What is AFL? Aussie Rules Explained | American Reacts 

I'm an American who watched his first AFL game 12 years ago at the age of 51. I've been an ardent Swans fan ever since. I can tell you that a lot of the rules that seemed weird to me at first are now just second nature. For example, handballing is just an integral part of the game, it would be so, so different without it. I could give you a bunch of reasons why handball rules make sense, but at the end of the day, it's a great part of a sport that I love.

Remember, this game has been around since 1859 so it didn't take rules from any other sport.

Each Qtr will generally last 30-32 mins if you let the clock run without stopping it.

NRL is throwball not football . rugby league is an English game fully imported no local input at all

An avg distance a player runs is around 15km per game.

You've heard of the Barassi line! A lot of Aussies wouldn't have a clue what that is.

Swans were South Melbourne

Yes, season started. Generally, a new season starts in March each year. Play is for a quarter then break. Longer break at half-time (between 2nd and 3rd Q). Finals generally start in September.

It always amuses me when NRL is called footy when they hardly ever kick it

Fitness and stamina is everything in this game.

Throwing was banned in 1858 so as to distiguish from throwball like rugby union at the time there was no rugby league in 1858

Both the Swans and the Giants are doing quite well this season There are four quarters divided by three breaks exactly like NFL when the fourth quarter ends the game ends the updated AFL video which has Dustin Martin in the thumbnail goes over this. The handpass was added to stop players tossing the ball downfield NFL style in about 1870, by making players punch the ball out of their opposing hand it makes it impossible to launch the ball over arm which in turn makes kicking the ball more optimal and as the sport is called 'football' it makes sense that the main way to move the ball is with your foot, the hand pass as it is today was fully adopted in 1966 to stop Fitzroy from using the 'flick pass' (basically open hand slapping the ball out of your opposing hand) which Fitzroy midfielders perfected in order to gain a competitive edge over other teams (there is a RU-vid video around that has Collingwood players exemplifying what the 'flick pass' was) Although it's not common to see forwards move to defense and vice versa you do see it from time to time especially if you are a fan of the Sydney Swans who popularized 'flooding' the opposing teams forward line to defensively clog up every channel there this was seen by the AFL as 'not within the spirit of the game' (mostly because everyone that wasn't a fan of the Sydney Swans saw it that way) leading to the implementation of the 6-6-6 rule making it illegal for attackers to start a center bounce stoppage in the oppositions forward line if said player/s are caught out of position as the ball is bounced a free kick is awarded to the opposition at the center of the field. Why have behinds? Basically, the same reason why NFL has separate scores for getting a touchdown and kicking a goal and basketball has the 3 pointer... to create another dimension to scoring by awarding a point for missing it means that score totals can be more varied thus making the game a bit more interesting.

Rugby ball is wider and rounder, whereas an AFL ball is more narrow and pointed. Sort of between a rugby ball and an NFL ball. The footy season is from Mid-March to September. Roadtrip to Melbourne for a Sydney v Collingwood game would be awesome!

You ask why you get a score for "missing" when kicking a behind. Abehind gives control of theball to the opposition. A goal returns the ball to a centre bounce.

The short answer to your 'why?' questions, because that's the game and the rules. Crazy game but great to watch.

Few points to make. If you score a goal you get 6 points and the ball goes back to the centre of the oval. If you get the single point, the opposition gets a free kick from your goals. Generally a point isn't a good thing The "speckie" doesn't usually result in an injury. It can but it's not as common as you'd think You have a small break at the end of the first and third quarter but there is a longer one at half time The best way to understand the quarters length is they're 20 minutes long and the clock gets stopped after scores etc. added up it's around 10 or so minutes a quarter These dudes are crazy fit. The mids can run 15km a game. The current record is 18.9km

East coast? The only two states where Rugby League is more popular are NSW and Queensland. The rest of the country is Aussie Rules dominated. The game started in Victoria in the 1850's. It is the oldest codified football code on the planet.

Four quarters with a break between each quarter

go watch a game you will be hooked for life , its the greatest game on earth

Each quarter is 20 minutes, however the countdown timer gets stopped after certain bits of play (e.g. injuries where players have to be stretchered off the field or if the ball has to be returned to the centre square after a goal is scored, etc.). The countdown timer then resumes when play restarts. After the countdown reaches zero then the siren sounds signalling the end of the quarter. Now if you calculate the time from when the ball was first bounced till the siren sounds, it is often at least half an hour or even more.

