How Can You Improve at Australian Rules Football?

Plenty of players can kick a ball a long way in an empty oval. The difference in a match is doing it under pressure: choosing the right option, executing the skill while moving, then working hard enough to get involved again. Improving at Australian Rules Football means building those pieces together—not just spending more time kicking at goal.

Whether you’re new to the game or trying to become more consistent, focus on a few fundamentals, practise them at match pace and ask for feedback. Small, repeatable improvements can make you a much more useful teammate.

Build reliable basic skills

Kicking

Good kicking starts before your foot meets the ball. Hold the ball over the kicking leg, point its nose slightly down, and guide it onto the foot rather than dropping it from a height. Aim to contact the lower half of the ball with a firm, straight ankle. Your eyes should stay on the ball through contact, and your follow-through should point towards the target.

Practise short kicks first, then add distance without sacrificing control. Work on both feet: being able to kick on your non-preferred side gives you more options when an opponent closes your stronger side. A useful drill is to pair up, move five to ten metres between passes, and gradually increase the distance while keeping the ball at chest height for your partner to mark.

In a game, the longest kick is rarely automatically the best one. Look for a teammate in space, consider the wind and pressure, and choose a kick you can execute. A safe short pass that keeps possession may be more valuable than a hopeful bomb into a crowded contest.

Handballing

A legal handball is made by holding the ball in one hand and punching it with the clenched fist of the other. Practise striking through the middle of the ball with a firm wrist and a compact action. The non-punching hand should present the ball steadily; tossing it up to yourself before punching is not a legal handball.

Accuracy matters more than power. Set up two players a few metres apart and handball while walking, jogging and changing direction. Then add a third player as a defender who applies light pressure. That extra decision-making helps you learn to handball to the advantage side of a teammate rather than simply sending the ball back where it came from.

Marking and ground balls

When marking, get into position early and watch the ball all the way in. Reach for it with strong hands, keep your eyes open at contact and secure it against your chest. Practise overhead marks, chest marks and marks while moving—not only stationary catches. If you’re contesting the ball, focus on reading its flight and timing your jump rather than leaving the ground too early.

Ground balls require a different habit: lower your centre of gravity, approach with short steps and get your body between the ball and an opponent when you can. Practise picking up a rolling ball on both sides of your body, then taking one or two steps before disposing of it. In a match, the ball rarely stops neatly at your feet.

Train for the demands of a match

Australian Rules Football involves repeated bursts of running, changes of direction and periods of lower-intensity movement. A long, steady run can help your general fitness, but it doesn’t prepare you for every passage of play. Include interval work, short accelerations, and direction changes in your training, building up gradually rather than trying to sprint at full pace from day one.

Strength and balance help you hold position, stay composed through contact and reduce the chance of injury. Body-weight exercises such as squats, lunges, push-ups and calf raises can be a sensible starting point. If you’re a junior, new to strength training, or returning from injury, ask a coach or qualified professional to guide your technique and workload. Warm up before hard sessions, and allow time for rest and recovery.

Skills should also be practised when you’re tired—but only after you can perform them safely and correctly. For example, finish a controlled running drill with a short series of kicks to moving targets. If your technique falls apart, reduce the intensity or take a break. Fatigue is part of footy; practising sloppy habits is not the goal.

Make better decisions on the field

Skill gets the ball moving; awareness helps you decide where it should go. Before you receive a handball or mark, scan your surroundings. Notice where the pressure is coming from, where your teammates are running and whether there’s space ahead. A quick look before possession can save you from having to improvise after an opponent is already tackling you.

Learn your role and your team’s basic structures. A defender may need to protect dangerous space and communicate about opponents, while a forward has to lead into space and create options for the ball carrier. Midfielders often need to spread from the contest, then work back when possession changes. The details depend on your team’s plan, so ask your coach what they expect from your position.

Watch games actively rather than following only the ball. Notice how players create space, support a teammate after a handball, and react when their side loses possession. At training, listen for instructions and call clearly to teammates. Useful communication is brief and specific: tell a teammate they have time, warn them about pressure, or point out an option.

Use purposeful practice

You’ll get more from a session if you decide what you’re working on before it starts. Rather than taking 50 random shots, set a target: for example, complete a set of passes to a moving teammate using both feet, or practise collecting ground balls and disposing of them under light pressure. Keep track of what felt reliable and what needs more work.

• Practise at game speed: Add movement and a decision once your basic technique is sound.
• Use both sides: Give your non-preferred foot and handball plenty of attention.
• Ask for specific feedback: “Was my drop consistent?” is easier to act on than “How was that?”
• Review your role: After a match, identify one thing you did well and one action to improve next week.
• Stay consistent: Short, regular sessions are often easier to maintain than occasional exhausting workouts.

Train and play in suitable footwear, follow your competition’s requirements for protective equipment, and take concussion symptoms seriously. Never try to play through a suspected concussion; tell a coach or responsible adult and follow medical guidance before returning.

Related Articles

• How Can You Improve Accuracy in Australian Rules Football?
• How to Improve Your Australian Rules Football Technique?
• How to Get Better at Australian Rules Football?

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I practise Australian Rules Football?

Start with a schedule you can recover from and maintain. A team training session, a match and one or two short individual skill sessions may be enough for many players. Adjust for your age, experience, workload and any advice from your coach.

What should a beginner learn first?

Start with a safe kicking action, legal handball technique, basic marking and ground-ball collection. Add movement and decision-making as those skills become more consistent. Learning the rules and your position’s responsibilities will also help you contribute sooner.

How can I improve my weaker foot?

Practise short, controlled kicks with your weaker foot several times a week. Focus on a repeatable ball drop and clean contact before increasing distance. Use a moving target once your accuracy improves, and avoid rushing through repetitions with poor technique.

Does getting fitter automatically make me a better player?

Fitness helps you stay involved, but it doesn’t replace skill, awareness or good decisions. Combine conditioning with ball work and position-specific practice so you can use your fitness effectively during a match.

Final Thoughts

To improve at Australian Rules Football, make your skills dependable, train for repeated efforts and learn to read the game around you. Practise with purpose, work on both sides of your body and seek clear feedback from coaches and teammates. You don’t need to master everything at once: choose one or two priorities, build them into your routine and carry them into the next match.