The torp

[Mobbs]

I don't really follow AFL tier of aussie rules anymore, but tonight I watched a game and the number of times I thought a torp might have been the go, made me wonder when the last torp in aussie rules has been kicked.

Maybe it was a couple of days ago, but I get the feeling its been a while.

Unlike the place kick, there is actually a point to a torp that can't be usurped by a better alternative. That, of course, is distance coverage.

Yes of course you risk missing the sweet spot and upballsing it, but a successful torp can not only gain a larger punch of ground, but could potentially release a target that the oppo had deemed unobtainable at the time.

Is the torp rooted?

 

[ElectricG]

Am I crazy or do I see attempted torps all the time in AFL?

 

[Quinten Kennedy]

Literally every unrealistic set shot from 70 out after the siren is a torp.

 

[Magpie Since 1986]

I don't really follow AFL tier of aussie rules anymore, but tonight I watched a game and the number of times I thought a torp might have been the go, made me wonder when the last torp in aussie rules has been kicked.

Maybe it was a couple of days ago, but I get the feeling its been a while.

Unlike the place kick, there is actually a point to a torp that can't be usurped by a better alternative. That, of course, is distance coverage.

Yes of course you risk missing the sweet spot and upballsing it, but a successful torp can not only gain a larger punch of ground, but could potentially release a target that the oppo had deemed unobtainable at the time.

Is the torp rooted?

Lachie Schultz kicked an effective torp in open play last week that led to a goal .

 

[Eat Fresh]

OK, controversial it may be being posted by a Lions man, but throwback to Carlton-Brisbane earlier this year for the best example of the torp in 2025…

On the ¼’time siren, Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet

27

Marc Pittonet

Age

29

Ht

202cm

Wt

107kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

7.7

2star

K

2.9

1star

HB

4.8

3star

CL

3.1

5star

HO

22.3

5star

D

8.6

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

4.0

3star

CL

3.7

5star

HO

25.9

5star

D

5.8

2star

K

1.2

1star

HB

4.6

4star

CL

2.4

5star

HO

16.6

5star

wins a free kick at least 55-60 metres from goal, and proceeds to launch the most audacious torp that sails through the goals.

As an opposition supporter, I had to acknowledge and clap that effort.

 

[Tackle Bag]

The Torpedo is alive. The drop kick I would love to see reborn

 

[Cleavy]

The Torpedo is alive. The drop kick I would love to see reborn

AFL is full of drop kicks and bell ends.

 

[Slax]

Literally every unrealistic set shot from 70 out after the siren is a torp.

And because players so rarely practice it they fail.

 

[Andyy]

OK, controversial it may be being posted by a Lions man, but throwback to Carlton-Brisbane earlier this year for the best example of the torp in 2025…

On the ¼’time siren, Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet wins a free kick at least 55-60 metres from goal, and proceeds to launch the most audacious torp that sails through the goals.

As an opposition supporter, I had to acknowledge and clap that effort.

Yeah

I once saw Anthony Rocca kick a 70-80m torp goal against my Tigers.

Just had to clap. Farkkkk

 

[Dazzler9]

Wirrpanda and Dustin Fletcher

Dustin Fletcher

Age

50

Ht

198cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.0

4star

K

12.3

5star

HB

3.7

3star

M

4.7

4star

T

1.2

3star

MG

301.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

14.2

4star

K

11.4

4star

HB

2.8

3star

M

4.8

5star

T

1.4

4star

would occasionally launch them from the kick in. But these days, as discussed above, it's an option of last resort when kicking for goal after the siren.

 

[Pistol Night]

Literally every unrealistic set shot from 70 out after the siren is a torp.

That ends up a shit tumbler that goes 36m

 

[Pistol Night]

The Torpedo is alive. The drop kick I would love to see reborn

Along with the drongo and the flamin galah

 

[JimmyBC]

The Torpedo is alive. The drop kick I would love to see reborn

Maybe they could encourage/pay the players to use drop kicks & also place kicks for set shots in something like the Mickey Mouse pre-season return of State of Origin.

 

[HairyO]

Literally every unrealistic set shot from 70 out after the siren is a torp.

And every full back kick in when down by more than a goal and only 2 or 3 min left in the game.

 

[carlton_99]

 

[joe444]

Did anyone else notice the Collingwood half backs using torps as if under instruction against Adelaide?

I thought it is potentially brilliant and premiership-winning:

1. If well executed, it clears defensive zones
2. It suits a forward set up where mobility and ground skills are a strength.
3. Even if miskicked it creates chaos at ground level (see point 2)

New strategies (even if they're old or very limited) win flags.

Aside from winning the game in front of me, I have two fears left this year:
1/ Brisbane finding some way to adjust to what happened in the QF
2/ Collingwood torping their way to a flag.

That said, Brisbane are not the Brisbane of '23 or '24, and I suspect the torp strategy wouldn't work against Geelong the same way it did against a not-particularly-smart Adelaide team.

 

[Pistol Night]

Did anyone else notice the Collingwood half backs using torps as if under instruction against Adelaide?

I thought it is potentially brilliant and premiership-winning:

1. If well executed, it clears defensive zones
2. It suits a forward set up where mobility and ground skills are a strength.
3. Even if miskicked it creates chaos at ground level (see point 2)

New strategies (even if they're old or very limited) win flags.

Aside from winning the game in front of me, I have two fears left this year:
1/ Brisbane finding some way to adjust to what happened in the QF
2/ Collingwood torping their way to a flag.

That said, Brisbane are not the Brisbane of '23 or '24, and I suspect the torp strategy wouldn't work against Geelong the same way it did against a not-particularly-smart Adelaide team.

Its a good play on a turnover when the oppostion are caught out of position but i doubt we'[ll have a torps only policy this week