Tips on Defence Work?

[zetz]

Hi all,

I recently decided to start playing footy (I'm 24 with no previous experience) and preseason started about a month ago.

Anyways, at training last night we had a light internal practice match and I got placed in defence. Needless to say I was completely lost in this position and would like some of your input and tips.

Personally, I have the following questons:

• When defending, do you closely check your opponent, stay goal-side or stay infront of the man?
• When your team has the ball in your attacking 50, do you stay back in the defence and keep on your opponent, or push up, technically leaving your opponent?
• When your team is running the ball out of your defensive 50, do you leave your opponent to help in link-up play or stay on him?

Some general defensive tips would be good!

Thanks

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

If I were you I'd worry about the actual defending before the attacking side of it.

I have been playing footy my whole life as a defender so I like to think I'm reasonably experienced. When I'm defending I like to stand just behind on the inside, constantly pushing your opponent towards the boundary. Keep nudging and nudging, make him worried about you more than the ball. If you are not the quickest like myself, try and learn to read the play, cut corners and try not to defend on the lead to much. You have obviously been watching footy for a while so this should come quicker than most first year players. My main rule is DO NOT LET YOUR OPPONENT GET GOAL SIDE.

Attacking will come naturally and pushing up the ground does not really depend on your individual playing style but more the teams game style. As long as you know where your man is and you have a way of getting to him in a quick turnover then you shouldn't be caught out to much.

 

[zetz]

If I were you I'd worry about the actual defending before the attacking side of it.

I have been playing footy my whole life as a defender so I like to think I'm reasonably experienced. When I'm defending I like to stand just behind on the inside, constantly pushing your opponent towards the boundary. Keep nudging and nudging, make him worried about you more than the ball. If you are not the quickest like myself, try and learn to read the play, cut corners and try not to defend on the lead to much. You have obviously been watching footy for a while so this should come quicker than most first year players. My main rule is DO NOT LET YOUR OPPONENT GET GOAL SIDE.

Attacking will come naturally and pushing up the ground does not really depend on your individual playing style but more the teams game style. As long as you know where your man is and you have a way of getting to him in a quick turnover then you shouldn't be caught out to much.

Thanks for the help, I guess I'll have a whole preseason to work on this with the team.

I'm hoping that after getting some (a lot) more games under my belt it should hopefully just come naturally, depending on the game situation a lot. Right now, I'm just way over-thinking things, where I should go, what I should be doing.

In the scratch match, I found that I lost my opponent too much when he was leading out - so I'll take your advice about constantly being in contact with him and nudging him.

 

[Kreuuuzeurns]

Yes, don't confuse yourself to much, it'll all end up becoming simpler. As trainings go on you will find you will get more comfortable with attacking. You do have until April so plenty of time to get some experience with scratch matches and drills etc.

 

[bkozican]

Hi all,

I recently decided to start playing footy (I'm 24 with no previous experience) and preseason started about a month ago.

Anyways, at training last night we had a light internal practice match and I got placed in defence. Needless to say I was completely lost in this position and would like some of your input and tips.

Personally, I have the following questons:

• When defending, do you closely check your opponent, stay goal-side or stay infront of the man?
• When your team has the ball in your attacking 50, do you stay back in the defence and keep on your opponent, or push up, technically leaving your opponent?
• When your team is running the ball out of your defensive 50, do you leave your opponent to help in link-up play or stay on him?

Some general defensive tips would be good!

Thanks

Defending.....Yes. I played 10+ years, notched up 100 games at my local and all in Defence.

If I were you I'd worry about the actual defending before the attacking side of it.

I have been playing footy my whole life as a defender so I like to think I'm reasonably experienced. When I'm defending I like to stand just behind on the inside, constantly pushing your opponent towards the boundary. Keep nudging and nudging, make him worried about you more than the ball. If you are not the quickest like myself, try and learn to read the play, cut corners and try not to defend on the lead to much. You have obviously been watching footy for a while so this should come quicker than most first year players. My main rule is DO NOT LET YOUR OPPONENT GET GOAL SIDE.

