Footy 101
Australian football (aka footy, aussie rules or AFL) is a fast, high-scoring, full-contact sport played on an oval field.
Think if soccer, basketball and rugby had a baby - and then raised it in the Australian outback.
You kick, run with the ball, handball (you'll learn...) and tackle to ground. No offside, no set positions and no standing around.
It's 360 degrees of chaos and it's the most fun sport on Earth.
Still confused? This covers everything in under 5 minutes.
What Makes Footy Different
No Offside
Move anywhere on the ground. There's no offside rule, no set formation. Total freedom. To an extent.
Kicks, Handballs, Movement
You can kick the ball, punch-pass it (called a handball), or run with it - as long as you bounce it every 15 meters.
360° Play
The oval field means play comes from every direction. No restrictions where you can pass or receive the ball.
Marking
Catch a kick cleanly (a 'mark') and you get a free kick. Jump on someone's shoulders to take a specky.
Australian Footballs in numbers
The basic rules of AFL football
The ground: Oval shaped and much bigger than a football pitch. Four large posts at each end.
Scoring: 6 points is awarded for a goal kicked through the two middle posts. 1 point is awarded for a goal kicked between the outer posts (behind).
Movement: Kick it, handball it (punch with a closed fist (no throwing), or run with the ball and bounce every 15m.
Tackling: You can tackle the ball-carrier with full contact between the shoulders and knees. If you're tackled, you must dispose of the ball legally or a free kick is awarded to the tackler.
Marks: Catch a kick that travels 15m+ without being touched and you get a free kick.
Positions (Loosely)
Forwards
Score the goals. Quick, agile, good in tight spaces.
Midfielders
Cover the most ground. Win the ball at centre bounces and stoppages.
Defenders
Stop the other team from scoring. Read the play, spoil marks, launch counter-attacks.
FAQ
A Very Brief History
First recorded game
First codified game recorded in Melbourne, Australia, making it older than association (European) football.
VFL founded
The Victorian Football Leage (later the AFL) is founded.
VFL becomes the AFL
The VFL expands to all Australian states.
The DAFL is founded
The Danish Australian Football League is founded. Regular competitions start in 1991.
Aarhus Bombers are founded
The Bombers make their debut in the Danish Australian Football League, making it the second Jutland-based club.
AFLW is founded
The professional women's competition is founded.
Played in 90+ countries. Including right here in Aarhus.
The community keeps growing, as footy expands over the world.
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