AFL · Ground balls · Goal kicking

Crumbing off packs inside 50

Long balls into a two-player pack inside 50 with crumbers at the fall; the smalls read the spill, gather cleanly at speed and snap a goal under pressure.

KT1T2S1S2D
Start / 4
Time
18 min
Players
6–12
Age
U16+
Area
Forward 50 m arc
Equipment
10 footballs5 cones3 bibs

Setup

  1. Cone the 50 m arc. Two talls (T1 forward, T2 defender) set a pack 25–30 m out on a slight angle; a kicker (K) stands on the wing about 50 m out with the balls.
  2. Two forward smalls, S1 front and centre 3–5 m off the pack and S2 at the back on the goal side, with a defending small (D) starting 5 m off the pack.
  3. Rotate the smalls each set and the talls every two sets.

How it runs

  1. K kicks long to the pack. T1 tries to mark and T2 spoils or brings it to ground; in the first set T1 only brings it down, so the smalls get the work.
  2. The first small to win the ball has 4 s to score, 6 for a goal and 1 for a behind; D scores 3 for winning it and running it out past the arc.
  3. Ten balls a set, about 8 s of work and 40 s rest between balls, three sets.

Coaching points

  • Front and centre means low, on the toes, square to the pack and already moving as the ball drops, not after it lands.
  • Gather one grab, below the knees, body over the ball, then a step or sidestep to make room before the shot.
  • Snap or checkside on the run with eyes on the goals and the follow-through across the body.
  • Stay 3–5 m off the pack; any closer and the spill goes over your head.

Common mistakes

  • Smalls standing still and watching the marking contest.
  • Reaching for the ball with one hand at speed and fumbling.
  • Gathering and then stopping to steady, so D gets the tackle in.

Say it: “Front and centre, low and moving.”

Make it harder

  • Add a second defending small.
  • Feed from both wings so the fall of the ball changes side.

Make it easier

  • K throws the ball onto the front of the pack from 10 m.
  • D starts 10 m off the pack.

Pairs well with

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.

Crumbing off packs inside 50 · AFL drill | Sportdify