The season this year started on the 7th March, we are currently upto Round 9; so 40% into the season.

Scoring a behind is a 'double-edged sword'. You score 1 point, but the opposition gets possession of the ball which is an advantage to them.

The Aussie Rules ball is a little more streamlined and smaller than NRL or Rugby

People ask the question ? Do players get serious injuries? Occasionally players get an injury but not often serious! Players jump high and are suspended in mid air, not necessarily into the back of an opponent who rarely is injured!

imagine the fastest runner from a rugby team but have 18 of him that's how one AFL team is ..and 4 more on the bench...players run up to(18klms -11 miles per game half of that sprinting...

There are short breaks after the first and third quarters, with a longer break at half time. Teams can interchange upto a maximum of 75 interchanges per game. In most cases, a quarter can go for 30 minutes or longer; an entire game including breaks, can last upto two and a half hours. Players are not permitted to make contact with the head, or take out players legs below the knees. There is a companion video to this, which may answer some of your questions; it is titled A Beginners Guide to Australian Rules Football on the AFL channel.

Totally different shaped ball between AFL and Rugby, the reason being that the rugby ball is primarily passed or thrown y hand and the AFL ball is primarily kicked.

Careful when you generalise the East side of Australia to just NRL, NRL is the minority sport in every State apart from NSW and QLD.

20 minute quarters are brocken up with rest periods. The team captains toss a coin to decide who kicks to which end first......wind advantage can be huge. When play is stopped, after a score, out of bounds, a skuffle ( or fight ) , then the clock is stopped . When the umpire signals play on, then the clock is restarted. Most quarters run about 25 + minutes. After the 1st quarter, they take about 5 minutes break, during which the coach addresses the players about tactical matters etc. Then the teams change ends and position themselves for the start of play.....2nd quarter . At half time both team s leave the field for about 20 minutes. They change ends again and take up positions to start the 3rd quarter. At 3/4 time, they have another 5 minute break and change ends again. By changing ends after every quarter, both teams should get equal use of the wind etc.......but this is not always equal. The wind can blow a gale and be a 10 goal advantage then die out altogether . Is common for one team to get the wind for 3 quarters with a wind change, and ofter a quarter or half with a BIG wind advantage, while the other team only has the wind for one quarter, but often no wind at all in that quarter. Nature can be so unkind. lol

Even the ads, from the 1990's were funny. "I'd like to see that" John McEnroe - "The players can spit the dummy at the ref and get away with it? I'd like to see that". "Go on then mate - Spank It!! A game you can yell your head off at - Yeah, I'd like to see that".

I love how tough AFL players are, doing without helmets or kneepads. But two players retired this year on medical grounds after being advised about the danger of the concussions they received; 24-yo Nathan Murphy from Collingwood and 28-yo Angus Brayshaw from Melbourne. 4 young NRL players have also retired on medical advice, so this could mean major changes for both codes.

The old divide between Rugby League and AFL in Wagga, where both codes are played. Red Footy for Day Matches & Yellow for Night Games. The footy is slightly smaller than a Rugby ball and is a different oval shape. If the footy kicked and you catch it, it is called a mark, regardless of whether you're on the standing on the ground or taking a Secky above opposition players. Then you are allowed to kick it on of handball to a teammate unimpeded. You are not allowed to throw the ball because it is incorrect disposal, and the umpire will award a Free Kick to your opponent!! There is 4 quarters with 3 breaks (1/4 time, half time, & 3/4 time). Added time can be added to every quarter. This vlog that you reviewed could do with much more info, as it isn't very in-depth. it is the BIGGEST football code in Australia and has many armature leagues around the world, including your homeland!! The United States Australian Football League has been going since the 1990's. It's bit of a religion here in Melbourne.... As for the rest of the rules, they're best explained during a live match. Greater Western Sydney Giants and the Sydney Swans are your local clubs, and it's your right to choose who you barrack for......

Taking marks on people's backs is a skill we practice from the time we can walk as little kids.

