EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AUSTRALIAN

RULES FOOTBALL

OBJECT OF THE GAME

The object of the game is to kick the football between a series of 4 goal posts.
Depending on which posts the ball goes between will depend on how many points
you score. The ball can be passed around between team mates in a series of
fashions and the winning team will be the team with the highest number of points at
the end of the game.

PLAYERS AND EQUIPMENT

The pitches are marked around the outside to highlight the out of bounds area. At
either end of the pitch 4 tall posts will be apparent. These are the scoring zones and
are roughly 6 metres in height. The two front posts are 6.4 metres apart and
represent the main scoring area (goal). The two post behind are also 6.4 metres
apart and represent the secondary scoring area (point).

The ball is made from leather and forms an oval shape (similar to a rugby ball).
Other markings on the pitch include a goal square that is 9 metres wide and
spanning with width of the goals posts, centre square and centre circle.

Each team will consist of 18 players of which are all assigned to different positions.
These players are allowed to move freely on the pitch. Each team may also have up
to three substitutes which are ‘rolling’ meaning they can come on and off as many
times as they want. Once a starting player gets substituted these players then
become rolling. The positions are broken down into Full Forward, Half Forward,
Centre Line, Half Back and Full Back.

There are 7 umpires for Aussie Rules in total. The three main umpires are known as
filed umpires and they basically oversee all the decisions on filed such as time
keeping, infringements and enforcing the rules. The two line judges are there to see
if the ball goes out of play or not – these judges can also intervene where on filed
umpires have missed a decision. The last two umpires are goal umpires and its their
job to signal if a goal has been scored successfully or not.

WINNING THE GAME

The team with the highest amount of points at the end of the game are deemed the
winners.

THE GAME

TEAMS:

AFL involves two teams of 22 players, with 18 from each team on the field plus an
additional four players who can be rotated as subs during the game. In 2016 there
will be a cap of 90 rotations per team per game.

DURATION:

Games are divided into four quarters of 20 minutes with teams swapping ends after
each quarter. Extra time is added for in-play stoppages so most quarters run for
about 30 minutes. Total game time is about two hours.

FIRST BOUNCE:

The game starts when the umpire bounces the ball in the centre square. The
ruckmen from each team contest for the ball. The game returns to the centre to start
each quarter and after a goal has been scored.
THE RULES

SCORING:

- Goal (through the two middle posts): 6 points

- Behind (through the outside posts): 1 point
- Ball touched (through any sets of posts): 1 point
- Hits one of the middle posts: 1 point

DISPOSAL:
Correct Disposal A Player Correctly Disposes of the football if the Player Kicks or
Handballs the football. A Free Kick shall be awarded against a Player who hands the
football to another Player or throws the football (Incorrect Disposal)

HANDBALL:
A handball involves holding the football in one hand and hitting it with the clenched
fist of the other hand. Players can not throw the ball.
BOUNCING:
A player running with the ball must bounce or touch the ball on the ground every 15
metres.
MARKS:
Awarded when a player catches a kick on the full that has travelled at least 15
metres without being touched by another player or the ground.
TACKLING:
Players need to tackle the opponent with the ball. Tackles must be below the
shoulders and above the knees. Players are not allowed to push in the back.
SHEPHERDING:
An opposition player can be shepherded (blocked) from a contest provided he is
within 5 metres of the contest.

50 METRE PENALTY:
Awarded by the umpire when a player uses undue force, encroaches on the mark,
deliberately wastes time, disputes or abuses an umpire or does not correctly return
the ball to the opposition after a penalty has been awarded.
OUT ON THE FULL:
A free kick is awarded to the opposition when the ball travels over the boundary on
the full.
FREE KICKS:
A free kick is given against the player in possession of the ball for the following
infringements of the rules:
 Not disposing of the ball within a reasonable time when held by an opponent.
 Not disposing of the ball correctly by using a handball or a kick.
 Kicking the ball over the boundary line without it bouncing first or being
touched by another player.
 Deliberately forcing or taking the ball over the boundary line.
 Running more than 15 meters without bouncing the ball or touching the ball
on the ground.
 Deliberately dragging the ball under him while on the ground in a pack
situation.
 Deliberately kicking, handballing or forcing the ball over the attacking team's
goal line or behind line, or onto one of the attacking team's goal posts. This is
given against the player of the defending team.

