Essential Australian Rules Football Practice Drills

Australian Rules Football practice is built around skills players must perform at speed: kicking under pressure, handballing to a teammate on the move, winning the ball at ground level and marking in traffic. Good sessions don’t just repeat these skills in isolation. They add opponents, changing angles and decisions so players learn when and where to use them.

Whether you’re coaching juniors, joining a local club or looking to sharpen your own game, a useful training session can mix simple skill work with small-sided contests and match-like drills. The drills below cover the basics and show how to make each one more challenging as players improve.

Warm-Up and Movement Drills

Start with a warm-up that prepares players to accelerate, change direction, jump and land. A few minutes of jogging, dynamic stretches and controlled movement helps players get ready for football actions. Then add a ball so the warm-up also develops coordination.

Partner Handball on the Move

Pair players a few metres apart. They jog across a marked area while handballing to each other, aiming to hit their partner’s chest or hands. After a few passes, change direction or increase the distance. Encourage players to call for the ball and move into a clear passing lane rather than waiting in a straight line.

For a harder version, add a third player who shadows the pair without tackling. The passer must look up, choose a safe angle and deliver the handball before the defender closes the space.

Kicking and Handballing Drills

Kicking practice should cover more than distance. Players need to hit a target, kick on both sides where possible and adjust to pressure. Handball drills should also build accuracy, timing and the habit of moving after disposing of the ball.

Kick to a Moving Target

Set up groups of three: a kicker, a receiver and a feeder. The receiver runs across the field while the kicker tries to place the ball in front of them, allowing them to keep moving at pace. The feeder returns the ball to the kicker, and players rotate after several attempts.

Begin with a short kick and a wide lead. As players improve, narrow the target area, increase the distance or have the receiver change direction late. This teaches the kicker to judge the lead and weight the pass, not simply kick as hard as possible.

Handball Through Gates

Place pairs of cones around a grid to create narrow gates. Players move through the area and handball to a teammate through a gate, then find a new space. The aim is to keep the ball moving without crowding one cone pair.

Progress by adding a defender who can intercept but cannot make contact. Players must scan before receiving, use their body to protect the ball and choose a handball target with room to run.

Marking and Contested-Ball Drills

Marking practice helps players judge the flight of the ball, time their jump and take the ball cleanly. Start with uncontested catches before adding a partner, because players need to learn safe body positioning and landing habits before they compete in the air.

Lead, Mark and Turn

A player starts near a cone, then leads into open space as a teammate kicks the ball. After marking, they turn and kick or handball to a third player. Rotate roles so everyone practises leading, delivering and finishing the play.

Ask the receiver to show a clear target with their hands and lead at an angle rather than straight toward the kicker. That small adjustment can create separation from a defender and give the kicker a more useful target.

Ground-Ball Pick-Up and Exit

Roll or bounce the ball into a marked area. Two players approach from different angles, with one attempting to gather cleanly while the other applies controlled pressure. The player who wins possession must handball or kick to a teammate outside the area.

Coach players to lower their body, keep their eyes on the ball and protect it with their body where possible. In Australian Rules Football, the ball often spills from a marking contest, so winning the next ground ball can be just as important as taking the mark.

Defensive and Decision-Making Drills

Players also need practice choosing when to tackle, when to shepherd and where to position themselves. These drills should be matched to the players’ age and experience. For younger groups, use shadow pressure or touch rules before introducing full tackling, and follow club guidance on safe contact.

Two-on-One Pressure

Set up one ball carrier against two defenders in a small channel. The carrier tries to move the ball to a target at the far end, while defenders work together to close space and force a rushed disposal. Swap roles after each short turn.

Defenders should communicate and avoid both charging at the ball carrier from the same side. The drill helps them learn to angle the opponent toward the boundary or a less dangerous option, while the attacker practises keeping their head up and finding support.

Keepings-Off with a Disposal Limit

Divide players into two teams in a small grid. One team keeps possession while the other tries to intercept. Give the team in possession a limit, such as two seconds or two disposals, before the ball must move. Award a point for a set number of consecutive passes or for finding a teammate in a marked scoring zone.

This creates a quick test of awareness. Players learn to spread, offer a short option and move again after passing. Change the size of the grid to alter the challenge: a smaller area demands faster decisions, while a larger one creates more room to lead.

Team and Match-Simulation Drills

Skill drills become more useful when they connect to team play. Australian Rules Football has plenty of space, so players must know when to move the ball quickly and when to hold possession. Small-sided games let coaches work on those choices without stopping play after every mistake.

Corridor-to-Wing Transition

Mark a central corridor and a wide wing area. Start with a loose ball in the corridor. The team that wins it must move the ball to a teammate on the wing, then find a forward target. Defenders try to block the corridor or intercept the pass.

Rotate the starting point and switch the direction of attack. This gives players practice spreading away from congestion and using the width of the ground. Coaches can also set a rule that the ball must be handballed out of the contest before a kick is allowed.

Small-Sided Game with a Goal

Play three-on-three or four-on-four in a reduced area, with goals or scoring zones at each end. Set one coaching focus for each round, such as leading patterns, tackling technique or quick ball movement. Keep rounds short, then pause briefly to give one clear point before restarting.

A focused small-sided game usually teaches more than a long drill with no decision-making. Players have to read teammates and opponents, find space, dispose of the ball and react when possession changes.

How to Build a Useful Training Session

A balanced session can move from simple to game-like: warm up with movement and partner skills, practise one or two techniques, add pressure, then finish with a small-sided game. Keep instructions short and give players plenty of turns with the ball. If a drill is too easy, reduce the space or add a defender; if it is too difficult, widen the area or remove pressure.

Use suitable footballs and boots for the surface, provide water breaks and make contact drills appropriate for the group. For juniors in particular, safe technique and confidence should come before full-speed contests.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important Australian Rules Football drills for beginners?

Beginners benefit from partner kicking and handballing, simple marking practice, ground-ball pick-ups and small games with few rules. These build basic control while helping players learn to move into space and support a teammate.

How often should players practise kicking?

Kicking can feature in most training sessions, but quality matters more than simply taking a high number of kicks. Include short, accurate passes and longer kicks, and practise to both sides when players are ready.

How can a coach make a drill harder?

Add a defender, reduce the available space, ask players to use fewer disposals or make the target move. Increase only one challenge at a time so players can understand what they need to improve.

Can Australian Rules Football drills be practised alone?

Yes. A player can practise drop-punts to a target, bouncing the ball while running, and gathering a ball rolled against a wall or fence where safe. Partner and team drills are still needed to work on contests, communication and decision-making.

Final Thoughts

The best Australian Rules Football practice drills connect core skills to real match situations. Start with clean technique, then add movement, pressure and choices. When players learn to kick to a lead, win the ground ball and support the next disposal, their skills are more likely to hold up when the game gets crowded and fast.