Just wondering. And don't tell me you have never heard of it :p

Not me, it's more of a Channel 4 curiosity over here, like Kabbadi.

I've never heard of it :(

Bah!! They dont know what they are missing.
All I know is the Hawks are gonna destroy the swans Tomorrow arvo. :spank

I'm sure I've seen it on Neighbours before...

I've only heard about it here, have no idea what it is like and have never seen any images of matches. So I guess I don't have any opinion on it. Except for being sure that the name football makes less sense for it than for real football, unless of course it is the very same game.

@Hitro: The feet are prominently used at least, so the term 'football' makes a lot more sense than it does for other sports who use that name.

Aussie Rules is the pinnacle of speed, strength and skill. The ultimate of sports.

I used to see it late night on ESPN, but I don't think they air it anymore. Never did get much sense of the rules.

I actually enjoyed watching it the few times it was shown over here in the states. Plenty of action and I remember the referees being quite animated with hand signals. I don't recall seeing it recently on TV over here though. :(

I used to see it late night on ESPN, but I don't think they air it anymore. Never did get much sense of the rules.

I used to watch it on ESPN, too. Then they dropped it. :( I actually enjoyed
it quite a bit; got some of the rules through osmosis, and loved the way
the refs signalled scores...

Yep, it's not a bad game. I also quite enjoy the hybrid game that are played between Ireland and Australia every year. Whenever they are played in Dublin I try to get tickets.

sure...those aussies are tough dudes. i'm surprised that none have ever crossed over into american football. they'd make for a nasty, hard hitting safety.

there is at least one

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/3099

of course he's a punter!

I can get into it occasionally to pass the time when theres no rugby on.

i heard there are a group in america who play it, but other than that its mostly australian as the name suggests.

Aussie Rules is growing. There are competitions now in the UK, Ireland, US, New Zealand and even Denmark.

More info International Australian Football Council www.iafc.com.au

Or the official AFL (national league) website www.afl.com.au

Greatest Game in the world.

I've only heard about it here, have no idea what it is like and have never seen any images of matches. So I guess I don't have any opinion on it. Except for being sure that the name football makes less sense for it than for real football, unless of course it is the very same game.
Same for me

I can get into it occasionally to pass the time when theres no rugby on.
rugby? in western australia?

I agree with el justo, those guys are really tough :eek: . I do not understand the points system and some other aspects, but I do enjoy
the hard hits and ball movement :cool: .

rugby? in western australia?

Well, on Foxtel anyway, which for me means at a pub with hopefully more than one tv! :D

I agree with el justo, those guys are really tough :eek: . I do not understand the points system and some other aspects, but I do enjoy
the hard hits and ball movement :cool: .

Its all quite simple. The goal posts are the two big ones in the middle. The ones on the outside are 'behind' posts. If the ball is kicked between the two goal posts (without touching a hand or touching the posts), its a goal (6 points). If it touches an opposition player first, or goes between a goal and a behind post, its a behind (1 point). There is a comprehensive list of rules at either of the sites I mentioned above, if you are interested :D

:thanx: Margim. That helps alot with the point system. Does the ball have
to stay in continuous movement? Very fun to watch on TV :scan: :D .

:thanx: Margim. That helps alot with the point system. Does the ball have to stay in continuous movement? Very fun to watch on TV :scan: :D .

No. If the ball is kicked and doesn't touch the ground, the player from either side who catches it on the full (without the ball contacting anyone else) has 'marked' the ball. They then have the oppurtunity to settle, catch their breath, and then try and pinpoint a team mate, or have a 'set' shot for goal if they are close enough. As you can imagine, this creates interesting contests to jump over opposition players to 'mark' the ball before others can touch it. It is a full contact sport, with the exception of no neck or head high tackles, no tripping, no pushing an opponent in the back, and no 'shepherding' (blocking) or holding more than five metres off the ball. Holding or tackling a player who does not have the ball is unacceptable, and a free kick will be awarded to the opposition.

If the ball is passed by handballing (punching), or it it is touched by another player after it is kicked and before it is marked, it is 'play on'. The person in possession may be tackled. If they fail to get rid of the ball either by hand passing or by kciking, it is deemd either 'throwing' or 'holding the ball', and a free kick is awarded the opposition.

Hope this helps :) Go Bombers!!

@ Margim- Thank you again :D . That helped alot. I am now a Bombers
fan too ;) . Most of the time when I see it on TV it is different countries
playing one another, what league are the Bombers in? :scan:

Most of the time when I see it on TV it is different countries
playing one another, what league are the Bombers in? :scan:

That's interesting... international matches aren't that common! Did those matches have a round ball or oval ball? The round ball game is a hybrid game, crossed with Irish Gaelic Football, played in a two game series each year.

The Oval ball is Australian rules. The Essendon Bombers are one of the sixteen teams in the Australian football league, the chief footballing body in Australia - 10 teams are from Melbourne, 2 from Adelaide, 2 from Perth, 1 from Sydney and 1 from Brisbane. Essendon is one of the 10 Melbourne teams, from melbourne's northern suburbs.

Sorry Margim :blush: , I think as was remembering Rugby instead of ARF :crazyeye: . I seem to remember Perth and Sydney playing :scan: .

Ah, thats ok. Still... check out Aussie Rules. Its a far better sport!