AFLW to consider allowing Irish ‘solo’ after Kearns’ two-run solo in Geelong win
The AFL said it will consider a rule change to permit the Gaelic ‘solo’ in the AFLW after Geelong’s Rachel Kearns executed two solos during a 30-metre run in her side’s victory over the Western Bulldogs on Friday, league officials said at the launch of the AFLW finals on Wednesday. Laura Kane, the AFLW executive general manager, confirmed the competition would examine the idea and noted the current prohibition on the play.
One key distinction between Australian rules and Gaelic football is how a player may carry the ball: Australian rules requires a bounce for players running more than 15 metres, while in Gaelic football a player running more than four strides can bounce the ball and may also kick the ball to themselves in a manoeuvre known as a “solo”. The AFL has close to 50 former Gaelic footballers in the women’s competition, and Kane pointed out “there are more than 45 Irish players that contribute to our game right now. We’ll have a look at it.”
Geelong’s Kearns produced two solos during a 30-metre run in the win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday. Umpires failed to award a free kick to the Bulldogs for the infringement, an error noted in coverage of the match, and the sequence drew strong attention around the league.
AFL laws currently bar the solo. The rules state a free kick will be awarded to a player who does not bounce or touch the football on the ground at least once every 15 metres, and a player “who kicks or handballs the football to themself” is no exception to that requirement. At the AFLW finals launch Kane warned: “It’s not allowed right now, and it’s not allowed through the next four weeks, just to be clear – I’ve been asked to say that.”
North Melbourne captain Jasmine Garner publicly endorsed the prospect of permitting the solo after seeing Kearns’ play, saying: “I actually like it,” and: “[Kearns] did run too far, but if it’s in the rules and you can do that, I think it’d be great for the game. Why not? Yeah, change the rules, and it’s exciting to watch.” The Kangaroos finished the home and away season on top of the ladder and are hoping to win their third successive flag this year.
Kane used the finals launch to outline broader priorities for the competition, saying the season attracted “most fans we’ve ever had in terms of crowds, the highest scoring games we’ve ever had, [and] six strong Victorian teams”. She said the league was considering bringing forward the start date of next season to enable more AFL-AFLW double headers and confirmed this year’s grand final will again be held at Ikon Park. On venues she added: “At the moment, we are focusing on double headers at our tier one stadia,” and: “We’re comfortable with the venues that we play AFLW at, but that doesn’t mean we won’t continue to explore it [Marvel] into the future.”
Kane reiterated that the solo remains prohibited for the immediate period of the finals but said the league would review the option thereafter, stating: “We’ll have a look at it.” The AFL said it will consider any change after the 2026 finals, with the competition’s scheduling and venue plans also under active review.