AFL Tackling Techniques: Mastering the Art of the Tackle

Whether you're a grassroots player looking to cement your spot in the local side, a coach drilling fundamentals at training, or a parent helping your junior understand the game's physical side, mastering the tackle is non-negotiable in Australian Rules football. A well-executed tackle can swing momentum, force a turnover, and demoralise an opponent—all while keeping you on the right side of the umpire.

In this guide, we'll break down the essential AFL tackling techniques into a practical, step-by-step system. By the end, you'll have a clear checklist to take to the training track, whether you're at the MCG on game day or the local oval on a Tuesday night.

Prerequisites / What You Need

Before you start practising tackles, set yourself up for success—and safety.

Equipment:

• Footy boots with proper grip (moulded soles for dry tracks, screw-ins for wet)
• Mouthguard (non-negotiable for contact drills)
• Training cones to mark out drill zones
• A willing partner (or a tackle bag if training solo)
• Water bottle—tackling is high-intensity work

• Warm up thoroughly—5 minutes of jogging, dynamic stretches (leg swings, hip openers), and light ball work
• Check your conditioning—tackling demands leg drive, core stability, and shoulder strength. If you're returning from injury, consult a qualified physiotherapist or strength coach before resuming contact drills
• Know the rules—the AFL has strict guidelines on high contact, sling tackles, and driving a player into the ground. Stay within the laws to avoid suspensions

• Commit fully—a half-hearted tackle is dangerous for both players
• Stay calm—panic leads to poor technique and injury
• Focus on the hips, not the ball—the best AFL tacklers read body movement, not the footy

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Set Your Approach and Stance

The tackle starts before you make contact. Your approach determines whether you stick the tackle or get brushed aside.

Get low: Bend at the knees and hips, keeping your back straight. Your centre of gravity should be below your opponent's. A tall tackler is easy to fend off; a low, balanced tackler is a wall.

Feet shoulder-width apart: This gives you a stable base. Weight on the balls of your feet, ready to move in any direction.

Eyes on the hips: Watch your opponent's hip movement, not the ball or their eyes. The hips tell you where they're going to go. If they shift left, you shift left.

Arms out and ready: Keep your elbows slightly bent, hands up around chest height. This puts you in position to wrap and squeeze.

Common mistake: Standing upright or reaching with your hands first. This leaves you off-balance and vulnerable to a fend-off.

Step 2: Close the Distance with Controlled Aggression

Once you've identified your target, you need to close the gap. This is where many tackles break down—either too slow or too wild.

Use short, explosive steps: Don't take long strides. Short, choppy steps allow you to adjust your angle as your opponent changes direction. Think of it like a boxer moving in—controlled, not reckless.

Keep your feet active: Don't plant your feet early. Stay on the move until you're within arm's reach.

Angle your approach: If possible, approach from the side or slightly behind. A front-on tackle is harder to execute cleanly and more likely to result in a free kick for high contact. The best AFL tacklers approach at a 45-degree angle to cut off the opponent's escape route.

Commit fully: As you close, commit your body weight forward. Hesitation is your enemy. Drive through the tackle, not just into it.

Step 3: Execute the Tackle—Wrap, Drive, and Squeeze

This is the moment of truth. The three components happen almost simultaneously, but breaking them down helps you drill each element.

Wrap your arms: As you make contact, wrap both arms around your opponent's torso, just below the arms. Your hands should meet or clasp behind their back. Do not grab the jumper—it's poor technique and often penalised.

Key detail: Keep your head to the side of your opponent's body. Never put your head in front of their chest or hip. This protects you from head clashes and ensures you're in a safe, legal position.

Drive with your legs: This is where most grassroots players fall short. A tackle isn't just about your arms—it's about leg drive. Once you've wrapped, drive your legs as if you're pushing a sled. Your power comes from your glutes, quads, and calves, not your shoulders.

Squeeze and control: As you drive, squeeze your arms tight to pin your opponent's arms. This prevents them from disposing of the ball. The squeeze should be firm but controlled—you're aiming to hold, not to injure.

Finish the tackle: Take your opponent to ground safely. If you're driving them backwards, lower your centre of gravity as you drive them down. If you're tackling sideways, roll your hips to bring them to ground. Never lift and dump—that's a sling tackle and will cost you a free kick or worse.

