Definition
Definition
When a defensive player is able to move away from their appointed mark and make a nuisance of themselves in the cutting lanes — specifically when the now-free offensive player does not react by becoming active.
In Context
In Context
Free poaching is a calculated risk. A defender who reads that their mark is genuinely disengaged from the play can leave them and clog a cutting lane or intercept a disc. The key word is free — the poach is only viable if the abandoned player will not punish it.
If the free player recognises the poach and cuts hard, the defender has created a large disadvantage. This is why the offensive principle is always: if your defender leaves you, make them pay immediately.