What do I do if the field umpire has not noticed my out of bounds signal?

Keep signalling until a field umpire notices you (Law 8.2.3(a)(i), Laws of Australian Football 2026).

Once the field umpire notices:

• they stop play and direct that the ball be taken to where it crossed the boundary line
• the ball is then thrown in by you, or kicked back into play if it was out on the full
• this applies even if a goal or behind was scored in the meantime, in which case the field umpire directs the goal umpire to annul the score
• it does not apply if a free kick or fifty-metre penalty was awarded before the field umpire noticed your signal

When you are directed to throw in, the field umpire may recall a throw-in that, in their opinion, gives no opportunity for the ball to be contested.