Step 4: Follow Through and Get Back to Your Feet

The tackle isn't over when the whistle blows. What you do next can win you the ball or put you out of position.

Land safely: As you go to ground, try to land on top or to the side of your opponent. Keep your arms wrapped until the umpire calls "held" or the ball spills free.

Get up quickly: The moment your opponent is down, release the tackle and spring back to your feet. The best AFL players are up in under a second, ready to pounce on the loose ball or set up for the next contest.

Scan for the ball: As you rise, locate the footy. If it's spilled, get on it. If it's locked in, be ready to apply pressure if the ball is called back in.

Reset your stance: Get back into your defensive position. A great tackle means nothing if you're caught out of position for the follow-up.

Step 5: Practice the Different Tackle Types

Not every situation calls for the same tackle. Here are the three most common variations you'll use in a game:

The front-on tackle: Used when you meet an opponent head-on. Get low, wrap around the torso (never the neck), and drive them backwards. Keep your head to the side.

The side-on tackle: The most common in open play. Approach from the side, wrap one arm around the waist and the other around the chest, then drive your opponent sideways to ground.

The chase-down tackle: Used when pursuing from behind. As you catch up, dip your shoulder and wrap your arms around your opponent's waist. Drive through them to bring them down from behind. Be careful not to push them in the back—aim for the hips or waist.

Pro tip: In wet conditions or on a dewy morning at the local ground, focus on the waist-level tackle. Slippery conditions make high tackles more likely, and a low, clean wrap is your safest option.

Pro Tips / Common Mistakes

Pro Tips from the Training Track

• Drill with a partner: Set up a 10-metre square. One player runs with the ball, the other shadows and tackles on the coach's whistle. Repeat until the technique becomes automatic.
• Use tackle bags for reps: If you're a coach, have your players hit tackle bags in a circuit—front-on, side-on, and chase-down. Five reps per station, three circuits. This builds muscle memory without the risk of live contact every time.
• Film your training: Watch AFL players known for their pressure work. Then film yourself. Compare your hip level, arm wrap, and leg drive. Small adjustments make a huge difference.
• Strengthen your posterior chain: Deadlifts, glute bridges, and hamstring curls build the leg drive you need to finish tackles. Add these to your gym program, but always work with a qualified strength coach to ensure proper form.
• Communicate: In a team drill, call out your intention. "Mine!" or "On your left!" lets teammates know to hold their position or get ready for the spill.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Diving at the legs: This is dangerous and often results in a free kick for low contact. Stay on your feet and wrap the torso.
• Grabbing the jumper: It looks desperate and rarely works. A jumper grab gives you no control over the opponent's body. Wrap the torso.
• Leaving your feet early: Jumping into a tackle leaves you off-balance and increases the risk of head clashes. Keep your feet on the ground until you make contact.
• Not driving your legs: If you wrap but don't drive, your opponent will shrug you off. Leg drive is the difference between a tackle that sticks and one that slides.
• Head in front: This is the most dangerous mistake in footy. Always keep your head to the side. If you're coaching juniors, drill this relentlessly.

Checklist Summary

Use this checklist at training or before a game to lock in your technique:

• Approach stance: Low centre of gravity, feet shoulder-width apart, eyes on the hips
• Close the distance: Short explosive steps, 45-degree angle, commit fully
• Wrap: Both arms around the torso, hands clasped behind the back, head to the side
• Drive: Leg drive through the tackle, squeeze arms tight to pin the ball
• Finish: Take opponent to ground safely—no sling, no lift
• Follow through: Release, spring to feet, scan for the ball, reset position
• Practice variations: Front-on, side-on, chase-down—drill each type separately
• Review footage: Compare your technique to elite AFL players
• Condition your body: Posterior chain strength, core stability, shoulder durability
• Stay within the rules: No high contact, no sling tackles, no driving into the ground

Mastering the tackle is a journey, not a destination. The best AFL players never stop refining their technique. Take this checklist to your next training session, drill each step, and watch your confidence in the contest grow.

For more on developing your all-round game, check out our guides on tactics and training—the principles of balance, timing, and commitment transfer across sports. And if you're looking to sharpen your reactions, work on hand-eye coordination drills to help you read the play faster and react in the tackle.

Now get out there, get low, and make it stick.