On the weekend, spectators from many regional areas in the country attended exciting AFL pre season matches. After many months of watching cricket and tennis, AFL fans no longer have to endure missing out on seeing their team on the sports field.

The NAB Challenge for many teams in the Australian Football competition, is used to try out new game plans and to test the skills of new players. Some coaches take the NAB challenge very seriously and put their best players on to the field even though the competition will not be counted towards the AFL 2016 Premiership.

The preseason competition for others is about allowing new untested players to show how good they are. Because of that, some experienced players sit out the NAB Challenge and will only take to the field when the main season starts on March 24, 2016 when Richmond will take on Carlton at the MCG. During the off season, some AFL fans had to play online games through the internet and hope to earn some rewards and have fun playing electronic sports.

This weekend saw Round 2 of the NAB Challenge with teams competing on country footy grounds to give sports fans a chance to see live AFL for the first and only time in the year. Playing in remote locations helps the AFL to recruit new players as young sports enthusiasts flock to the matches to learn some new skills and on field tactics from the best footballers in Australia. Games were played on each day of the weekend with the winners moving to the finals which will take place in the middle of March.

Sports fans enjoyed the matches and on Saturday the first female AFL umpire officiated in the NAB Challenge match between Carlton and Essendon. Eleni Glouftsis was praised for the way she correctly awarded the free kicks that were there and for taking charge of the first bounce to get the game started. Nerves always have an effect on umpires at sports matches but Eleni was highly praised for being the first female umpire in the top levels of AFL in Australia.

As well as trying out new on field officials, the AFL tried out some new rules on the weekend. Players are now required to take steps to keep a ball in play rather than allow a ball that they can get to, to bounce across the boundary line to gain some competitive advantage like allowing slow players to catch up to where the ball is being played. The new rule was praised by media commentators as it keeps the game moving and reduces the number of stoppages.