Watch (Beginners Guide to Australian Football League)AFL. Women have their own League

The handball is because almost all the football codes originally allowed hitting the ball but not throwing it (including soccer). The mark is another thing AFL kept that other codes got rid of (it was called a fair catch in soccer). The "point for missing" was introduced to reduce the number of tied games. Originally it only counted if the number of goals was equal.

Actually AFL has a semi counterpart in Gaelic Football and there has indeed been some crossover during the past 40 years with some Gaelic footballers trying their luck (and some succeeding) at AFL. There are some significant differances in that GF has much less contact, is played on more soccer style fields and with a round ball but have similar positions and the same mode of handball. With regards players taking a ride on opponents back when marking; its a gray area. Its generally the case that if you're manage to pull it off and complete the mark, the umpires will pay it. Make a mess of it and they'll penalise you. The Sydney Swans are indeed a transplant. The South Melbourne Swans were struggling and the (then)VFL were looking to expand beyond Victoria so they eased the way for a relocation to Sydney. A few years later, they approved a local consortium to start a team in Qld that was called the Brisbane Bears although they actually played their games on the Gold Coast on the ground that is now home for the GC Suns. In the early 90s, the Fitzroy club in Melb was in trouble so they merged with the Bears and the merged entity became the Brisbane Lions (Fitzroys old emblem). The expansion into other states (West Coast Eagles & Adelaide Crows) led to the VFL becoming officially a national entity (AFL) in 1990

AFL (men’s)season starts in March and goes through to September. They have a preseason comp which runs Jan- March. 20 minutes plus extra time per quarter. Small break at 1/4 and 3/4 time and big break at 1/2 time. A point for hitting one of the two middle posts as ball has made contact. If ball hits one of the outer posts the ball is a free kick to the opposing team. A throw is a free kick to the opposing team. AFLW (women’s) comp starts September and through to December. 15 minutes plus extra time per quarter. Small break at 1/4 and 3/4 time and big break at 1/2 time. Hope this helps😊😊

Looking at the comments and no one has yet to mention the fact that teams change ends at the end of each quarter.

The umpires signal when the official clock stops and starts during each quarter. If you look at an ump they have a hand signal and whistle which the offical timekeepers are watching/listening all game. Once a goal is kicked, the official clock stops and doesnt start again until the ump bounces the ball. When a ball goes out of bounds, the clock stops and doesnt start until thrown in. When there is a ball up during play the clock stops and starts once balled up. If a player is injured and a stretcher comes out, then the clock is stopped until they are off the ground. The physical playing time is 20 mins. The extra time is time it takes for the ball to be run back into the centre after a goal, for the boundry umpire to get the ball and throw it in etc.

It's actually cross country basketball. The only sport in the world where you get a consolation point for missing your shot at goal

Hitting the post and scoring. The example shown here is the ball impacting the post and bouncing back into play which could make you wonder why that w0uld score but far more often than this the ball skids off the post and through the goals area (or the points area) but because it touched the post it is always only worth one point. If, like rugby, you scored full points if it hits the upright and goes over the bar but nothing otherwise you would be penalising an almost good kick if the ball bounced back into the -playing area while rewarding an even less accurate kick if the ball skims the post and goes through the behinds. Making it worth one point regardless if it hits the post makes the decision consistent.

“Why why why?” Because it JUST IS 😅 that’s why. It’s the nature of the game. Watch a game to better understand it or watch other videos. It’s as simple as that.

Footy refers to AFL in Victoria, not all the east coast considers rugby to be footy

You’d probably like the video about Mason Cox, the only American to play AFL… called Don’t Believe In Never.

Kaitlyn, good of you to point out the oversight when comparing the size of a baseball field to an AFL oval - it obviously didn’t include the outfield. Don't know why the narrator, who spoke with an American (?) accent, didn't pick up on this. Speaking of baseball, I am not sure if you are aware but baseball and softball is pretty big in Australia. In fact, a lot of people who play cricket also play baseball. It just doesn't get the same exposure as the other sports, though.

Quarters have been used since the 1880s. Having to handball instead of throwing, and having to bounce the ball while running requires more skill. Australian Football has been played as a competition in Sydney and Brisbane decades before Rugby League was invented. The term " footy" is a Melbourne word used long before Rugby League. Australian Football was played in grammar schools in California before WW1. An American school boys team toured Australia. They were coached in Cal. by former Melbourne Football Club player Pat O'Dea who was known in the US as "The Kangaroo Kicker" and is in the NFL Hall of Fame. There are two AFL teams each in Brisbane and Sydney plus hundreds in lower level competitions through out both states. Two AFL teams in Perth, Adelaide and one will be in Tasmania in 2028. Hundreds of lower level teams as well in those states. Quite a few AFL clubs have memberships of over 100K. Many over 50k. Well over a million Australia wide. Sydney Swans had 65K members 2023, GWS 33K. The highest Sydney NRL membership was Paramatta 35K (2023) Total NRL members for 2023, 382,278 Total AFL members for 2023, 1,264, 953 AFL attendances in 2023 8.1 million NRL no figure given but said to be half that of AFL. There is only one NRL club in Australia outside of NSW and QLD and that is the Melbourne Storm. Others were established in Perth and Adelaide and have all failed.

"If you miss and still hit the post you still get a point." You have a narrow gap of about 6.5m between each post, so the total scoring space is 25m, but only one will score 6 points. For a six point goal to apply, the ball has to come of the foot or shin and go through unimpeded (not touched) by another player. Compare NFL 45m wide, rugby league and rugby union 68m wide, where the major score is crossing a line that wide. Why do people think a consolation prize on a narrow goal so hard to grasp. Even a soccer goal is wider at about 7.5m, but it's much harder to give a 1/6 score for a near miss when each goal is scored as a single point.

The handball (handpass) rule, gives the defenders a reward for tackling. You have to pass with two hands. The ball held in one hand and hit with the closed fist of the other. This allows for a definition of a "legal" disposal. Missing and getting a score is similar to getting a try in rugby but missing the conversion to a goal. In the first versions of australian rules, there were no outer posts and a "behind" was scored for set shots that missed. But, naturally, this led to confusions between out of bounds and shots at the goals on the run. To keep the "minor" score, an extra set of posts was added.

Baseball fields are approx 120 metres at their longest point. AFL ovals average 180 metres long...

Hi. My understanding is that in the early days of Aussie Rules there were only the main goals and that there were too many ties (draws) so they added the outer posts and they were made a value of 1 point. Ties are quite rare these days.

The umpire controls the time. The umpire walks on the ground, holds the ball up the siren sounds the match starts,, two miners to go two bells, one bell, at the start of play the ball is held up, the siren is blow, the clock starts. When the controlling umpire blows the whistle, hold a arm up, or between goals, the clock stops. The time keepers clock is going down from 20 minets. 30 35 minuet quarters are not uncommon. The game ends when the goal umpires wave their flags at the time keeper, a player can be reported any time in between. Gws, play at the Sydney show ground, Sydney (south Melbourne) the Sydney Cricket Ground. Their next game together is 22nd of June, 430 at the show ground.

Gday Kaitlan, This video is 5 years old, the AFL has released an updated version that includes info on the AFLW (Womens league) and is a bit better at explaining some things, check it out and give it a react at "A beginner’s guide to Australian Football | AFL Explained" Love seeing your videos and insights as someone that has had an American partner and American wife who both came to Australia (one went back, ones still here) 😀

The quarters are nominally 20 minutes---followed by a break (they used to be 25 minutes) but continue for longer (perhaps 10 minutes) to allow for stoppages. There are three forwards, three backs, three half forwards, three half backs and three mid-fielders (=15). Plus three additional positions: Rover and two ruckmen 🙂 So eighteen in all.

Best game in the world. "Play tough, play brave, play like Bobby Rose."

I agree with hitting the post and still getting a point. I have followed this game and my team for 50yrs and I have always wanted that rule scrapped. It makes no sense to get a score when it hits the post and bounces back in play as the games direction by the AFL is that the whole ball needs to cross the line to score yet if it hits the post and its still a score. I dont mind if it hits the post and still goes through but when it bounces back based on the strict ruling about scoring it should be play on. It would also add excitement to the game if it bounces back in and it could go anywhere and the game continues.

Two hours of non stop battle between extreme athletes that run up to 20 kms, wrestle, jump up to two metres high. Kick long passes up to 70 metres. All this in an Olympic size stadium. One against one battles of strength and speed. The airial battles of basketball, the tackling of rugby or gridiron (no pads), speed and ball control of soccer. Gladiators to the end. Love to take you to a game. ❤

The Sydney Swans were originally the South Melbourne Swans. The Brisbane Lions is a merger of the Brisbane Bears(the first start up team) with the Fitzroy Lions from Melbourne. The other clubs from Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia are all start up teams; Tasmania will have a team starting in 2027, that just leaves the Northern Territory and ACT without representation.

