All About AFL (Australian Rules Football)

What is Aussie Rules Footy?

Australian (rules) football, or simply known as football, footy, Aussie rules or as AFL, is a team sport played between two teams of 18 players with an oval shaped ball. It is a football variant played outdoors on large oval shaped grass fields (often also used as a cricket ground), with two goal posts and two behind posts at each end.

The primary aim of the game is to score goals by kicking the ball between the middle two posts of the opposing goal. The winner is the team who has the higher total score at the end of the fourth quarter.

Players may use any part of their body to advance the ball. The primary methods are kicking, handballing and running with the ball. There are restrictions on how the ball can be handled, for example players running with the ball must intermittently bounce or touch it on the ground, throwing the ball is not allowed.

Unlike most similar sports, there is no offside rule and players can roam the field freely. A distinctive feature of the game is the mark, where players anywhere on the field who catch a ball from a kick are awarded a free kick. Australian rules is a contact sport in which players can tackle using their hands or use their whole body to obstruct opponents. Dangerous physical contact (such as a pushing an opponent in the back), interference when marking and deliberately slowing the play are discouraged with free kicks, distance penalties or suspension, depending on the seriousness of the infringement.

Frequent physical contests, aerial marking or "speckies", fast movement of both players and the ball and high scoring are the game's main attributes as a spectator sport.

How many AFL teams are there currently?

There are currently 16 AFL Football teams from 5 states of Australia.
Western Australia has two teams, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers.
South Australia has two teams, the Adelaide Crows and The Port Adelaide Power.
Queensland has one team, the Brisbane Bears.
New South Wales has one team, the Sydney Swans.
Victoria has ten teams, Carlton, Collingwood Magpies, Essendon Bombers, Melbourne Demons, Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne Kangaroos, Hawthorn Hawks, Geelong Cats, St Kilda Saints and Richmond Tigers.

Victoria has the majority as these teams were originally VFL teams, the VFL was the Victorian Football League and went on to become the Australian Football League.

Whats all this about a new Queensland team?

In April 2008, a group headed by Gold Coast businessman John Witheriff and including former Brisbane Lions chairman Graeme Downie, officially applied for the 17th club licence in the AFL. The group, dubbed 'GC17', was given six months to fulfil a range of criteria set down by the AFL, with a view to the new club entering the AFL competition in 2011.

The criteria, which included the acquisition of 20,000 committed supports and 111 sponsors, were all met by the group, and at the conclusion of the six months, on 13th October, the group formally submitted its proposal to the AFL for consideration.

The team's name, Gold Coast FC, and colours, red, gold and blue were revealed soon after.

How well do you think the new AFL Queensland team will develop?

I think that the team itself will be successful, when it comes to their playing list and ability on field, but I still am not sure how they plan to gain supporters? Brisbane have one of the lowest membership figures in the AFL, so I just can't see how another team is going to survive up there, and have an adequate fan base. I know the AFL will help them out, but how are they going to stay afloat in a few years time?

I really do not want to see this new team 'poaching' valuable players from other clubs, and I am not happy about the draft concessions they are going to receive. I know it's the only way to establish a team at AFL level, but I just think it is unfair to other clubs.

How many times does an AFL team play another team per year?

It depends because there are 16 teams and only 22 rounds every team plays each other once (rds 1-15), then only play half the other teams again.

How much does it cost to purchase an AFL team membership?

They can vary anywhere between $40 - a few hundred dollars depending what type of membership you are looking for. Match day membership usually cost more because they contain entry to a number of games, but usually you can get a good deal if you live in a different state to your club.

Kids memberships are usually the cheapest and best value for money and sometimes you can buy a membership specifically designed for women that doesn't cost too much.

Usually you can find what you are looking for on your footy club website.

What is the normal AFL practices for clubs in getting new players?

In the AFL, they have a system called the draft. You get picks depending on where you finish on the ladder at the end of the season, so 16th gets pick 1, 15th gets pick 2 etc. They have a rule called the "Priority Pick". If a team wins accumulates 20.5 points in a season (5 wins=20 points) they get another pick. if the team that finishes bottom wins 3 games for the year, they get picks 1,17 and every subsequent pick is based on whether another team gets a priority pick. A team may get 1,17,33,50 etc. Draft picks can be traded for a player already on a list.

There is two draft systems, the NAB AFL Rookie draft where players from U/18's and reserve teams chosen by the AFL are picked by the clubs. Any listed player who is out of contract or a player who is too old for the Rookie draft can enter the Pre-season draft. Picks in the Pre-season draft can also be traded and they are given in the same order as the Rookie draft.

Players who are looking at joining another club will train with the club during the off-season before the draft. Players are also payed a yearly sum to help with living etc and get paid for every game that they play for the senior team. They also get paid for playing reserve football.

How do i get drafted into the AFL?

Try and do well in the local competition and then they should have a look at you, find out the club who drafts players in your league and contact them, for some useful information go to afl.com.au

What are AFL players wearing under their jerseys lately?

Some players have been wearing tracking devices under their jersey's for a year or two now. Basically it keeps track of how much running they doing during a game, they sometimes also monitor things such as heart rate, body temp etc.

How much training do the afl players go through?

They have about 3 Training sessions per week. They do basic football exercises, get themselves ready for the game coming up on that week. They also go into the gym, go swimming, or do weights.

How Do i Kick a Football Further and more Accurate?

When trying to kick longer you really need to make sure that you bring you're foot right through the ball, preferably to shoulder height on the follow through (most people don't do this). To kick more accurately you need to make sure you point your toe and lock you're ankle so that you're foot is straight and not in a L shape as the ball will go straight up.

Try to aim at something close (like a tree, witches hat) like 10 feet away and when you can hit that 4 out of 5 times, or 5 out of 5 times then make it longer 15 feet then 20 feet etc.

Correct practice will help you try to do at least 3 nights week for 15 to 20 mins to get better quicker.