After much work behind the scenes, the board have delivered the amended rules for 2016. These consolidate existing rules with banter and suggestions, while always conforming to our ORFFU standard majority rules policy. All forum threads were painstakingly trawled through to obtain a true reflection of aforementioned majority and ensure impartiality with no bias. Some grey areas have also been made black and white so as to ensure everyone has the same expectations and 2016 is a happy, positive and successful one! Note: Updated in December 2017 to remove specific times / dates and to reflect outcomes of polls conducted during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. 1. TEAMS (a) Teams should be named after a remote Australian town/place. For consistency's sake. However the Commissioner and the Board may make exceptions on a case by case basis. (b) Squads of 28 players during competition. (c) Weekly playing sides will consist of 15 players. 4 Defenders, 4 Midfielders, 1 Ruck, 4 Forwards and 2 Interchange. (d) The Interchange players can be of any position. They score full points. (e) 4 Emergencies can be selected. They come in if a selected player does not play. (f) You can play someone in the wrong position (i.e. Cloke in Defence, but they only get half the points). (g) SC points and player positions. (h) If you don’t field a team, in the first instance you get last weeks posted team (if round 1 you will get zero), on the second occasion you will get zero, for the third time you will get zero as well as your first 3 rounds of pre-season draft picks forfeited and serious questions will be asked about your commitment with the possible removal from ORFFU. For mid-season draft rank only where there is a zero score recorded for a team their score for that/those round/s will be bumped up to 1,500 for each zero score so as not to reward a penalty imposed. (i) You must post your team in the Weekly Team Thread half an hour prior to the first bounce, as well as entering via TSleagues. This not only helps with record keeping and ensures integrity of scores; it’s also a good thing to do to encourage forum activity. (j) You can’t field a player that is not selected (i.e. no lights – not selected, injured or red light - suspended) and you cannot leave a blank position on field unless all other players are either not selected, injured or suspended (e.g. must select a player that is available orange or green light be that in position or out of position). This rule will have the effect that the emergency player score will indeed be for an emergency (i.e. player being pulled out after lock out of ORRFU). (k) Probationary rule to address loopholing of players with rolling lockouts (as AFL is currently prolonging the length of each round and not naming all teams on a traditional Thursday night for a Friday-to-Sunday fixture). In essence: if an AFL player is named to play, he must be selected in the ORFFU side as a preference to selecting an AFL player who will not play, and thus not score, with the primary intention of getting an emergency players' score. ORFFU players can be named as the round progresses and AFL team lists are finalised, with each player being locked in once their game begins. All reasonably-expected playing players should be named in the ORFFU side, with emergencies used as such (as per rule 1(j)) and not using a "loophole" to deliberately name as an emergency a player in an early game, and then name a non-playing player in a later game to get the emergency score. Having named AFL players left out of the squad while deliberately selecting AFL players who will miss, in order to receive an emergency players' score is against the spirit of the ORFFU, as it is not open to all coaches equally each week. 2. FIXTURE (a) Teams will play each other once in the regular season. Play will not occur in the 3 bye rounds (11, 12 & 13). (b) Where matches are be held over a 2 weeks period (like rounds 18, 19 from 2014) there will be a rolling lockout open during the held over rounds the exact same as SC. (c) Finals will be held in the final 3 weeks of the season (21, 22 & 23). (d) There will be a rolling lockout open during all split rounds. Each time it will close at the start of a game, the exact same as SC. (e) Any non-split rounds will be locked out at the beginning of the first match of the week. (f) Matches on Thursday will be locked out at the start of the game, but games for the rest of the round will be locked out at the beginning of the game on Friday. (g) Home teams will be required to post a match review no later than 2 days after the last AFL match (i.e. last game on Sunday, review posted on Tuesday). (h) During Finals, match reviews will be completed voluntarily be they a participating coach or not, however the participating coaches get first option. 3. FINALS (a) Final 8, knockout style over 3 weeks (R21-23). (b) As per poll in December 2017, the finals structure becomes a selection process. For week one, the 1st ranked team will select which of the other teams in the top 8 they wish to play. Then the 2nd ranked remaining team will select which team they'd like to play, and so on for the next two games. (c) All winning teams from week one progress to week 2 of the finals (in the event of a tie, the higher ranked team will progress). In week 2 of the finals, the highest ranked remaining team will select which team they wish to play. The other two teams will face off. (d) The grand final will be played between the two winning teams of week two. (b) In the first week the finals structure will be 1 v 8, 2 v 7, 3 v 6, 4 v 5. (c) In the second week of the finals, the four winners from the previous weeks finals will playoff in seeded matches, the winner of 1st v 8th will play the winner of 4th v 5th and the winner of 2nd v 7th will play the winner of 3rd v 6th. (d) The third week of the finals will consist of one match between the winners of the previous week’s matches. This match is known as the ORFFU Grand Final. 