This is the only football game in the world where you don’t kick the ball to start the game. It’s also the only game where you score a point for missing. Also, as long as you hold the ball over the inside of the boundary line, you can run outside of the boundary line, and the ball is still in play??? The game has gotten a lot softer over the last 20 years or so, so there are a lot more injuries because the players are more protected due to rule changes, so when they do get hit, they get hurt more. Having played both AFL & NRL, rugby league is a much more physical game, but AFL is a higher scoring game, with a much better chance of play going in the other direction. Still, NRL for me, though I did like playing AFL.

Extra time will be added on at the end of each quarter. Not just at the end of the game. Greater Western Sydney is called that because it includes both outer suburbs and inner suburbs, west of Sydney.

The Giants home ground is at Homebush next to where Sth Sydney Rabbitohs play, the Olympic precinct. Swans play at the SCG

To start the game Players set up in their positions on the playing field relevant to which end of the ground that their team are kicking to and defending. 1st quarter is 20 minutes plus any time on. 1/4 time break is 5 minutes taken in huddles on the playing field for drinks, first aid, and allows the coaching staff to talk with the players. Change of ends Both teams are now kicking in the opposite direction to the first quarter and the players set up accordingly 2nd quarter is 20 minutes plus any time on. 1/2 time break is 20 minutes and is taken in their respective change rooms. Change of ends. Both teams are now kicking to the same end that they were kicking to in the 1st quarter and players set up accordingly. 3rd quarter is 20 minutes plus any time on. 3/4 time break is 5 minutes taken in huddles on the playing field for drinks, first aid, and allows the coaching staff to talk with the players. Change of ends. Both teams are now kicking to the same end that they were kicking to in the 2nd quarter and players set up accordingly 4th quarter is 20 minutes plus any time on.

Throwing the ball away or dropping it would be too easy. Making them handball it add an element of skill to it. Once you take possession of the ball you must dispose of it correctly (either a kick or a handball). Failure to do so would constitute a free kick for the opposing team. If your kicked ball hits the goal posts, it counts as a behind. If it hits the point post (the small ones) it counts as out of bounds. If you kick the ball out of bounds on the full (without touching the ground or another player first), then a free kick is awarded to the opposing team. They introduced a "blood rule" a few decades ago and now whenever someone starts bleeding they have to exit the field. Health reasons (HIV/aids and whatever). Yes there is a difference between an AFL ball and a rugby ball (and an NRL ball). The AFL ball is not as pointy, which makes it easier to kick, bounce and handball. When they kick the ball, they strike it so it spins backwards, which affects the aerodynamics of the ball in motion. In fact, how it is kicked can affect how it flies through the air. You can see this when a player is near the goal posts but on the boundary line and they use a "banana kick" to make it spin around and through the goal posts. They can run all over the field if they want, but as you can imagine they will get tired if they do that too much. Usually they stick to their section for the same reason basketballers stick to their positions: to keep on their opponents and because they usually play in the position that they are best at (if you're short you can run around more and go lower to get access to the ball when it's on the ground, then pass it to the bigger players who might be better at kicking well). There are rules about jumping on players backs to mark (catch) the ball. You're not supposed to use your hands and you're not supposed to push them in the back. Btw, in order to score a goal (6 points) you have to kick it with your own team's foot. If an opposing player touches it or if you handball it through or it comes off your knee, it counts as a behind. In fact it can be a tactic that the opposing team might walk it through the goal or behind in order to only let a point be scored. This gives the opposing side possession of the ball. They get a free kick from the goal square. It usually works out to be 30 minutes per quarter. Each quarter has a break, with quarter time and three quarter time being short (maybe mins, I can't remember) and half time being much longer, maybe 30 or whatever mins. As far as I'm aware, there's never any extra time added on after the fourth quarter. If it's a draw, it's a draw. Finals are different though, and in the past they have replayed the entire match on the following weekend (grand final between StKilda and Collingwood happened once in recent times). The Sydney Swans were the South Melbourne Swans. At some point they wanted to expand the VFL (Victorian Football League) to become the AFL so they tried to set up a number of teams in every mainland state (Sorry Tassie). Sydney Swans, Brisbane Bears, West Coast Eagles. And then they added the Adelaide Crows. They sucked at first. Then they decided to expand the AFL some more so they added Port Adelaide Power and Freemantle Dockers. Fitzroy Lions almost folded as a club so it was decided to merge them with the Brisbane Bears. It was very sad to see Fitzroy play their last game but they looked completely pathetic. Footscray Bulldogs almost went the same way, but fortunately they were able to rebrand as the Western Bulldogs. Other teams were eventually added but I've lost track of it all since then.

