Ruck and midfield centre set-ups

Setup

1. Cone a 50 m centre square around the centre circle, plus a wing cone 10 m outside the square on each side.
2. Each side has a ruck and three midfielders in the square (R1, M1–M3 against R2, O1–O3) and a wing outside it (W1, W2).
3. The coach (C) bounces or throws up from the circle; the attacking group calls its set-up in the huddle before each one.

How it runs

1. Set-up 1, advantage: R1 taps to M1 on the forward-side hip, M2 makes a legal block on O1 and M3 sits on the defensive side.
2. Set-up 2, space: R1 palms 5 m into the gap for M2 running through; set-up 3, contest: R1 brings it to ground for M1 while M3 shields.
3. Play until the ball leaves the square; a clean exit by hand or foot scores 3, a clearance to the opposition scores 3 for them. Then reset.
4. Six bounces per set-up, 10–15 s of work and about 45 s to reset; swap which group calls the set-ups after each block.

Coaching points

• Rucks: run in on an angle, jump off one foot, ruck arm high and the other side of the body protecting the space; tap to the called side.
• Mids: start on the ruck's hip with toes pointed toward the exit, eyes on the ruck's hand, not the flight of the ball.
• Blocks must be legal, made only once the ball is in play and within 5 m of it, chest on, with no holding.
• First possession by hand to a runner on the outside beats a long kick out of congestion.

Common mistakes

• Two midfielders going to the same drop spot.
• The ruck jumping straight up from a standstill instead of running in and taking the space.
• Nobody on the defensive side when the opposition win the hitout.