4. TRADES (a) Preseason Trade Period opens early November until the end of January of the next year. Trading is then open during preseason draft but closes at midnight on the day the preseason draft concludes. Midseason trade period runs during the three bye rounds (see point h). Scheduling and the opening times of the trade period are subject to modification by the board. (b) You can trade picks and players. Trades can be uneven (e.g. 2 players for 1). (c) You can trade draft picks in the 3 drafts directly ahead (updated due to poll in December 2017). Picks in the most distant draft will become available for trade upon board announcement following the relevant drafting period. (d) Trades can be vetoed if a majority of 5 non-participating teams cast a veto vote. (e) Teams will have roughly 48 hours to veto a trade proposed (e.g. If a trade is proposed at 2.15pm on a Tuesday, ORFFU coaches have until 2.15pm on a Thursday to cast their votes. The Commissioner will then check and then ratify the trade or veto. (f) Trades posted in the final 48 hours will only have until the end of the official trade period to have vetoes cast. (g) All proposed trades should be posted in the relevant thread. Likewise, all vetoes should be posted on that thread. (h) Auctions can be held to trade players, picks or both. Auctions will be run in the “Classical Style” (refer auction rules) unless otherwise stated by the seller at the start of the auction. (i) Mid-Season Trade Period will commence during the first week of the multi-bye rounds (11, 12 & 13)
5. DELISTMENTS (a) Pre-Season Draft delistments must be completed by the time stipulated by the board prior to the relevant draft; ORFFU lists can be no greater than 24 players prior to a PSD, due to the mandatory 4 picks. (b) To delist players, simply post the players delisted on the delisted thread. Posting a player as delisted is final - it can't be undone and they can't be relisted. (c) ORFFU lists may be cut to fewer than 20 players. However, if you cut your list to less than 10 player’s questions will be asked about WTF you're doing with your team in this competition - rightfully so and serious questions will be asked about your commitment with the possible removal from ORFFU. (d) If an ORFFU list exceeds 24 players by the delistment deadline, players will be delisted from that team for them (based on previous season averages from lowest to highest) to take the list down to 24 players and the coach will be in serious risk of losing their place in the ORFFU. (e) To be eligible for the Mid-Season Draft you must delist players prior to the stated delistment date for the relevant draft, as outlined by the board, ORFFU lists can be no greater than 28 players. 6. DRAFT (a) The Pre-Season Draft will commence on a date as outlined by the board. The draft will run in reverse league ladder order after the Grand Final. Ladder order is calculated as: Bottom 10 as at the end of the regular season rankings. The top eight ranks are calculated as 1 GF winner, 2 runners-up, 3-4 highest for points in semi-final loss and 5-8 highest regular season ranking in knock out final loss and adjusted for PSD trading. (b) There will be a 12 hour (maximum) time limit on picks. If you don't pick within time you will be given the highest ranked player on previous season averages. If the time limit isn’t practical, you must notify the ORFFU in advance – i.e. if it is one or two picks before yours but you are flat out at work or have a wedding etc. then post that you may need to extend your 12 hours. Alternatively, nominate a proxy and give them a standby list. (c) All teams must have no more than 24 players prior to the draft, and must take a minimum of 4 picks in the PSD. Teams must continue to draft until their lists are at 28 players. (d) Players can’t be “reserved” (ala the Father-son rule) for drafts. Each coach will pick in the order of their eligible draft picks, and may select any of the available players that they chose. (The option of trading during drafts is designed to allow coaches to bid for players that they wanted but missed out on, unless otherwise specified by the Board or Commissioner e.g. Beta-4 Player Carlie). (e) Mid-Season Draft will happen in the last week of the multi bye rounds (R13). Draft will run in reverse points for order as of the end of R10 and adjusted for traded MSD trading. (f) Mid-Season Draft is not compulsory to participate in. (g) There is no salary cap. SC dollars do not exist in this universe. 7. COMMITTMENT (a) ORFFU requires a way too serious commitment to AFL fantasy football as such there will be times when mandatory comments, opinions, or responses are required within defined time periods associated with requests from the Commissioner or the Board (i.e. responses to trade requests, opinion on rule changes, home game match reviews etc.). (b) During the regular home and away season the home teams will be required to post a match review no later than 2 days after the last AFL match (i.e. last game on Sunday, review posted on Tuesday). (c) Trade requests must be responded to within 1 week of the trade request being sent during any approved trade window. Common sense exceptions are obviously allowed – i.e. you’re on holidays and have previously stated this fact. (d) Delisting players to below 20 on your list will raise serious questions about your commitment with the possible removal from ORFFU. (e) Greater than two weeks of no activity or contact at any point in the year (without prior notice of unavailability) is considered grossly inappropriate, and will result in board discussion regarding your tenability to the position of an ORFFU coach. (f) When the Commissioner or the