What is a Notice of Breach and what is an Early Guilty Plea?
Rule- Australia
- AFL
- Community football
- Vilification policy
- Peek Rule
- Policy Handbook 2026
- All ages
- 2026
- Club committees
A Notice of Breach is the formal document a controlling body issues to the charged person and their club. It must set out the conduct, the sections of the Handbook breached and the prescribed sanction (for example a fine, reprimand or suspension), unless the matter is referred straight to the Tribunal.
A person given a Notice of Breach may, within 48 hours of receiving it (or another time the controlling body sets), either:
- enter an Early Guilty Plea and accept the prescribed Early Guilty Plea penalty; or
- contest the Notice, in which case the matter goes to the Tribunal and no reduction is available.
If they do not respond, the controlling body may refer the matter to the Tribunal or apply the Early Guilty Plea penalty. An Early Guilty Plea is not available if the Notice was referred directly to the Tribunal without a sanction.
Source: Handbook (February 2026), Sections 23.4 and 23.5.
Added 24 Oct 2026