As we know, there are always opportunities to adapt the best features or tactics of other games into Aussie Rules.
This season, I've seen an opportunity to adapt an old Rugby / Grid-Iron tactic into our game. I'm not sure what its specifically called in either of these two codes.
Traditionally, Aussie Rules has revered the very long low kick to an open forward, either leading or in a one-on-one contest.
Unfortunately, through flooding, the forward is often beaten in a two-on-one contest because defenders drop back and the ball arrives before crumbers can get to the contest.
What is instead of a long low pass, a team uses a shorter, but still fairly long, high pass, like the Grid-iron punt kick.
The forward can still contest with the intension of bringing the ball to ground, but it also allows time for the attacking team's flankers and midfielders to get the fall of the contest, with momentum (both teams) heading towards the attacking team's goal.
If the attacking team gets possession, they have a local superiority in numbers.
If the defending team gets possession, they are under pressure trying to turn away fronm the goals that they are defending.
Of course, many of you have seen this tactic, of chip punts with players running onto the ball, used in NRL regularly.
And the Punt Return is a standard tactic in Grid Iron. Of course, you'd kick it to a contest and not an opposition player on his own.
Must say, watching Geelong a few times, I've seen Chappie use this type of kick, whether intentionally or not, to good effect.
Who knows, maybe certain clubs are already employing this tactic already and I'm a bit slow on the uptake.
There has been a return to kicking to contests this season.
Food for thought anyway.
This season, I've seen an opportunity to adapt an old Rugby / Grid-Iron tactic into our game. I'm not sure what its specifically called in either of these two codes.
Traditionally, Aussie Rules has revered the very long low kick to an open forward, either leading or in a one-on-one contest.
Unfortunately, through flooding, the forward is often beaten in a two-on-one contest because defenders drop back and the ball arrives before crumbers can get to the contest.
What is instead of a long low pass, a team uses a shorter, but still fairly long, high pass, like the Grid-iron punt kick.
The forward can still contest with the intension of bringing the ball to ground, but it also allows time for the attacking team's flankers and midfielders to get the fall of the contest, with momentum (both teams) heading towards the attacking team's goal.
If the attacking team gets possession, they have a local superiority in numbers.
If the defending team gets possession, they are under pressure trying to turn away fronm the goals that they are defending.
Of course, many of you have seen this tactic, of chip punts with players running onto the ball, used in NRL regularly.
And the Punt Return is a standard tactic in Grid Iron. Of course, you'd kick it to a contest and not an opposition player on his own.
Must say, watching Geelong a few times, I've seen Chappie use this type of kick, whether intentionally or not, to good effect.
Who knows, maybe certain clubs are already employing this tactic already and I'm a bit slow on the uptake.
There has been a return to kicking to contests this season.
Food for thought anyway.
