Editing Australian rules football (section)

====Tackling====
[[File:Christian Petracca tackling Zaine Cordy.jpg|thumb|left|Tackling]]
Tackling is a technique employed by players used to force opposition players to dispose of the ball when they are in possession. Failure to dispose of the ball when legally tackled may see the player penalised for '[[holding the ball]]', except if the umpire deems there was a lack of prior opportunity to do so.<ref>{{cite web |title=Match Provisions – Holding the Ball |url=https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=52 |website=afl.com.au |access-date=4 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303143306/https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=52 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees from the front or side.<ref name="Definitions" /> If the player forcefully contacts the opposing in the back while performing a tackle, the opposition player will be penalised for a [[push in the back]]. If the opposition tackles the player with possession below the knees (a ''low tackle'' or a ''trip'') or above the shoulders (a ''high tackle''), the team with possession of the football gets a free kick.<ref name="Prohibited">{{cite web |title=Match Provisions – Prohibited Contact |url=https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=50 |website=afl.com.au |access-date=4 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303143306/https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=50 |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, tackles deemed to be dangerous by the umpire and those conducted from front-on while an opposition player has their head over the football are deemed to be prohibited contact, and will incur a free kick against the offending player.<ref name="Prohibited" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Match Provisions – Rough Conduct |url=https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=53 |website=afl.com.au |publisher=AFL |access-date=4 March 2024 |archive-date=3 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303143306/https://resources.afl.com.au/afl/document/2022/03/28/6d92ed7c-efc2-44dc-86bc-9fa1d9b338ad/2022-Laws-of-the-Game-Booklet.pdf#page=53 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Additionally, players may perform a technique known [[shepherding (Australian rules football)|shepherding]] when the ball is within {{convert|5|m|yd}} of an opposition player. Shepherding involves the use of a player's body to push, bump or otherwise block an opposition player, providing they do not have possession of the ball.<ref name="Definitions" />