Attacking will come naturally and pushing up the ground does not really depend on your individual playing style but more the teams game style. As long as you know where your man is and you have a way of getting to him in a quick turnover then you shouldn't be caught out to much.

Couldn't agree more. The game has changed since I played but I will give this a go.

Always let your opponent know you are there as many times as possible. It could be nudging, pinching, bumping, talking.....It doesnt matter just remind him that you are there....Why? When it comes to marking situations, You want him to be thinking "where is he, I know he is somewhere close" <<< Thats what you want as a defender. Positioning ? I liked to stay behind and as above I wasn't the fastest defender so reading the ball was a major win for me. If my team had the ball on our defensive 50, I loved running into the centre (only if open) and pump the ball into our offensive 50. Forwards dont like defending so running off your man is when the time and space is there.

 

[Fyfetheknife]

Hi all,

I recently decided to start playing footy (I'm 24 with no previous experience) and preseason started about a month ago.

Anyways, at training last night we had a light internal practice match and I got placed in defence. Needless to say I was completely lost in this position and would like some of your input and tips.

Personally, I have the following questons:

• When defending, do you closely check your opponent, stay goal-side or stay infront of the man?
• When your team has the ball in your attacking 50, do you stay back in the defence and keep on your opponent, or push up, technically leaving your opponent?
• When your team is running the ball out of your defensive 50, do you leave your opponent to help in link-up play or stay on him?

Some general defensive tips would be good!

Thanks

Stick with your man and at all times know where he is, if he runs out wide, follow him, if he runs towards goal, follow him. If you're fast, it may help to stay 3-5 meters from him at all times, this will make him appear free so his teammates will kick to him, then make up the ground and spoil (Do not do this if you aren't quick!). If you are in a one on one contest always spoil!Try push up and create opportunities, but always get back if your team loses the ball. Basically stop you opponent getting the ball whenever you can, and if all else fails, try put him off when you're on the mark. And watching his shadow helps too!

 

[eaglesfan99]

Stick with your man and at all times know where he is, if he runs out wide, follow him, if he runs towards goal, follow him. If you're fast, it may help to stay 3-5 meters from him at all times, this will make him appear free so his teammates will kick to him, then make up the ground and spoil (Do not do this if you aren't quick!). If you are in a one on one contest always spoil!Try push up and create opportunities, but always get back if your team loses the ball. Basically stop you opponent getting the ball whenever you can, and if all else fails, try put him off when you're on the mark. And watching his shadow helps too!

Dont listen to him he is a horrible backman.

 

[Fyfetheknife]

Dont listen to him he is a horrible backman.

You conceded 3 goals on the weekend, lucky we kicked 27 or we might of lost.

 

[eaglesfan99]

You conceded 3 goals on the weekend, lucky we kicked 27 or we might of lost.

I was asleep.

 

[Fyfetheknife]

cu

I was asleep.

Cutting your toenails?

 

[eaglesfan99]

cu

Cutting your toenails?

It was mighty boring and was only 1 goal.

 

[SterlingArcher]

Defenders generally need to limit their weaknesses. If you are a jack of all trades as a defender, imo at local league you're more likely to have success than someone who is really good at one aspect but not so good at others. For e.g. the big burly blokes who are 100kg but can't sprint for shit, will eventually get cut up by quicker forwards. Or if you are a ball-watcher and can get 20 kicks attacking off HB but get cut up by your opponent sneaking towards goal.

I am of the opinion that in scratch matches, you and your opponent (who is really your teammate) should both be looking to expose the others weaknesses, to help them improve on that. If you don't read leads well, ask your teammate if he can lead hard for you. If you are susceptible in 1-on-1 contests in a battle of strength, ask your teammate to engage you in some 1-1 duels. Of course they need to practice too and of course there is a team plan at hand, but most of the time if the coach knows you are a bit inexperienced they will generally talk to you and your opponent anyway about what is needed. Maybe if you do 2x20min halves for the scratch match, the first half might be your opponent trying to expose you so that you learn from mistakes you make and gain experience, and the second half might be you trying to expose your opponent so they can learn and improve.

