Kerry’s answer hinges on how umpires treat the aerial, having seen Belgium and Australia deliberately foul the receiver to buy time for their zone to reset. A zone copes by taking away the preferred aerial route with body and stick. He is relaxed about 3D skills, which pull attackers into one on ones in tight space instead of passing around or over the zone, and about short pop aerials. The real threat is a lateral aerial from one attacking halfback to the other while the help side collapses across. Watch the full masterclass: Closing and tackling in a zone defence.