A free kick is given against any player who:

 Grabs the opponent with the ball above the shoulder or below the knees.
 Pushes an opponent in the back.
 Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.
 Charges an opponent.
 Interferes with an opponent attempting to mark in the air by punching or
bumping.
 Shepherds an opponent when the ball is more than 5 meters away.
 Enters the centre square before the ball is bounced at the restart of play.
Following a free kick or mark, a 50-meter penalty is given against a player standing
on the mark who:
 Refuses to stand on the mark at the point indicated by the umpire.
 Deliberately wastes time in returning the ball to the player who is to take the
kick.
 Holds the player who is to take the kick thereby preventing play continuing.
 Runs over the mark before or as the ball is kicked. (Any player in the
opposing team can give this penalty)
THE FIELD:

POSITIONS

FORWARDS
Full forward
The full-forward player plays close to the scoring posts and tries to kick goals for the
team.
Centre half-forward

The centre half-forward player is usually very good at marking the ball and kicking
goals from a long distance. They are responsible for getting the ball and scoring
goals. Centre half-forward is often considered to be the most difficult position to play.
Forward pocket

The forward pocket player usually has good agility (can move around quickly and
avoid defenders) and the ability to score difficult goals. These players are often
known as “goal sneaks” because they score goals when no-one expects it.

Half-forward
The half-forward is responsible for moving the ball into the forward area, usually
along the flanks (sides) of the ground. They can pass the ball to another player, or
have a shot for goal themselves.

MIDFIELDERS
Ruck
This player is usually tall and athletic. It is the ruckman’s job to win the hit-outs
(tapping the ball to a team mate after the umpire has bounced it) during the game.
Ruckmen (along with rovers and ruck-rovers) can be considered as some of the
followers in a team, as they follow the ball all over the ground.

Centre
The centre player is usually very quick and is responsible for getting the ball to team
mates who are running past.

Ruck-rover
The ruck-rover is responsible for being in the right position to get the ball when it is
tapped by the ruckman (ie the umpire bounces the ball and the ruckman taps it to the
ruck-rover). Ruck-rovers are also known as followers as they follow the ball all over
the ground.
Rover

The rover is often the smallest player on the field and is responsible for taking the
ball from the ruckman or ruck-rover at stoppages (when the play has stopped and
the umpire is bouncing the ball). Rovers are sometimes known as followers as they
follow the ball all over the ground.
Wing
The wings are fast-running players responsible for moving the ball into the forward
area and kicking goals.

DEFENDERS
Full back
The full-back player is responsible for stopping the full-forward from marking the ball
or scoring.

Centre half-back
The centre half-back player is responsible for stopping the centre-half forward from
marking the ball or scoring.

Back pocket
The back-pocket player is someone who is good at stopping the forwards from
marking.

Half-back
The half-back position is similar to the back-pocket position, but this player usually
does more attacking and concentrates on moving the ball out of the defence area,
and into the hands of the midfield and forward players.
Greater Western Sydney Football Club (2018). Rules of the Game. Retrieved from:
http://www.gwsgiants.com.au/fanzone/get-involved/rules-of-the-game

RulesofSport.comAussie (2016). Rule Football Rules. Retrieved from:

http://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/aussie-rules-football.html

AFL 9s Rules - Australian Football League (2018). AFL 9s Rules. Retrieved form:
https://play.afl/afl9s-rules

Full rules can be found at - Australian Football League (2018). Laws of Australian
Football. Retrieved from:
http://websites.sportstg.com/get_file.cgi?id=36381723