N.B. no coaching experience and have only played a couple of years at senior level, so I'm by no means 'qualified' but I think it makes logical sense and it certainly helped me over the years

edit: seems the two above have tricked me into thinking this was a recent thread

 

[mike123]

If you're quick, when you get the ball try to run and bounce. It is always disheartening for a forward when he sees his opponent 20 ahead of him.

 

[speedybundy]

It's a really broad question. There are lots of things that change where I defend on my man, is there a stoppage up the ground? How far up the ground is the ball? Are they moving the ball freely forward or are we holding them up?

I generally like to stand slightly in front (so diagonal) with an arm on my opponent protecting the goal side. This forces them to lead to the boundary or try and sneak one over the back, where I find 95% of the time I can impact the contest.

The simplest thing I've been told is opponent control, just play on your opponent in the way where you feel you have the most control over your opponent. As for when to run/attack simply if you can definitely impact the ball/play go for it, but always know where your opponent is. If you're not confident you can impact the play either stay on your opponent or try and drag him as far away from the play as possible.

 

[mike123]

Generally I defend from behind goal side so I can see my opponent and the ball at the same time. Most opponents I play on do their damage on the ground and I back my speed on the lead. Playing from behind also allows me to third man up contests as well. When to attack is pretty much whenever my team has the ball and I have energy or when I have the ball. If my team has the ball I try to make myself an option and when I have the ball I try and take a run.

I play more as a winger now occasionally pinch hit up forward and down back so Its been a while since I played a whole game down back.

 

[TN25]

You have to analyse your opponent in the first few minutes. Is he fast, is he good overhead, does he like packs or does he like leading for the ball? If you are faster than him you can play off him and try and spoil or go for the mark late.

I am quite slow and try to stay in front of my opponent. Usually if the ball goes back I push up the ground a bit but not too much. If my opponent goes into his team's backline, I will just play spare. I will get involved in running the ball out of the defensive 50 if I'm spare and if there is someone there to pick up my player

 

[eaglesfan99]

I don't listen to that stray goal side shit, mind you I play full back so usually both sides are equal away from the goals. Anyway I always go on the right side so I can be in contact with them on the left and still spoil with my preferred right.

 

[frotherr_]

I've been playing defence for a while and I've spoken to heaps of coaches and defenders about what they think works.
It all depends on the dynamic of your backline. If you play man on man backline and don't set up a rolling zone/press, then the best tactic is to stay goal side of your player with one arm over them at all times, therefore if they make a break you can feel it and also watch they game at the same time. If the ball is in your attacking half and you don't set up a zone or rolling press, you can still push up but don't push up too far as this leaves a hole in your defence.

If you play a dynamic backline and have a rolling press, you can afford to play slightly further in front of your player and play as a more attacking defensive player rather than man on man. Still stand goal side of your man but push in to play a 'quarterback' sort of roll, to get a quick possession out of the middle before switching play. In this instance, when your team is attacking, your zone presses up the ground and creates a wall, therefore you play an attacking roll whilst staying out of the 50. However, this is also dangerous as the ball can go over the top of the zone, conceding easy goals, but this can be eliminated if the team pushes back hard and mans up. Being a good defender is all about knowing where to go and when. When to push and when to hold and over time these are things you learn.

Some important things when playing as a backman:
. Stay goal side of your player
. Try be slightly in front if slower and behind if a quick runner.
. Use your body- tackling pressure and body on body contact is a must for any good defender.
. Don't be afraid to push up the ground if you have the pace- this will help the midfielders and if played properly will clear congestion in the corridor.

Hopefully this helps

 

[ike2112]

One of the things I recently picked up from a coaching course, was how much the defender's role has changed in the last ten years. There's now multiple facets to play.

For example, whilst most of the time you want to stay 'goalside' so to the inside of your opponent, and be aware of your own speed matched vs opponent, this is key for your matchup 1 on 1.
But these days if the ball is in the opponent's 50, you'd be expected to set up for stopping them breaking out. Where do they want to go? Down the side. So in these situations you're expected to stay outside of your opponent and ready to cut off their exit routes out from the 50. You're then basically cutting off space, not playing tight on a man.

This is the modern game; you don't play man-on-man all day, and you don't just play zone. The key is knowing when to switch between the two.

Likewise whether you are expected to break off your man and give support coming out of your own defensive 50, depends on your team's style. These days there's the tactic of going handball-crazy and running it out creating overlaps. That means everyone running forward, and the coach who implements this needs to accept that a bad handball can be a turnover with a 3-on-1 going the other way as everyone has run off their man. As a defender, this isn't your fault, its just a circumstance of your team's choice of play. If your team is a 'punt it forward' type, then just stay at home because the ball is going to a 50-50 most likely, so could come right back. And then there's the play-switching, which frankly even the AFL clubs struggle to get right a lot of the time as the hard part to appreciate is that its as much about tempo as it is changing direction. If you kick across the field slowly, you're gaining nothing. It has to be sharp and pre-meditated so that the second or third kick are going to someone in space on the opposite wing. That would mean you as a defender have to break quickly into space, but not on your own, as part of the team structure calling for a switch. If your club does this it needs to be implemented by the coach and everyone understand it, if you try it on your own it'll be a disaster. So if you're meant to run off your man and give spread on the other side of the ground, you'd know.

 

[Footystrike]

I think it really depends on many different things. The first thing that I would do is ask your coach on what your role is on the team and ask him for advice. If you are playing against the deep fowards or playing fullback or back pocket then I would probably stay right on your man and your main job is to stop him kicking goals. If you are playing on the half back line I wouldnt worry about your man as much just make sure when the ball is getting to the oppositons foward 50 you are on him but it really matters on who you are playing against and what your coach says. If you were playing on someone really quick you would stick right on him and not let him lead away and try and out muscle him whereas if youre playing on a big full foward you would avoid the wrestle and try and stand back and let him lead as he is not going to run away but if they kick straight to him you have a running jump to spoil his mark. I would just ask your coach what part you play in the teams defence.

 

[Always Ballin]

I was an okay defender. I'll try and keep it simple for what I believe defense is

Finding a balance of being able to defend and attack... Essentially reading the play... To me it's all about being decisive in your decisions. I was always too conservative defending, and I'd wonder how the hell defenders ever get noticed... Essentially the best ones know when to run into space and begin an attack from the backline

On the defense side... Two main concepts, your man defender (Man to man defense), and help defense... The AFL sides and the WAFL/VFL/SANFL/etc sides all play forward presses/essentially zone defenses.. The main goal of them is to overwhelm the defense kicking out, which usually forces them to just kick down the line... Last nights game was a perfect example of that... Richmond were totally overwhelmed... Whereas West Coast made the short kicks, run and hand ball game to break the zone defense lines, switch as fast as possible... But that's another issue.

So if you guys are playing some form of zone, my best suggestion is to be decisive, and take note of where the opponents are positioned... It's all about judgement. If they've kicked long down the line, there's a big pack forming, you can get there and provide more of a contest, but there's a guy sagging off the back, I'd probably go cover him... That's one of the weaknesses of a zone/FWD press... When it gets out the back there's just an ocean of space until the goals.

If it's just man to man, it is pretty simple... My advice is to try and use physicality and touch to keep your opposition man in your senses... I'd always lose guys on leads, because I was a natural forward and didn't like to lean on or touch guys/be physical off the ball... But it's absolutely necessary. I learnt that quickly at the wafl colts level. Just really pushing the limits of what the umps will allow. Same thing they do in the AFL. Also with man to man defense, help defense situations are crucial to being a good defender too.. Knowing when to provide a third man contest to punch the ball over the line... Going at an open man, leaving your man open but hopefully the defense rotates and covers you. If you're a spare man back, playing a bit of a flood style defense... The best thing you can really do is just position yourself infront of the target forwards like a Josh Gibson. Being a spare man in defense is pretty fun, you have way more freedom to impact the game.