Board inquire into a coach’s commitment to ORFFU, they are required to respond within 1 week of the request being sent for the first time, all further requests for that inquiry must be responded to within 24 hours. (g) Opinions are sought from all ORFFU members on all issues. This will occur through polls, forum posts, PM’s, and emails. A lack of opinion on a "few" matters is acceptable, a lack of opinion on "most" matters shows a lack of interest in the ORFFU and will bring your membership into question. (h) Where a coach is unavailable during the course of the year, that coach must make every effort to notify the Commissioner or the Board within a minimum of 1 weeks’ notice, they also need to seek assistance / proxy for the matches and or events being missed and post the unavailability period and what action will be taken for that period on discussions thread. (i) Tanking is frowned upon in any competition including ORFFU, if it appears you are not entering your best available players for a match, questions will be asked about your commitment with the possible removal from ORFFU. (j) There will be no more personal attacks in public forums. If you have issues with another coach, they are to be dealt with in private. Joking around, horse-play, and general banter are however accepted and encouraged. (k) Failure to comply with the above commitments may result in the possible removal from ORFFU. (l) Removal from ORFFU is not taken lightly, the Commissioner and the Board will make every effort to resolve any issues with the coach in question and may use a variety of ways to assess the coaches commitment and may take action with or without a majority rule. (m) Participate! This league will only be a success and an enjoyment if all coaches try to make it that way. 8. POSITIONS OF POWER (a) All official positions will be vacated at year’s end 2 weeks after the ORFFU Grand Final is completed. Official positions are: Commissioner and the Board (made up of the Commissioner and 4 other ORFFU coaches). (b) 2 weeks after the ORRFU Grand final is completed nominations will be called for the Commissioner position first, coaches will have 48 hours to nominate in the “Commissioner Nominations” thread. Once closed, a poll will be conducted if there is more than one nomination received; if not the sole nomination is accepted to the position without a poll. Where more than one nomination is received all coaches must vote for a candidate within 48 hours after the poll has been issued. The candidate with the most votes wins the position. Where a poll is tied the exiting Commissioner will cast a tie breaker vote if not nominated, if nominated then existing Commissioner will hold his position as Commissioner. (c) Where there are no nominations the Board at that time will discuss and make a judgement call for that position including reappointing the existing Commissioner even if it’s the fourth consecutive term. (d) Once the Commissioner position is filled coaches will have 48 hours to nominate in the “Board Nominations” thread. Once closed, a poll will be conducted if there are more than four nominations received; if not those nominated will be accepted to the positions without a poll. Where more than four nominations are received all non-nominated coaches must vote for 4 candidates within 48 hours after the poll has been issued. The four candidates with the most votes win the positions. Where a poll is tied the new Commissioner will cast tie breaker votes. (e) Where there is less than 3 nominations the new Commissioner will make a call on the Board numbers for that year. (f) A coach can only hold a position of power consecutively for 3 terms and cannot nominate in the fourth year for that position. (g) The role of the Commissioner is to regulate and control the operations of the Outer Regional Fantasy Football Union known as ORFFU. This encompasses making a final ruling, casting a tie breaker vote, ensuring that all coaches have an opportunity to have a say, discussing matters of issue raised in ORFFU with the Board and to ensure the success and enjoyment of the ORRFU for all that are way too serious for fantasy football. (h) The role of the Board is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the operations of the Outer Regional Fantasy Football Union known as ORFFU. This encompasses discussing matters of issue raised in ORFFU, proposing a variety of recommendations to those issues for a collective and united solution / decision and assist the Commissioner with ensuring the success and enjoyment of the ORRFU for all that are way too serious for fantasy football.
Rules have been updated on 31 December 2017. Updates included: Removing specific dates and times. Mentioning of mandatory 4 picks in PSD's. Increase of list size to 28 players. Ability to trade picks in future three drafts.
Rules updated on 7 August 2018 based on a poll from December 2017 regarding finals. http://tooserious.net/forum/threads/poll-orffu-finals.90042/#olJjSbYDm8GFe44P.97 The update is that teams in finals can select who they'd like to play - changing from the fixed 1v8, etc.
Rule 5B updated on 25 October 2018 due to poll regarding relisting delisted players. Originally stated: To delist players, simply post the players delisted on the delisted thread. Relist is possible prior to the delistment cut-off time, and must involve public grovelling At the time of writing, the poll showed that the majority opposed relisting of players. http://tooserious.net/forum/threads/poll-delistment-rule.90297/#KOQD9WYsOpymiWk5.97 Therefore the rule was amended such that any posted delistment is final and can't be undone.
Added rule 1(k) on 8 March 2022 to address the rolling lockout and the use of the loophole. This rule may be debated in the rules discussion thread http://tooserious.net/forum/threads/rules-discussion-thread.90234/