In Aussie Rules Footy is it illegal toi boot the ball up in the air and go chase it yourself rather than aiming to pass it to a teammate?

Perfectly legal - but if it travels less than 15 metres, the umpire will ask you to play on (ie. you cannot be awarded a mark). If the ball travels 15m or more you will be awarded a mark - so you can choose to stop to take your next kick, or play on without stopping.

I honestly have never seen a player get in trouble for doing this. I mean, players kick the ball to themselves all the time when they're kicking out of the opposing teams forward pocket. Sometimes players kick it along the ground to themselves. Nothing wrong with it, and if there is, I'll eat my hat.

Thanks, guy and gal, love watching games (matches?) here on TSN in Canada for ages. Still don't understand tactics at all but the action is wild and wacky. I am baffled though but how ugly many of players are vs. other sports in Aussieland. Then again not into guys at all but just struck me compared to our athletes over here.

no, aslong as the kick travels 15 metres horizontally

Well technically, its legal