Interchange Protocol
In front of the interchange benches is the interchange area (sometimes called the interchange gate), which is a short stretch of the boundary line, roughly centred between the two teams' benches, through which all players must enter and exit the ground when being interchanged. It is marked on the boundary line with two short lines, perpendicular to the boundary, and sometimes with a slanted end. Generally, a player who interchanges without using the gate is not permitted to return for the rest of the game.
Where a players leaves the ground on a stretcher, he is permitted to take the most direct route to the changerooms for medical treatment, and is still permitted to return later in the game; however, where he leaves on a stretcher, the player must wait for 20 minutes of playing time (the length of one regulation quarter) before returning. If a stretcher is brought onto the ground but the player ultimately does not need to use it, he must still wait for 20 minutes before returning.
Due to new AFL concussion rules, effective from 2011 onwards, any player that is concussed must come off and is not allowed to return to the field for the remainder of the game.
A player may be forced to make an interchange by the umpire under the blood rule. If an umpire sees a player bleeding, he will call time-on at the next appropriate time, stopping play until the player has left the field and been replaced.
Where the league has a provision to do so, an interchange steward is provided to monitor interchanges.
Read more about this topic: Interchange (Australian Rules Football)
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