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Australian Rules Football (No Not Rugby!)
Melbourne is sometimes known as the sporting capital of the world. We Melbournites passionately follow anything that even resembles a competitive event. Two snails slithering side-by-side? An audience will gather. But, by far the most followed sport in this town is Australian Rules Football. To us, its just footy. It still amazes me that the rest of the world is largely unaware of its existence. A similar conversation to this has occurred countless times over my travels.
“What sport do you follow?”
“I really like Australian Rules Football.”
“Oh, you mean rugby?”
“No, Australian Rules Football. Its unique to Australia and not really like rugby at all.”
“So, its a lot like rugby then?”
I won’t bore anyone with a detailed analysis of the rules, but it isn’t really like rugby at all. It is played on an oval with a ball similar to a rugby ball, but less pointed. The basic idea is to kick it through the big sticks that are at either end of the field. You get 6 points if it goes through the big ones, 1 if it goes through the little ones. You kick and handpass the ball (not throw), and can go any direction you want. You can also tackle, and players don’t wear pads.
I had given Jess an ultimatum quite a while ago that she was to be a supporter of the Melbourne Demons. This Friday night, she got the opportunity to see her beloved team in live action for the first time. The Demons were taking on the Carlton Blues under lights on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known to us locals simply as the G. It has a colosseum type feeling about it with a massive capacity of over 100,000 screaming fans.
Unfortunately the game was a pretty uninspiring affair. The injury ravaged Demons got comfortably beaten by the Blues. Skills were down thanks to a heavy shower just before the game, which made the ball slippery and took away some of the more skillful elements. Interestingly, pre-game entertainment featured Olivia Newton-John singing alongside club legend, Irishman Jim Stynes. Jim is a true champion. After his football career ended, he got involved in combatting youth suicide. Over the past few years, he has fronted the Melbourne Football Club as well as fighting his own battle against cancer, all with a smile on his face.
The lackluster game aside however, I was glad Jess got to experience what could be considered the most traditional of all things to do in Melbourne; a trip to the G to watch some footy.
I am a sports fan myself, and I can see your passion in this post. My sport is hockey here in the USA. I have a question about your game … so what is the difference between a handpass and throwing it? Also, is this sport kind of close to Gaelic Football they play in Ireland? Stadium looks awesome.
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jamieandjess Reply:
May 31st, 2011 at 11:27 pm
hey scott,
hockey looks pretty brutal. love it!
a handpass is where you hold the ball in the palm of one hand, and basically punch it with the other. the idea is to make it spin backwards.
gaelic football is with a round ball, and on a rectangular field. also, they dont really lay tackles. but, i would think that is the most similar sport. they have created a sort of hybrid game between gaelic and afl so that ireland can play australia in international rules.
the stadium is awesome! if youre in melbourne you should check it out, for footy or otherwise.
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Believe it or not, I saw a match on ESPN a couple of weeks ago. I forgot who was playing but it was a massacre. It was quite interesting to watch! Reminded me a lot of rugby but it was a lot of fun. I couldn’t stop watching it until the game was over. I did have one question though. A lot of times the ref would blow the whistle and stop play. The team that had the ball got a free kick and would often go for the points. I assume that a foul had been called. However, what constitutes a foul in Australian rules football?
In the past few years, I have grow to love soccer and find sports outside of this country fascinating. Recently, I watched the Scottish Games here in Sacramento and just really intrigued by sports unique to other cultures. If I was over there, I would definitely attend a match as I now try and make sporting events a part of my travels – especially if it is an event that I have seen on TV but not something we have here or are very good at in the States.
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jamieandjess Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 7:36 am
im starting to think maybe i should have bored everyone with the rules. very impressed you watched a full match!
a foul is actually called a free kick, and there are a few reasons they are given away. head-high tackle, push in the back, holding the man when he doesnt have the ball, and holding the ball for too long when you are being tackled, are probably the main ones. you also get a free kick when you mark (catch) the ball after it has been kicked. thats why you will see a certain amount of desperation to catch the ball rather than let it bounce.
i totally agree with you an attending sports events unique to other cultures (but jess probably wouldnt). i think it is a very important cultural event (actually i just like the atmosphere). if you get to melbourne and im here ill take you along!
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Jeremy Branham Reply:
June 1st, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Watching australian rule football reminded me somewhat of the rules for soccer. That is what I gathered from watching that with the fouls and free kick idea. It works the same way. I just didn’t know what constituted a foul.
A follow up question to this though. When the pass is being made, I see guys catch the ball and run. So is it only when it is kicked and caught that you get a free kick?
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jamieandjess Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 4:06 am
yeah, only when it is kicked and marked. the player can also choose to play on. so for example, if he marks the ball and no one is around him, he can keep on running.
i think you have to get down here and have a kick mate!
You have to respect a sport that involves tackling and the athletes don’t wear padding.
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jamieandjess Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 4:07 am
true that. the american football followers would have us believe that the pads are actually used as weapons. pffftt… haha
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Haha- yeah, why do people assume it’s rugby?! Weird.
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Who cares about the rules? I’d just watch for the cute players.
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jamieandjess Reply:
June 2nd, 2011 at 4:08 am
i guess that is as good a reason as any other to follow a sport!
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Looks like a fun time! I wanna play!
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I must say that me and hubby love american football and basketball. Have never watched Australian football but there’s always a first.. will look you up when we come visit;) Great post !
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We’re so missing Aussie rules…John keeps up with it while we’re away but I don’t (probably because I’m a Saints fan and would rather bury my head in the sand at this point). Good fun! =)
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