AFL Rules |15.2.2|Remaining in Possession and Bouncing the Football|
|(a)|A Player may remain in possession of the football for any length of time:|
|(i)|unless the Player is Correctly Tackled by an opponent;|
|(ii)|provided the Player complies with Law 15.2.2(b).|
|(b)|Where a Player is moving whilst in possession of the football, the Player must bounce or touch the football on the ground at least once every 15 metres, irrespective of whether such Player is running in a straight line or otherwise. For the purposes of this Law, a Player shall be deemed to be in possession of the football during the period when the Player handballs the football to themself and regains possession without the football touching the ground.|
Kicking the ball is correct disposal, so, kicking the ball to yourself resets the 15 metres.
I don’t think they have anticipated the situation where a player kicks the ball to himself duirng a run and carry. Remember they paid a mark to am Essendon player who kicked the ball, ran >15m and marked the ball. Thats not possible, unless he was deemed to have correctly disposed of the ball.
I understand it to say "if you are moving with the ball, you need to bounce it before every 15m. If you pass it to yourself, you are still deemed ‘to be in possession’ and therefore still need to bounce it.
I reckon the marked self-ball was a mistake.
Think about it - otherwise you’d be able to run down the ground hand-balling up in the air and catching it all the way to goal, wouldn’t you?
It explicitly says handballing to yourself doesn’t count in 15.2.2b, with no such exception carved out for kicking.
Personally I don’t think kicking it to yourself at full tilt would be much easier than just bouncing the ball, so I’m not sure there would be any concern beyond the aesthetic.
That’s how I read it too. As Chris points out though there is nothing specifically mentioned about kicking but I would imagine it would likely be the same interpretation.
This was in the Brisbane game. He bounced the ball just before a Brisbane player unsuccessfully tackled him. In fact the Brisbane player just managed to touch Conor, and got a free kick.
It was a disaster, because our goal that resulted was disallowed and Brisbane subsequently scored a goal., and changed the momentum of the game.
That ruling is outside the reason for introduction of the rule. That rule was to stop that smartarse Kevin Bartlett from playing for frees. I believe that if Conor had been caught in a properly applied tackle, Brisbane should have got a free. But fcs the player just brushed his hand on Conors back, since when has that been a legal tackle. It is never awarded in normal play. Are we playing touch footy now?