What Is Aussie Rules ?

 

Australian Rules football is the most popular winter sport in the Australian states of Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.  It is a physical contact sport with some similar styles of play to rugby and Gaelic football.  Invented circa 1850's, it predates more modern forms of football, such as American Football, Rugby League, Soccer and Gaelic Football. Today it is a national competition and numerous smaller leagues. It currently has associated leagues in England, the USA, Canada, Japan and New Zealand.

 

The Team
  • Each team comprises 22 players.
  • There are 18 players on the ground and four on the interchange bench.
  • Players may be interchanged at any time during the match.
Umpires
There are three field umpires, two boundary umpires and two goal umpires.
Field umpires
  • The field umpires' have full control of the game.
  • Major responsibilities of the field umpires are to start play, award marks and free kicks, and generally enforce the rules of the game.
  • Each field umpire control roughly one third of the ground. The umpire in the third where the ball is currently being disputed is the umpire in charge at any one time, but any field umpires may bring attention to infringements of the rules that occur 'behind the play'. 
Boundary umpires
  • The two boundary umpires' judge when the ball is over the boundary lines.
  • The boundary umpires patrol one side of the ground each. 
    They also detect players who enter the center square illegally and return the football to the center square after a goal has been scored
Goal umpires
  • The goal umpire's role is to adjudicate whether all kicks that go over the goal line are goals, points or nothing.
  • The two goal umpires judge, signal, and record all scores in a match.
  • Two flags are waved to indicate a goal, and one flag is used to indicate a behind.  The goal umpire also indicates to the field umpire what the score is by indicating with one finger for a behind and two fingers (one out-stretched on each hand)  for a goal.

 

Starting and Restarting Play
  • Teams determine the choice of goal by tossing a coin.
  • The field umpire starts play by blowing his whistle and bouncing the ball in the center circle so that it rebounds vertically to be contested by the players in the center square
  • At the start of play, no player may enter the center circle, and only four players from each team are permitted in the center square until after the ball has been bounced
  • After a goal is scored, play is restarted in the center of the ground.
  • After a behind has scored. Any player of the defending team kicks the ball from within the kick-off 'square' in front of goal, but only after the goal umpire has finished waving his flags. The player must *kick* the ball out to restart play.
Time
  • The game is divided into quarters.
  • Each quarter comprises 20 minutes plus time-on. Time-on is the extra time allocated by the timekeepers when play stops.
  • The teams swap ends (kick in the other direction) at the end of each quarter.
Scores
  • A ball kicked between the two larger goal posts without being touched is a goal and is worth six points.
  • If the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post then it is a behind, and it scores 1 point.
  • Total points is the combination of goals and points scored during a game.
  • A "rushed" point refers to either
    • when the ball is touched by the opposition before crossing the goal line; or
    • a defensive player kicks/carries the ball over their own defensive goal line (to prevent a goal being scored)
Skills
There are three major skills.

Kicking is propelling the ball by foot.
Marking is catching the ball after it has been kicked by another player.
Handballing is holding the ball in the palm of one hand and punching it with the other. In the game, it is sometimes executed quicker than the eye can see.


Frees
Some common free kicks are for:
  • Not disposing of the ball within a reasonable time when held by an opponent or holding the man when he hasn't got the ball.
  • Running more than 15 meters without bouncing the ball or touching the ball on the ground
  • Pushing an opponent in the back or tackling over the shoulder, around the neck or below the knees.
  • Deliberately forcing or taking the ball out of bounds
  • Kicking the ball over the boundary line without it bouncing first or being touched by another player.
Playing Field and Equipment
  • Aussie Rules is played on an oval shaped field.  The ground is between 135 and 185 meters in length and 110 and 155 meters in width
  • The boundary line is marked with a white line.
  • There are four posts at each end of the ground.  Each set of goals consist of 2 goal posts, set 6.4 meters apart on the boundary line. Two behind posts each set 6.4 meters either side of the goal posts on the boundary line. The goal posts have a minimum height of 6 meters. The behind posts have a minimum height of 3 meters. All posts have padding (to protect the players) to a height of 2 meters.
  • The game is player with a leather football.   For day games, the ball is red in color.  Night games are played with a yellow ball.
Player Positions
  • Although players have designated positions, they are free to move anywhere on the ground when play is in progress.
  • All players should contest the ball when its within their vicinity (unless playing to alternative coaching instructions).
  • The positions are : 

 

 

What is the crowd yelling ?
In a case where there are a large number of supporters for a team, they will try and influence the umpires decision by subtly bringing to attention any infringements of the rules.

