To retain a Rookie at their first PSD, the maximum number of career games they can play and still qualify as a rookie has increased to 27 games (from 26). This is because the number of regular season games per AFL club has increased in 2023 from 22 to 23.
This change will apply in all years when the number of regular season matches per AFL club is 23.
This is an Administrative Decision (helpfully suggested by Plugger with thanks).
For full details of the Rookie Rule and qualifying criteria in different years see this original post.