Defensive and Infield Switches

Focus

Front & Square, Forward line delivery, Gameplan/Strategy.

Skills

Kicking, Handballing.

Purpose

In the instance where opposition players have dropped a kick behind play, it's best to avoid kicking to this contest and instead switching sideways, creating space for players to lead into. This drill practices two switches - a long, wide switch in defense to create space, and a central switch to open up a forward's leading area.

Players

20⁺

Ages

15⁺

Balls

3⁺

Cones

Distance (max)

160m

Step 1
(A) switches by playing-on across the goalface and kicking to (B) who is stationary on the cone
Step 2
(B) marks and takes-off running hard before steadying and kicking to leading (C)
Step 3
After marking, (C) backpedals and looks to kick further afield to forward (E), but sees coach (L) standing in the hole and obstructing the lead. Instead, (C) switches centrally with a low-trajectory kick to stationary (D)

Important this kick is accurate and doesn't 'hang' - a turnover from a spoil could be critical
Step 4
(D) marks, steals a few yards, steadies and kicks to (E) who has lead from full-forward to the open-side
Step 5
(E) marks, backpedals then plays-on sideways before feeding a long handball to (F)
Step 6
(F) looks ahead to see coach (L) in the way, but hearing (G) call from the opposite pocket, switches with a long kick that (G) can to run onto without breaking stride
Step 7
(G) gathers, runs and kicks to wide-leading (H), who marks and gives a quick handball to (J) running past having made front and square position
Step 8
(J) runs, bounces, steadies then kicks long to stationary (A), who backpedals after taking a defensive mark