Shepherding (Australian rules football)

Shepherding is a tactic and skill in Australian rules football, a team sport. The term originates from the word shepherd, someone who influences the movement of sheep in a paddock. Using their body as an obstruction, Australian rules footballers can influence the movement of opponents, most often to prevent them from gaining possession or reaching the contest. This can be achieved legally while the ball is in play by a number of methods which include blocking, pushing or bumping. As shepherds are not counted in official statistics, it is classified as a "one percenter" skill but is an important aspect of team play to clear an attacking path for their team. According to the Laws of Australian Football, a player can shepherd an opposition player when the ball is within five metres, with the exception of contests where players contest the ball in the air, i.e. marking contests and ruck contests, or when the ball is not in play.^[1]

The prevalence of shepherding is distinctive in Australian rules football as it is an illegal form of play in many other codes of football including rugby football, soccer and gaelic football which are subject to obstruction rules. It is very similar to blocking in American Football in that holding is not allowed. However Australian rules does not allow forceful front-on contact, wrestling or charging.^[2] Players shepherding also cannot pushing from behind, make contact above the shoulders or below the knees, or strike with the head or limbs.^[3] Players also do not wear sufficient protective headwear for high speed collisions that can result in concussion inducing head injury and head clashes.^[4] Depending on the severity, an illegal shepherd, such as one in which a player is being held or has incidental illegal contact, is typically penalised by a free kick^[3] while those involving forceful impact including contact to the head can result in suspension.^[1] A number of high profile incidents in the professional Australian Football League which have caused controversy and have resulted in the rules regarding shepherding to be more strictly applied.

Because players can shepherd a player who does not have possession the choice of "playing the man" and not the ball.^[5] Like American Football offensive line players many Australian rules football teams feature specialist blocking roles known as taggers whose primary role is tagging, that is to run with, shepherd, close check, and intimidate attacking midfielders from gaining possession and thus significantly impact the outcome of a game.^[6][7] In circumstances where two players contest a loose ball, a player in an inferior position or with a weight advantage might decide to take his opponent out first and then to retrieve the ball. Others, however, may have no intentions for the ball at all and simply aim to obstruct hurt their opponent. Although correct technique can be taught, given the high speed all directional nature of the game, the decision to make the ball the primary objective and the execution of a bump is often a split second tactical decision and left to player instinct. The decision process effects the way players are perceived. A player may be commended for their protection of their teammates, setting up play and controlled aggression. At the same time players who bump but do not contest the ball too often can be seen by some as "dirty" and unsportsmanlike (See "Australian rules football culture").