CONOR McKenna's background in the Gaelic game came to the fore in Essendon's loss to Richmond on Saturday, but the Bomber's crafty kick to himself also left some wondering about its place in AFL rules.

The dashing defender, who was recruited to the club in 2014 from Ireland despite a burgeoning Gaelic career, surprised onlookers in the second quarter of Essendon's JLT Community Series defeat when he chip-kicked the ball to himself while running towards goal – known as a 'solo' in the GAA game.

The move caught his Richmond opponent off-guard and bought McKenna a little more space before he ran further and had a long shot at goal.

But it also led some to ask whether, under the AFL's rules, the kick could count as a bounce and McKenna could run a further 15m from the point he re-took possession, or, is the kick counted within the 15m a player is allowed to carry the ball before disposing or bouncing it?

League rules state: "The player must bounce or touch the football on the ground at least once every 15 metres, irrespective of whether such player is running in a straight line or otherwise.

"For the purposes of this law, a player shall be deemed to be in possession of the football during the period when the player handballs the football to themselves and regains possession without the football touching the ground."

The AFL confirmed on Monday that this also applies to a player kicking to ball to himself as McKenna did.

But, of course, there is a grey area.

While McKenna's chip kick to himself counted towards his 15m with the ball before he had to bounce, if the kick had been 15m or more (i.e., of markable distance) and McKenna was able to get there and grab it before anyone else, umpires would call play on.

The 21-year-old became an important member of Essendon's backline last year, playing 19 games in the third year of his career at the club.

He is regularly seen at Essendon training kicking footballs to himself off the ground or from foot to foot, a skill derived from the Gaelic game where they use round balls and often chip them from the turf to hand while running.