Learn the game

Our Game
AFL footy.

Australian rules football is fast, physical, and played in every direction. The aim is wonderfully uncomplicated: score more points than the opposition.

You don't need experience—just bring boots, water and curiosity. Whether you're watching or playing, here's what you need to know.

The basics

How the
game works.

18 players per side

Each team fields 18 players on the oval. From 2026, clubs can name five interchange players, making 23 selected players total.

Four quarters of 20 minutes

Each quarter is 20 minutes of actual playing time. Time is added for stoppages and injury assessment.

Moving the ball

Players may kick or handball the ball. Throwing is illegal. When running, players must bounce or touch the ball on the ground at least once every 15 metres.

The winning team

The team with the most total points when the match ends wins. It's that simple.

The rules of play

Playing by
the rules.

Marks

Catching an untouched kick that has travelled at least 15 metres earns a mark. The player may then stop and take an unimpeded kick.

Tackling

A player possessing the ball may be tackled between the shoulders and knees. High tackles, trips, pushes in the back and dangerous tackles are prohibited.

Holding the ball

A player who had a reasonable opportunity to dispose of the ball must immediately kick or handball when legally tackled. Without prior opportunity, they must make a genuine attempt.

No offside

Players can generally move anywhere on the ground. There is no offside rule in Australian rules football.

Out of bounds

A kick that goes out on the full normally gives the opposition a free kick. Other boundary situations may produce a throw-in or free kick depending on where and how the ball went out.

Free kicks

Free kicks are awarded for infringements including high contact, holding, pushing in the back, incorrect disposal, prohibited blocking and deliberate or regulated boundary violations.

Fifty-metre penalties

May be imposed for delaying play, entering the protected area, failing to stand the mark correctly or abusing/disobeying an umpire.

Restarts

Play begins and restarts after goals with an umpire's centre throw-up. After a behind, the defending team kicks the ball back into play.

Scoring points

How to
score.

Goal

An attacking player kicks the ball untouched between the two taller goalposts

Behind

The ball passes between a goalpost and behind post, hits a goalpost, is touched before crossing the goal line, or crosses the goal line without being kicked by an attacker

Scores are written as goals.behinds (total). For example, 10.8 (68) means 10 goals and 8 behinds: (10 × 6) + 8 = 68 points.

The culture

Footy slang
and sayings.

Essential terms

The pill / Sherrin

The football.

A specky

A spectacular high mark, usually taken while standing on another player's shoulders.

A hanger

Another name for a huge aerial mark.

Sausage roll / Snag

A goal. Apparently every good thing must sound like barbecue food.

Six-pointer

A goal.

The sticks

The goalposts.

The corridor

The dangerous, direct route through the middle of the field.

Inside 50

Getting the ball into the attacking 50-metre arc.

Clanger

A spectacularly obvious mistake.

Fresh-air shot

Swinging a boot and completely missing the ball.

Selling candy

Faking one way and dodging the opponent the other.

White-line fever

Becoming fiercely competitive the moment a player crosses onto the field.

Crowd classics

BALL!

Shouted whenever anyone is tackled, regardless of whether holding the ball should actually be paid.

How far?!

The player has allegedly run too far without bouncing.

Get your eyes checked, ump!

A classic umpire critique.

That was fifteen!

Demanding a mark after a kick travelled roughly seven metres.

Just kick the thing!

A plea for action.

Straight through the big sticks!

Encouragement to kick a goal.

We were robbed.

The traditional conclusion to every close loss.

Ready-made commentary

"He's sold the candy, gone straight through the guts and dobbed a sausage roll from fifty! Absolute scenes—the lid is officially off."
Translation: the player dodged an opponent, ran through the centre and kicked a long goal. Everyone is now behaving irrationally.

Our GameAFL footy.

How thegame works.