My First Australian Rules Football Game

Georgie likes Aussie rules and her son Matt plays, so I was curious what the game was like. Georgie invited John and I to watch her son play, so we went.

The game’s objective is to move the ball downfield and kick the ball through the team’s goal. The main way to score points is by kicking the ball between the two tall goal posts. The team with the higher total score at the end of the match wins.

A goal, worth 6 points, is scored when the football is propelled through the goal posts at any height (including above the height of the posts) by way of a kick from the attacking team. It may fly through “on the full” (without touching the ground) or bounce through, but must not have been touched, on the way, by any player from either team. A goal cannot be scored from the foot of an opposition (defending) player.

A behind, worth 1 point, is scored when the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post at any height, or if the ball hits a goal post, or if any player sends the ball between the goal posts by touching it with any part of the body other than a foot.

What was pointed out to me right away, is that the game is played on an oval.

I was sure to get plenty of photos of Matt for Georgie, here he is in a full run. Matt has played a long time, recently celebrated for playing his 400th game, for over 20 years.

One of the next thing one notices, that in spite of the hits they take in this game, the absence of a lot of protective gear like in American football.

I think Matt feels the absence of protective gear right here.

The game did get a little bloody.

The goal umpire signals a goal with two hands raised at elbow height and…

…a behind with one hand, and then confirms the signal with the other goal umpire by waving flags above his head.

Imagine my surprise to learn that a person responsible to give the players water is allowed to run on field during play and give them a drink.

This little cutie was determined to run on the field at halftime, and she surely did, and a few times her dad had to chase her during the game as well.

John gets a photo of Georgie and I at the game.

Matt’s team won.

And there was celebrating and singing.

You too can play Australian Rules Football: