Attacking Team. A player in the attacking team is offside when that player is forward of the player who has possession or who last had possession. In general play, offside attacking players who interfere with play should be penalised.
Attacking Player Offside at Tap. Attacking players are to remain onside at a tap until the ball has been tapped.
RULING - A change of possession at the mark (See Rules 6.2 and 15.4).
Defending Team. A player of the defending team is offside when the following rules are infringed:
Rule 6.4 - at the commencement and recommencement of play.
Rule 9.4 - at the Rollball.
Rule 15.5 - at the tap for a penalty.
Rule 9 - Referee Note D - offside at a quick Rollball or tap.
RULING - A penalty awarded to the attacking team in accordance with the above rules.
Attacking players who are offside are non-effective and should return to an onside position as soon as possible.
Offside defending players must at all times make an effort to retire to an onside position.
A defending player must have both feet on or behind the defending scoreline to be onside when a Rollball occurs within five (5) metres, or a tap from a penalty within ten (10) metres of that player's defending scoreline.
Defending players who are retiring should not normally be penalised while taking no active part in the match.
Refer to notes of Rule 15 for consecutive penalties.
A support player overruns the player in possession and crosses the scoreline. The player with the ball rolls it quickly and the half crosses the scoreline and delivers a correct pass to the attacking player who originally overran the ball but had failed to return to an onside position (either by virtue of the speed of the game or otherwise). This player grounds the ball claiming a touchdown.
Touchdown would be awarded as the half placed the offside player onside.
A defending player who is retiring extends his arms either by stretching them outwards or upwards. Is such action against the Rules?
The action constitutes passive obstruction and would be subject to warning or penalty, but ONLY if an attacking player were impeded before the defender reaches an onside position.
Defending players on the scoreline all have their arms out extended. Is such action against the Rules?
If a player not in possession of the ball is impeded by the extended arms etc. then there is a possibility the support players is being obstructed and the referee will take appropriate action.