A number of AFL players have been recruited as punters in the NFL.

By having points we have far fewer draws. We bounce because it adds a level of skill and difficulty not simply just running. Early on Aussie rules was a main sport in NSW and Queensland but both those states had a very strong British influence especially in school teachers and ruling elite who thought that "A PROPER ENGLISH GAME" should be played and so dismissed footy whereas in every other state they were more confident in having a indigenous Australian game and not looking back to the old country. 1865/66 was when teams were formed in Sydney and Brisbane so it goes way back.

I think the reason why they punch the ball and can't just throw it is to make the game harder, making for greater skill.

6:43 how do you call it a touchdown in Gridiron, when you don’t actually have to touch the ball down in the end zone?

Normally, Aussie Rules is played on a cricket oval; now that is another sport making headway in to America. I recommend you react to Cricket Explained for Baseball Fans, the narrator uses both cricket and baseball terminology.

An average player can run anywhere between 12 and 15 kilometres per game, with some top players even reaching 20 kilometers. Unlike the original game, where players were either in the forward, centre or defense areas; in the modern game, players can move all over the oval.

Hi Kaitlyn, the Aussie rules ball is a bit smaller than a rugby ball and maybe a bit pointier. I think an American football would be smaller and pointier again. Yes, they do a lot of running. Most players move up and down the ground at least to some extent. The midfielders cover the most territory - up to around 20 km per game. Why not throw it? I guess because it makes it a bit harder. Otherwise, it would probably favour the team with the ball too much. This is similar to the need to bounce the ball; it gives the team without the ball the chance to tackle the player with the ball. If you could just run with the ball and throw it to team mates, it would be pretty boring and give little opportunity for change in possession. Why are you allowed to jump on an opponent's back to take a mark? Because it gives you the opportunity to take a spectacular mark (or "specky"), which is a unique and very attractive hallmark of the game. Why do you get a point for "missing"? It is essentially a tiebreaker. There would be many more draws if you just got scores for goals, like soccer. The times of the quarters? There are breaks between each of the quarters: 5 mins for quarter time (between the first and second quarters), 20 mins for half time (between the second and third quarters) and 5 mins for three quarter time (between the third and fourth quarters). The clock starts at 20 mins at the start of the quarter and is paused for interruptions in play (such as after a goal is scored, when the ball goes over the boundary line or if the umpire blows the whistle and raises his hand for "time on" (if there is a big tangle of players or a player goes off for the blood rule, for example). There are no time outs called by the coaches. Most quarters will be around 30 mins from start to finish, so a whole game takes about 2.5 hours. The only time that they play extra time at the end is in the event of a tied finals game, where there needs to be a result to determine who goes on to the next week or even the result of the Grand Final. Until recently, a drawn Grand Final would require the teams to come back the next week for a rematch. That last happened in 2010 (Collingwood beat St Kilda in the rematch). I recommend you see it for yourself, but probably best to go with someone who knows the game so they can explain any questions you have. If you are in Melbourne, I would be happy to take you and Mark to a game at the MCG. Yes, the season is on right now. The season is more or less the same as the NRL. The finals are in September.

It can be one of the fastest sports if you have aggressive attacking teams. If teams are too defensive they tend to loose.

The whole 'get a point for missing' thing is just nonsense spread by jealous thugby and soccer fans, Australian football has multiple scoring options, goals and behinds. Watch 'top 50 marks of all time', 'top 50 goals of all time' and highlights of the 2018 Grand Final.

Yes all three of the codes League Union and AFL are slightly different

The balls are slightly different shapes and the AFL ball is considerably lighter and smoother. Players do have a rough area they cover but they still move around a lot. A lot depends on the players play style/skills and tactics. Forwards for example are hulking tall giants and will normally be up in the forward 50 but might be pulled off to chase an opposition ruck instead.