As far as attacking, just all about running into space and providing an option, not being afraid to take the game on. That's how you beat a press. Get the ball to the centre squares edges, I like to call these eras the high posts (basketball reference). It's usually the short kick to the middle that the good sides make, and from there, someone with a long kick can get the ball all the way to the 50, or are in better position to make more short passes, switches to the weak side, or go long down the line, closer to the goals. A long kick is an extremely underrated asset. You get a guy like Shannon Hurn kicking 75 meters to the back of a press, the heat is on with charging forwards running into space. Pagan used to do this with Carey... The paddock.

Overall I'd say reading the play and being decisive are the most important things. Go watch an AFL game and see how the defenders react and read the game. It's all about judgement calls, and being decisive with them.

 

[Footystrike]

I was an okay defender. I'll try and keep it simple for what I believe defense is

Finding a balance of being able to defend and attack... Essentially reading the play... To me it's all about being decisive in your decisions. I was always too conservative defending, and I'd wonder how the hell defenders ever get noticed... Essentially the best ones know when to run into space and begin an attack from the backline

On the defense side... Two main concepts, your man defender (Man to man defense), and help defense... The AFL sides and the WAFL/VFL/SANFL/etc sides all play forward presses/essentially zone defenses.. The main goal of them is to overwhelm the defense kicking out, which usually forces them to just kick down the line... Last nights game was a perfect example of that... Richmond were totally overwhelmed... Whereas West Coast made the short kicks, run and hand ball game to break the zone defense lines, switch as fast as possible... But that's another issue.

So if you guys are playing some form of zone, my best suggestion is to be decisive, and take note of where the opponents are positioned... It's all about judgement. If they've kicked long down the line, there's a big pack forming, you can get there and provide more of a contest, but there's a guy sagging off the back, I'd probably go cover him... That's one of the weaknesses of a zone/FWD press... When it gets out the back there's just an ocean of space until the goals.

If it's just man to man, it is pretty simple... My advice is to try and use physicality and touch to keep your opposition man in your senses... I'd always lose guys on leads, because I was a natural forward and didn't like to lean on or touch guys/be physical off the ball... But it's absolutely necessary. I learnt that quickly at the wafl colts level. Just really pushing the limits of what the umps will allow. Same thing they do in the AFL. Also with man to man defense, help defense situations are crucial to being a good defender too.. Knowing when to provide a third man contest to punch the ball over the line... Going at an open man, leaving your man open but hopefully the defense rotates and covers you. If you're a spare man back, playing a bit of a flood style defense... The best thing you can really do is just position yourself infront of the target forwards like a Josh Gibson. Being a spare man in defense is pretty fun, you have way more freedom to impact the game.

As far as attacking, just all about running into space and providing an option, not being afraid to take the game on. That's how you beat a press. Get the ball to the centre squares edges, I like to call these eras the high posts (basketball reference). It's usually the short kick to the middle that the good sides make, and from there, someone with a long kick can get the ball all the way to the 50, or are in better position to make more short passes, switches to the weak side, or go long down the line, closer to the goals. A long kick is an extremely underrated asset. You get a guy like Shannon Hurn kicking 75 meters to the back of a press, the heat is on with charging forwards running into space. Pagan used to do this with Carey... The paddock.

Overall I'd say reading the play and being decisive are the most important things. Go watch an AFL game and see how the defenders react and read the game. It's all about judgement calls, and being decisive with them.

100% spot on

athletes always make quick decisions even they may not always be the right one and sometimes you might make a desicion to attack the ball but then it goes over your head and your man kicks a goal and you look like a goose but then next time you attack the footy and because you made a quick decison youre ahead of your man and you win the ball and you look like a hero.

Just make quick decisons even if may not turn out to be the right one and dont let mistakes weigh you down just learn from them and improve on them.

 

[lions2002]

Just stay on your man at all costs and try to stay in front of him but when your team is attacking push up and try and make an impact. After you have tried sprint as fast as you can back to your man. Sprint as fast as you can cause at any time there could be a turnover and if you are not back on your man he will mark and run off and leave you in the dust and you will cop a spray from your coach. So be careful when doing that. But the main thing is to stay on your man when the other team is attacking at all costs