The kick in is one of the hardest kicks in the AFL to execute, and the free stat may not be worth the stress, according to Fremantle defender Luke Ryan.

Debate is currently simmering in AFL circles around whether a kick in should count as a disposal, with defenders playing on from the goal square getting a kick on the stat sheet.

Players who kick in from the confines of the goal square are not rewarded with a stat, but since the 2019 season, defenders have been allowed to play on under the new AFL rules.

Ryan has taken 42 of Fremantle’s 81 kick ins this season, playing on 36 times.

Ryan is averaging 25 disposals a game this season but isn’t bothered whether he earns a stat from a kick in, joking he’d much rather avoid the kick altogether.

“(Getting a stat) doesn’t worry me, because I hate the kick to be honest,” Ryan told 6PR.

“It’s the worst kick in the comp. You’ve got everyone looking at you, the pressure is on, you stuff it up it’s a goal against.

“It’s a high pressure kick but it doesn’t really matter, the fantasy people love it which is good I guess!”

Ryan ran through how Fremantle’s backline decide who takes on the role.

“It’s me, Clarky (Jordan Clark), Youngy (Hayden Young) and Coxy (Brennan Cox) that take it,” Ryan said.

“Most of the time I’m the deepest defender, so it’s most likely me.

“If it’s a fast play, whoever is there just takes it, which is good. If there’s a few (opposition) set shots that are missing, I get my hands on it a bit more which is nice.”

Fremantle conceded a season-low 48 points against Hawthorn, and while Ryan was thrilled with the backline’s efforts, he paid tribute to his teammates further up the ground.

“Boydy (backline coach Matthew Boyd) was a very happy man on Monday,” Ryan said.

“It was good, not just from us backs but also the mids putting really good pressure on. The forwards were unbelievable with their pressure as well, their tackling from behind.

“It made it a whole lot easier for us and hopefully they can keep doing that for the rest of the year, as that’s how we want to play.

“If we can keep getting hack kicks (into defensive 50), it will stop their scores and hopefully we can turn it the other way. It’s all credit to the mids and the forwards on the weekend.”

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