    "MAN" - or 'holding the man' not in possession of the ball
    "HIGH" - when one of your players receives a high tackle
    "BACK" - when one of your players is pushed in the back
    "BALL" - when one of the opposition players is caught in possession of the ball
    "BULLSHIT."- when the umpire misinterprets one of the above
Percentages
This figure is used to differentiate teams on the ladder that have the same points score. The formula for calculating the percentage is:

(goals for divided by goals against) multiplied by 100

eg if goals for = 200 and goals against = 164, then the % would be 121.95%

A simple explanation ? :-) 

Here's a fairly simplistic picture about Aussie Rules ...

Explanations below ... 

  • Each end of the field (also referred to as the oval, ground etc) has four posts.

  • There are two goal posts (middle, taller posts)

  • To the side of them are the point posts (smaller) .. one on each side.

  • The objective of the game is to score more points than your opposition .. no different to other football codes there.  

  • Every time your team scores a goal (between the two goal posts (No. 1 in the picture)), your team is awarded 6 points.  

  • Every time your ball goes between one of the goal posts and one of the point posts, your team is awarded 1 point (this is also known as a behind -- I'm not sure why).

  • Your team is also awarded 1 point  if ... 

    • the other team touches the ball and it then goes between any of the posts at your scoring end  ... including through the middle of the goal posts -- unfair, but true :-)

    HINT: Sometimes opposition defenders will deliberately "knock" the ball through the goals ... they give away one point, but it prevents the opposition from having an opportunity to kick a goal.

    • the ball touches one of the goal posts on the way through -- again, unfair perhaps, but that's the rules ...

  • So, if your team kicked the ball between the goal posts 6 times and through the point posts 12 times, your score would be :

    6 (goals) x 6 (points per goal) = 36 points
    PLUS 12 points
    = 48 points.

  • This is sometimes written as 6.12. 48 and literally means 6 goals, 12 points, 48 points total

A simple explanation ? :-) ... part 2

The Rules

There are way too many rules to cover on this page, but I'll try to cover the basic ones here ...

In the beginning ...
At the start of the game (and of each quarter), one of the field umpires will stand in the center square, hold the ball high and blow the whistle.  This signals the timekeepers to start the clock.

He will then bounce the ball in the center of the ground (square area) and the two "ruckmen" jump to try to tap it down to one of their players.

NOTES:
1. After every goal,  the ball is brought back to the center and this is repeated.
2.  If the ground is too wet/mushy etc or the ball isn't bouncing high enough, the umpire will throw the ball up, instead of bouncing it.

Marking
If you are the first player to mark (catch) the ball, and you are in control of it (i.e. not juggling madly), then you are awarded the mark.  The ball must travel more than 10 metres,though.

The mark
The point at which the player marked the ball or the offence occurred is referred to as "the mark" ... an opposition player stands on this point.

Play on
You are allowed a small amount of movement after you've marked the ball/been awarded a free kick (e.g. if you mark the ball and then turn around to get a run up for the kick).
But ... if you try to pass to a team-mate, run past the mark, run forward or sideward or (sometimes stupidly) backward, then you are considered to have "played on" and are free game ... i.e. you can be tackled and are subject to penalties again.

In the back
If the opposition player (literally) pushes you in the back, then a free is awarded to you.  It basically means that the opposition can't push you away from the ball (e.g. if you are standing in a pack to mark the ball  and he tries to push you away from under it.  Or if you are both running to get the ball, he can't push you in the back to make sure you don't get to the ball first).

Hip and shoulder
He, or his team-mate, can knock you out of the way using a "hip & shoulder" -- this really is as it sounds.  They will bump you out of the way with their shoulders -- throwing you off your course.

Around the neck
If the opposition tries to tackle you higher than the shoulders (ie the neck and higher), then they will have a free kick awarded against them.

Holding on / without the ball
The opposition can't tackle you if don't have the ball.  They can't hold on to your Guernsey.

Running too far
If you're on the run and in control of the ball, you can only run a maxi mine of 15 meters (in the umpires estimation)  without ... 

