A similar number of players self-reported illicit drug use, but those notifications were not included in the figures released on Thursday.
There are now three AFL players on two strikes, with two players failing a test for the second time in 2012.
It represents a huge increase from six failed tests in 2011 and has led to the AFL revamping its policy.
AFL medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt said the drug most commonly detected was cocaine, but methamphetamine and ecstasy were also detected.
AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou said that while the increase was disappointing in one respect, it highlighted the need to remain vigilant and maintain a strong policy.
"It allows us now to ensure our policy, that we remain vigilant, that we continue education programs, that we put these amendments in place so we can improve on those results.
"You may think that a significant increase is devastating, but from our perspective it means we have identified more people [whose behaviour] we can shift."
Although the three strikes policy will be retained, concern about the increasing amount of drug use among AFL players has led to significant amendments.
The proposed amendments, subject to AFLPA and AFL Commission endorsement, are:
- A player will be permitted to self-report illicit drug use only once
during his AFL career
- Clubs, based on their own observations, will be able to request the AFL medical directors to conduct additional target testing of a player or players
- Continue the move to more targeted testing at more targeted times
- Increased level of hair testing during the high-risk off-season
- Players identified by the AFL medical directors as acting or displaying an attitude contrary to the objectives and spirit of the illicit drugs policy will be directed to undergo a more intense education and counselling program and will be named to their club CEO if there is no change in behaviour
- AFL medical directors to regularly provide greater 'de-identified' feedback to clubs on testing results and trends across the competition
- Appropriate training to be provided to club CEOs and player leadership groups in mental health 'first aid' to assist dealing with players coping with mental health issues
-Continue to revise and enhance the regular drug education program delivered to players
The self-reporting option has caused controversy, but medical experts see it as a legitimate tool in a sophisticated testing program to ensure those who need help are able to access it.
Harcourt said that in his experience the mechanism had not been abused.
"An individual who self-reports generates a difficult conversation about where they went wrong and what they did wrong, and one thing which I want to put on the record is that there has been a lot of discussion about the abuse of notification and self-report and I don't see it.
"I've had a couple of instances [where] I thought players were in that situation, but the vast bulk of players make a stupid mistake and then realise they have made a stupid mistake and get on the phone to Harry (Dr Harry Unglick) or myself and have a talk about it and where they can do it better."
Harcourt said results were relatively evenly spread across the League but the policy allowed for the medical officers to consult with clubs if they believed there was an issue in a specific club.
He also said the low number of players on more than one strike showed that the risk taking behaviour was modified once a player failed a test for illicit drugs.
Collingwood chief executive Gary Pert said CEOs would be responsible for requesting target testing, and the AFL confirmed clubs would pay for additional target testing.
"If there were issues within a football club worrying about one particular player or whether you thought you might have a cultural issue, we now have the opportunity … to go to the AFL and say we want to work with the AFL on how we deal with an issue with an individual or a broader club," Pert said.
Collingwood has employed an integrity officer as concerns about compliance and management of life issues continues to increase.
AFLPA CEO Matt Finnis said he was confident the amendments protected the confidentiality of the policy.
He said the focus of the clubs would be on player behaviour and not on whether or not an individual had failed an illicit drug test.
Demetriou emphasised that the AFL's transparency and the willingness of players to engage voluntarily in the policy meant the competition was tackling the issue rather than hiding away from it.
"The issue of illicit drugs is an issue of the community. It is one as parents we all worry about because there is no place for illicit drug use, and as a code one thing I'm really proud of is that we have a policy in place that actually identifies people who have taken illicit drugs," he said.
