Training 2023 Preseason + training discussion

Remove this Banner Ad

Log in to remove this ad.

For tackling, has the team ever had rugby guys in? Footwork is the real trick; I was always an enthusiastic tackler, but after playing rugby and learning proper tackling footwork, I barely missed a tackle in aussie rules (despite being a great combination of slow, small and weak). The aussie rules body work was real handy in rugby too :)
 
He also has to get past Young. No way we could have both half back spots.
The reality is that most of these guys have time on their side.
Cats triple flags were filled with AA players.
They grew together, and if we can keep our list intact you can see a similar
trajectory for us.
Our first flag will be totally built on drafting, trades. No exemptions from the
AFL, no father sons, free agency or clever accounting.
Let’s hope that more working clubs, use our master plan to better a flawed
system.
 
For tackling, has the team ever had rugby guys in? Footwork is the real trick; I was always an enthusiastic tackler, but after playing rugby and learning proper tackling footwork, I barely missed a tackle in aussie rules (despite being a great combination of slow, small and weak). The aussie rules body work was real handy in rugby too :)
Yes, I'm pretty sure they have had the rugby coaches/players provide sessions (even I'm thinking, at one time across a fair number of sessions, if not a whole season or at least preseason). Something is in my mind that Harvey had them in. Pretty sure Lyon did too.

Found coming back to footy after many years in rugby the standard of tackling in Aussie rules pretty flimsy.
 
Yes, I'm pretty sure they have had the rugby coaches/players provide sessions (even I'm thinking, at one time across a fair number of sessions, if not a whole season or at least preseason). Something is in my mind that Harvey had them in. Pretty sure Lyon did too.

Found coming back to footy after many years in rugby the standard of tackling in Aussie rules pretty flimsy.
Our tackling will improve as the list matures too.

Just a clarification for me, equating tackling between AFL and rugby is not reasonable. Yes both codes tackle so there are some skills in common. But the nature of the tackling has significant differences and the rules and penalties quite different.

As an example we have seen the emergence of tackles which pin one arm/hand to try and force an incorrect disposal decision rather than simply stopping a player. That's going to impact tackling technique.
 
I say this as someone who’s never played rugby and who only watches the occasional State of Origin match or Wallabies game.

Isn’t the tackling technique between the rugby codes and footy quite different?

Rugby tackles seem mostly front on and start below the waist, often ending up at the ankle.

Footy seems to be more evasive, with the ball carrier able to move himself or the ball in any direction - requiring a different type of tackling technique.

I’m sure there are some overlaps to make specialist training sessions from rugby coaches worthwhile. It’s all about marginal gains at this level.

Keen to hear from the rugby watchers / players!
 
Last edited:
I say this as someone who’s never played rugby and who only watches the occasional State of Origin match or Wallabies game.

Isn’t the tackling technique between the rugby codes and footy quite different?

Rugby tackles seem mostly front on and start below the waist, often ending up at the ankle.

Footy seems to be more evasive, with the ball carrier able to move himself or the ball in any direction - requiring a different type of tackling technique.

I’m sure there are some overlaps. It’s all about marginal gains at this level.

Keen to hear from the rugby watchers / players!

Union probably a much better comparison than league. Tackle the hips. Less intent on trapping an arm and more intent on punishing the ball carrier but definitely lessons to be taken imo.
 
The biggest difference between AFL tacking and Rugby tackling is the inherent contradiction AFL introduces that makes tackling much more difficult to achieve. Players have been coached for a long time now to stop the ball during a tackle and not let the tackled player get the ball away. Create the stoppage and reset or maybe win a free if you can pin him with the ball. That means going in higher and trying to manage 2 different objectives - man and ball - which means 2 different things can fake you out.

In the vast majority of tackling in Rugby the objective is to take the man down so he is now out of the play and you are then meant let the defender next to you take the next guy out, the ball is rarely the concern. Team defence in Rugby (both versions) is about stopping the ball by bringing down the man. Its an easier job because of that and then also the fact you know where the guy to trying to go. Without ball concerns they go low, head down, at the waist and drive back. Huge difference. In AFL that ball carrier would've got rid of the ball just before contact and the most likely outcome from that type of tackling is a down the ground free kick.