Holding the ball
If you are carrying the ball and are tackled by an opposition player, you can be deemed to be "holding the ball".  The catch: This can only be if you had a chance to get rid of the ball but didn't. 
Example: If a team-mate passes the ball to you and you get tackled before having an opportunity to pass the ball, you can't be pinged for holding the ball.  On the other hand, if you are running with the ball and an opposition player catches up with you, tackles you, then you did have prior opportunity and therefore should be pinged.  

50 meters
The other thing that you will probably see at least once a game is the 50 meter penalty.  This can be awarded for a number of reasons (eg back chatting the umpire).  If this happens, the player awarded the free kick/mark advances towards their goal 50 meters.

Deliberate
If the opposition player deliberately (in the umpires' opinion) forces the ball out of bounds, then you are awarded a free kick.

DICTIONARY

A
All-Australian Team selected at the end of the each season, made up of the 18 best players (by position) for the year, 4 interchange players and the Coach of the year. Considered a tribute to some of the better players for that year. Unlike the Brown low, players that have been reported and found guilty are still eligible to be included in the team.   Been selected since 1991.
Ansett Rising Star award see "Rising Star award"

B
Banana kick (aka check side punt) For a right footed player, a banana kick is one that is kicked on the right hand side of the right foot and curves to the right. Obviously, for a left footed player, the reverse is true. 
Behind One point (e.g. 3 behinds is 3 points)
Brown low Medal Awarded each season to the "Fairest and Best" player in the Australian Football League.  Can be considered as the highest individual honor in the game.   Began in 1924.  Votes toward the Brown low are awarded from the umpires each week.   Players who have been suspended are ineligible to win the award.

C
Check side Punt see "Banana Kick"
Coleman Medal Awarded to the player who kicks the most goals each season.   Began in 1981.
Crumber Player whose purpose is to get into the middle of the packs and force the ball out.

D
Disposal To get rid of the ball in a way that is legal (ie kicking the ball or handballing the ball not throwing the ball etc)
Drop Punt Most used kick?  This kick is done by holding the ball up and down (e.g. )

F
Fifty, the The 50 meter line out from the goals at each end of the ground. 

L
Locks it up Stops the ball from advancing into the opposition's goal area (usually achieved by jumping on top of the ball)
M
Margery Medal Awarded to the "Fairest and Best" player in the SANFL each season.
Mark To 'catch' the ball.   To qualify as a mark, the player must be in control of the ball and it can't have been touched by another player nor bounced before reaching the player.. 

N
Norm Smith Medal The Norm Smith Medal is awarded to the player voted best on ground during that season's Grand Final.  The Medal was first instituted in 1979.
Norwich Rising Star award see "Rising Star award"

O
On the ball Player is not in a specific position, but is following the play (and therefore the ball) around the oval.
On the mark The mark is the point at which the free was awarded (i.e. where the infringement occurred or where the mark (catch) was taken

P
"Pulls it back" To put a spin on the football to make it turn (i.e. not travel in a directly straight line).   Useful when kicking for goal from an extreme angle or into a wind.
R
Rising Star award The Rising Star Award is given to the best Rookie (new player) for the past season. A player is selected each round.  These are then voted upon to determine the award winner.
Rookie
S
Sand over Medal Awarded to the "Fairest and Best" player in the WESTAR league each season.
SANFL South Australian National Football League.  State League for South Australia.
Screamer High flying mark.  
Showdown Match between clubs from the same city (excludes Melbourne clubs).  That is, when Fremantle and West Coast play, or Port Adelaide and Adelaide play.  Usually a more important game than the other "minor round" games.   At least for the supporters.
Smother To jump in front of the player with the ball just before (or as) he kicks it, so that  the ball is not forwarded.
Speccie 'Spectacular' mark (usually involves jumping as high as possible over your opponent).

T
Teal Cup A football carnival held yearly with a representative team from each state selected from teenage footballers in the local leagues.  Is meant to be a showcase of the young talent available, and is often used as a "scouting ground" by AFL recruiting staff.
Term Quarter (e.g. first term means first quarter)
Torpedo kick Ball is held horizontally (i.e. ) and kicked across the instep of the foot.

W
WESTAR Rules (prev. known as Western Australian Football League).  State League for Western Australia.
 

 

 

 

Teams

AFL clubs:

Adelaide
Brisbane
Carlton
Collingwood
Essendon
Fremantle
Geelong
Hawthorn		 Kangaroos
Melbourne
Port Adelaide
Richmond
St Kilda
Sydney
West Coast
Western Bulldogs

 

 

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