Editing Tackle (football move) (section)

== Australian rules football ==
[[File:Liam Picken tackling Jordan Lewis while handballing.jpg|thumb|alt=A player attempts to prevent his opponent from handballing by holding on to him|[[Western Bulldogs]] player [[Liam Picken]] tackling [[Jordan Lewis]] of [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]], who is attempting a [[handball (Australian rules football)|handball]]]]

In [[Australian rules football]], the move commonly described as a "tackle" is similar to in rugby and involves wrapping, holding or wrestling a player who has possession of the ball to the ground.  Tackling players not in possession of the ball is not allowed, this is considered “[[holding the man]]” and penalised with a free kick to the opposition.

As there is no [[offside (sport)|offside rule]] in Australian rules football, players can be tackled from any direction, and are often blindsided.  For this reason, the sport allows players to [[shepherding (Australian rules football)|shepherd]] and bump their opponents within 5 metres of the ball, to protect the ball carrier.

A tackled player must immediately dispose of the ball legally, by [[kick (football)|kicking]] or [[handball (Australian rules football)|handballing]], but not by throwing or dropping the ball. If this is not done, a [[holding the ball]] [[free kick (Australian rules football)|free kick]] will be awarded to the tackler. If the ball is knocked free by the tackler, pinned to the player by the tackler, or the player unsuccessfully attempts a kick or handball, a free kick will only be awarded if the ball carrier is deemed to have had a prior opportunity to dispose of the ball prior to being tackled.  If a player has not had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball and a tackler knocks the ball free during a tackle then no free kick is paid and the game continues.

A tackle must only contact below the shoulders and above the knees, and a player is able to be thrown to the ground, so long as the tackle is deemed not to be reckless or likely to cause injury. There are also rules outlawing pushing in the back making tackling more difficult. Tripping, by both hand or foot, is not allowed and can be a [[AFL Tribunal|reportable offence]].

Players wear little to no padding to cushion the impact of tackles, however players generally wear mouthguards to protect their teeth.

=== Types of tackles in Australian rules ===
[[File:Hodge tackling Laird.jpg|thumb|[[Rory Laird]] attempts to break a [[Luke Hodge]] tackle]]
There are many types of tackles in Australian rules football:
* '''perfect tackle''' – when a player lays a tackle on an opponent that has had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball and in the process makes it impossible for their opponent to dispose of the ball. For example, if a tackler pins an opponent's arm, then the opponent cannot possibly [[handball (Australian rules football)|handball]], and if they pin both arms, then it is nearly impossible to legally execute a kick. A player is almost always rewarded for a perfect tackle (except in the case of a slam tackle – see below).
* '''gang tackle''' – when the player in possession is tackled by more than one opponent at the same time.
* '''[[high tackle]]''' – any tackle which infringes on the opponent's neck or head. This includes any tackle which slips above the A/C joint. This is illegal and the penalty is a free kick.
* '''coathanger''' – slang for high contact to the head, usually by a stiff arm, which causes a player to land flat on their back. It is often accidental due to the high pace of the game. The penalty may be a free kick if deemed accidental or a reportable offence which may result in suspension.
* '''diving tackle''' – when a player leaves the ground in attempting to tackle
* '''slinging''' – a player ''slung'' to the ground in a tackle
* '''broken tackle''' – when a player is able to break free of a tackle
* '''[[spear tackle]]''' – also known as a dangerous throw in rugby, it is a [[AFL Tribunal|reportable offence]] and may result in suspension
* '''[[push in the back]]''' – Any tackle which forces the player forward, into the ground, or both, from behind. This is an illegal tackle and the penalty is a free kick.
* ''[[bump (football)|bump]]'' or '''hip and shoulder''' tackle is a legal Aussie rules tactic for both dispossession of the player with the ball and also impeding players involved in a contest but not in possession of the ball. The difference between a bump and a tackle is that arms are not used in a bump, which must be made side-on using the hip and or shoulder. Not all bumping is legal, however. Aggressive head on bumping or "charging" of a player with the ball is often described as "rough play" and is a reportable offence, this is particularly so if a player is deemed to have their head down over the ball in an attempt to picking it up off the ground when the bump is applied or contact is made above the shoulders. Standing ground against an oncoming player, however, is legal.
* '''slam tackle''' – relatively new term for a tackle which results in an opponent's head being deliberately slammed to the ground. It is often associated with the pinning of the arms of an opponent so that they cannot cushion the impact of their head on the ground. Although tolerated in days gone by in recent years, in 2009, the AFL branded this a dangerous type of tackle. Incidents in the professional AFL involving [[Byron Pickett]] and [[Darren Milburn]] have come under particular scrutiny.<ref>[http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25043235-23211,00.html AFL not so tackle happy after Darren Milburn's tackle last season] by Bruce Matthews. {{Nowrap|February 12}}, 2009</ref>
* '''wing tackle''' or '''[[Chicken wing tackle]]''' – when one arm is pinned in a tackle. After sustaining severe damage from this type of tackle during the [[2009 AFL season]], [[Brent Harvey]] called for this type of tackle to be banned.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25402009-19742,00.html |title=AFL may pluck out 'wing' tackle after Brent Harvey injury |date=28 April 2009 |newspaper=Herald Sun |access-date=21 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502115214/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25402009-19742,00.html |archive-date=2 May 2009}}</ref>

=== Other tackling methods ===
Although the term "tackle" is used in Australian rules to exclusively describe wrapping, holding or wrestling a player in possession, there are also several other ways of contesting possession in Australian rules that other sports would describe as a "tackle"  and that also involve a degree of contact.

Other defensive actions are generally categorised as ''[[one percenter (Australian rules football)|one percenters]]''. The defensive tactic of punching away (commonly known as spoiling) from a player is allowed. ''Smothering'', which involves using the arms or body to get in the way of an opponent's kick as it leaves their boot, is similar to a ''charge down'' in rugby football.