires replaced by Interpretations.
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| 1912-1919 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Umpire to signal to timekeepers that the bell has been heard by blowing whistle and raising arm. Timekeepers to continue ring bell until so acknowledged Provision for organising body to appoint stewards with power to report. Player must drop the ball 'at once' when held by an opponent |
| 1920-1924 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Centre circle diameter increased to 8 feet Change to interpretation of of a tackle from "caught" to "held" required the player to drop the ball Increase in distance of throw in from out of bounds now between 5-15 yards |
| 1925-1927 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Free kick against the last team to put the ball out of bounds Kick striking goal post when bringing ball back into play beyond the goal line results in aanother kick Only one player may stand the mark when a player if shooting for goal, otherwise no limit. Handball defined, hand must be clenched |
| 1928-1929 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Major reorganisation of layout of laws. Many interpretations and instructions for umpires incorporated as laws. Reportable offences bought together for first time Goal line redefined to mean line between goal posts. Behind line defined as line between goal and behind posts. Starting time fixed at 3 pm or such time as controlling body approves. Area of protection for mark or free-kick changed to 10-yard radius semi circle from point of mark. Player going over mark to be ordered back to mark. Failure to do so results in report Clarification that whole of ball must be over boundary line to be out-of-bounds Player kicking into a behind post from beyond the scoring or boundary lines to be given another kick. Tackled player now has option of disposing of the football by foot or hand as well as dropping it immediately. Free-kick awarded to opponent for failure to do so. Player must be firmly held, progress retarded Players allowed to touch the ball on the ground in lieu of bouncing Place kick may be replaced if it falls over prior to kicking A player bouncing the football is judged to be in possession of it Free kick to be awarded against a player interfering with an umpire bouncing the ball Free kicks may be cancelled by calling 'Play on' Free kick to be awarded against a player laying on the ball while held and remaining in possession Following a free kick for out of bounds if a further offence takes place by a player of the penalised side free kick to be taken at the point of further offence. If subsequent offence is by the side taking the freekick for out of bounds the free kick will be reversed. Provision for further free kick to be paid if further offence occurs after initial free kick paid. Kick to be taken at point of most advantage to team receiving kick. If boundary umpires signal is not seen and free kick is awarded out of bounds lapses Umpires not to converse with club officials Instruction that boundary umpires are to return the ball to the field umpire after a goal is scored (introduced VFL 1924) Specific time limits for goal umpires to change decision - before bounce if goal, before kick-off if behind wrongly signalled Time on to be added after goal and behinds Specific instances when 'time on' to be added. Goal umpire unable to decide who kicked ball across line - behind to be registered. More detailed process for reporting of players proscribed Timekeepers duties proscribed |
| 1930-1931 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Law 2 (vi) Standard size of football reduced by one inch lateral circumference and weight specified as 16-17 ounces.(Nov. 1929) Law 3 Size of teams increased to 19. Replacement player allowed. Teams to be named prior to match. (March 1930) Law 15 Player to be given option of another kick after player encroaches mark where the field umpire blows his whistle prior to the ball crossin the line. If option not taken "all clear" to be given. (March 1930) Law 78 (iii) Signal to time keepers that bell has been heard it two arms above head (Nov. 1929) |
| 1932 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Law 5 Quarter time limited to maximum of three minutes |
| 1933 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Law 37 if there is any doubt in the field umpires mind about how the ball went out of bounds results in a throw-in not a bounce. Interpretations added for specific out of bounds situations, Free kick for interfering with an opponent before the boundary umpire throws the ball in. Free kick against a player who does not bring the ball back into play after receiving an out of bounds free kick. Law 43 as a result of other out of bounds rule changes Law 53 as a result of other out of bounds rule changes |
| 1934-1935 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Laws 1 and 18 Definition of handball changed to allow knocking the ball without clenched fist (flick pass) |
| 1936-1938 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Inclusion of diagram showing positions of players Law 2 Witdth of playing space widened to not more than 170 yards. Definition of boundary line included. Law 3 Nineteenth man not to enter ground prior to replaced player leaving field. Contolling bodies authorised to set size of teams. Law 13 Only one player may stand a mark at any time. Law 68 Goal umpires to record scores at time of any count Inclusion of instructions to umpires and players for general play |
| 1939 | Laws of the Australian game of football (ANFC) | Law 2 (vii) Size of football to be 22 3/4 x 29 3/4 inches and shape defined by ANFC |