The more equitable comparison is when a defending winger or a fullback in rugby is in the open and without support, the % of effective tackles in that situation would be very similar to open field AFL tackles. In fact I know it is (or was) because the AFL academy guys at the AIS studies it and came to the same conclusion. That study was about 2012 I think. That's why you hear commentators go bananas in Rugby codes when there is an effective "ball and all" tackle in the open field, or even in close tight. In those codes introducing the ball as an objective increases the chances of your man beating you and your team then being outnumbered behind you. Its a whole different objective. Hence you don't see as many rugby guys at AFL teams for extended periods any more.

I'm sure they still code swap and train together and get tips here and there from each other to keep things fresh etc but the "rugby guys are tackling experts and AFL guys suck at it" myth has largely been put to rest.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Our tackling will improve as the list matures too.

Just a clarification for me, equating tackling between AFL and rugby is not reasonable. Yes both codes tackle so there are some skills in common. But the nature of the tackling has significant differences and the rules and penalties quite different.

As an example we have seen the emergence of tackles which pin one arm/hand to try and force an incorrect disposal decision rather than simply stopping a player. That's going to impact tackling technique.
I've direct personal experience/immersion with both so I'm pretty familiar with the differences and how transferable the varying skills and techniques might be.

Getting the fundamentals right, the willingness and intent it becomes pretty transferable. Humans are pretty adaptable, elite sports people potentially even more so (athletically), so the shift isn't so hard. But in rugby, tackling's such a key element of the game, it's just a standard or three above, from the poorest tackler to the elite vs the same in AFL.
 
I'm sure they still code swap and train together and get tips here and there from each other to keep things fresh etc but the "rugby guys are tackling experts and AFL guys suck at it" myth has largely been put to rest.
'tis no myth. Tackling isn't as important in AFL, that's true and in fact there are game styles that can negate the need to rely significantly on tackling at all. But the AFL standard of tackling (even allowing the differing technical requirements) is woeful compared to that of Rugby and league.
 
The biggest difference between AFL tacking and Rugby tackling is the inherent contradiction AFL introduces that makes tackling much more difficult to achieve. Players have been coached for a long time now to stop the ball during a tackle and not let the tackled player get the ball away. Create the stoppage and reset or maybe win a free if you can pin him with the ball. That means going in higher and trying to manage 2 different objectives - man and ball - which means 2 different things can fake you out.

In the vast majority of tackling in Rugby the objective is to take the man down so he is now out of the play and you are then meant let the defender next to you take the next guy out, the ball is rarely the concern. Team defence in Rugby (both versions) is about stopping the ball by bringing down the man. Its an easier job because of that and then also the fact you know where the guy to trying to go. Without ball concerns they go low, head down, at the waist and drive back. Huge difference. In AFL that ball carrier would've got rid of the ball just before contact and the most likely outcome from that type of tackling is a down the ground free kick.

The more equitable comparison is when a defending winger or a fullback in rugby is in the open and without support, the % of effective tackles in that situation would be very similar to open field AFL tackles. In fact I know it is (or was) because the AFL academy guys at the AIS studies it and came to the same conclusion. That study was about 2012 I think. That's why you hear commentators go bananas in Rugby codes when there is an effective "ball and all" tackle in the open field, or even in close tight. In those codes introducing the ball as an objective increases the chances of your man beating you and your team then being outnumbered behind you. Its a whole different objective. Hence you don't see as many rugby guys at AFL teams for extended periods any more.

I'm sure they still code swap and train together and get tips here and there from each other to keep things fresh etc but the "rugby guys are tackling experts and AFL guys suck at it" myth has largely been put to rest.

You haven’t been watching much league lately aye

You want to hold the man up nowadays as the 2nd man in attacks the ball or the 2 of you throw him on his back for a dominant
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Training 2023 Preseason + training discussion

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top