Australian Rules Football

This is not Rugby, it's not Soccer! And yes, there are rules. Besides the Rules in this section we've also included skills of the game, umpiring resources and equipment resources.


AFL Laws of Australian Football 2002 PDF Document. (Very Large)


General Footy Information:

Aussie Rules Football is played on an oval (and sometimes round) ground of natural turf. The ground can range from 150-180 yards long by 150-165 yards wide.


There are 18 players from each team on the ground at all times, making a total of 36 players. In the AFL there are 4 players that sit on the sidelines, or bench, and can be substituted in at any time of play an unlimited amount of times.


To dispose the ball a player can kick, handball, soccer or tap. Players can not throw, scoop or handball with an open hand. Also the player can not run longer than 10 yards, they must kick or handball at that time or, if they are not to be tackled can bounce the ball or touch it to the ground. They can then run another 10 yards.


A kick that travels longer than 10 yards and received by a team mate is ruled a completed reception, or mark. An NFL analogy is a receiver catches a pass of longer than 10 yards, that same player then disposes of the ball like a free kick, or can play on with a handball.


One of the three ground umpires blows the whistle when a mark is completed. The two boundary umpires rule on balls that go out of bounds, either on the full (not touched by anyone) or bouncing across, and the goal umpires judge scoring attempts.


When a player thinks they are in range to shoot on goal they aim for the gap between the taller goal posts, which results in 6 points. If the ball is touched by anybody, it is 1 point, or called a behind. Therefore you see scores such as 10 goals 7 points for a total of 67 points.


The MCG, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne , Victoria. "The G" - Home of Australian Rules Football (and Aussie cricket). The Grand Final (Australian Super Bowl) is played there on the last Saturday in September each year. The G holds over 100,000 fans and was one of the primary stadiums for the 1956 Olympics.


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