What happens when a player is taken off on a stretcher?

Play is stopped and the player is taken off by the shortest route to their team's rooms, unless a doctor says that is unsafe. The team may replace the player with someone from its listed 23, who enters through the interchange area.

The player cannot return for 20 minutes (not counting quarter breaks). After that they may be interchanged back on if they are fit to play. Play then restarts according to what was happening when it stopped (for example a throw-up if the ball was in dispute, or the free kick is taken if one had been paid).

A stretcher replacement does not count towards the interchange cap.

Source: Laws of Australian Football 2026, Law 7.3; AFL Regulations (11 February 2026), Regulation 12.8(c).