In AFL if there is an injury causing bleeding ( regardless of how severe) the player will be sent off until staunched/dressed. This rule came in when HIV became well known.

The nearest stadium to you is at Homebush. The Swans used to be South Melbourne...

8:55 it’s the same as NFL, but the extra time is added at the end of each quarter.

There are us footy (AFL) fans up here in QLD. I laughed at your reaction to the 1 point behind. I was going to say before this that tossing the ball would be too easy and this game is about making things more difficult, then you bring up the 1 point for hitting the post lol, I don't know.

Blood trickling down and all sorts...YEAH - Joel Selwood.

Currently at Round 10

with the time its twenty minutes per quarter, yet with stoppage it could last 30mins

Having a point awarded for a behind reduces the likelihood of a draw. Many a game has been won or lost by a 'handy point'. And it's not reward for missing, as the scoring area is anywhere between the two behind posts. It's sort of like the difference between scoring a 2 pointer or 3 pointer in basketball.

scoring of one point was to reduce draws hence why league has golden point to reduce draws .prior to 1897 points were not counted although recorded and so many draws occurred

The point stops draws from happening.

Living in AUSTRALIA vs AMERICA | 10 Surprising Similarities and DIFFERENCES by Lifestyle Chris Vincelli Curious to know what you think of the video above.

The afl football is a different texture & not as wide or as one has said 'fat' as the nrl ball. The leather of the afl 'sherrin' is much like the leather of a polished shoe & laced along 4 seams, allowing for the inside bladder entry point to inflate it.

Time on is added at the end of each quarter

1:25 I’m surprised that’s allowed - the AFL has had a strict blood rule for at least 30 years where players need to go off the ground to be patched up if they start bleeding. In one of the marks you’ll see a player with his head bandaged; that’s because of the blood rule.

The only way a ball can leave you is either a proper handball or a kick. If you arm is pinned down against your body, then you can't handball it away. This can result in a free if the ball spills out.

Why a point for hitting the post? Well, you get a point for kicking between the main (goal) post and the outer (behind) post. So when you think about it, if you hit the MAIN post then it is a MORE accurate kick than a normal behind, and so should be worth at least as much. Of course, if you hit the OUTER post then it's just like kicking it out of bounds, so you get nothing except a free kick against you if you hit the outer post on the full.

it's not Australia's favourite sport only in some areas. Rugby League is the no. 1 sport in NSW and QLD by a long way.

what you said yes. ten minutes breaks I think for the first and third and twenty mins for the second

Australian rules has been 4 quarters of 25 mins since 1886 . time on is time lost from throw in ins free kick giving and goals scored can be up to 15 mins PER QUARTER some quarter last 35 mins . quarter time is 5 mins Half Time is 20 mi ns 3 quarter time is 5mins

The Sydney Swans were South Melbourne before it became the AFL ( It was the VFL ie: Victoria FL). It was the start of making the sport, at elite level, national.

Great to see you at least checking out the nation's biggest sport :) There a short (5 min) break between the 1st and 2nd, and the 3rd and 4th quarters. Half time is a bigger break, about 30 mins. Also, Aussie rules ball is slightly less 'fat' than in Rugby, it allows expert players to bounce the ball far in front of them while running without having to slow down. Also, most kicks at goal that hit a goal-post go over the line - often even between the 2 goal-posts - but any contact with either one means just 1 point (called a behind). If the ball hits one of the outer posts (the behind posts) it is zero score. Mitch, Australia :)

Don't ask why because it just is. 😜

They say players come in all shapes and size. Maybe different sizes but not different shapes

Katlin you did a great job trying to understand Australian Rules Football and I hope you can get to see a game. Greater Western Sydney is a team out your way maybe you could get to one of they games.

The idea of hand-balling is so deeply ingrained in the AFL dominant states that people won't 'pass' an object (or idea) to someone else, they'll hand-ball it. If you go to an AFL game the Coles advert uses 'handball' not 'pass'.

6:39 don’t look at us like that! At least we make kicking a major part of our sport.😝

The Western Sydney Giants play at Homebush, Sydney Showground! Find a few friends and have a girls day out It will be life changing.