It’s AFL Grand Final time again!
Australia is sports-mad. It is part of our national identity and is engrained in the psyche of most Australians. Australian Rules Football is different – it is our very own game with a very interesting history. Our modern game is played across 5 States in Australia, although most popular in Victoria where 10 of the 18 teams are located. New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and South Australia all boast 2 teams each. It attracts more than 6 million people to games throughout a season – almost double to that of NRL.
The origins of the game hark back to the 1850’s when it was devised as a sport suitable for Australian conditions based on the founders’ experience of playing a variety of football codes in England. Whilst rugby was a game predominantly played by upper middle-class, there was also folk or mob foot-ball played amongst the working class. The people who brought this element to the game in Australia were predominantly from Scotland and Ireland. This ad-hoc conglomeration of codes was the start of Australian Rules Football, known initially as Melbourne Rules Football. It was a pretty rudimentary game with little or no rules. The fields were rectangular and often with trees that were used as goal posts. Fighting on field was encouraged and time-keeping was non-existent too. Umpires? They were not considered necessary!
A Women’s League began in February 2017 with 8 teams. The game is slightly different to the Men’s League. There are only 16 per side compared to the 18 on a men’s side and the quarters are slightly shorter – 15 minutes as opposed to 20 minutes. The ball is also slightly smaller and lighter.
People unfamiliar with the sport are often most intrigued by the passing of the ball. Unlike in many ball sports, the ball cannot be thrown. It must be either kicked or punched (“hand-balled”) to another player. It is also one of the few sports that gives you a second chance at scoring – if you don’t quite manage to get it through the main goal posts, you can still score a point if it misses and goes through the outer posts.
Whilst the winners are held up in glory – there is also recognition for the team at the bottom of the competition ladder – the Wooden Spooners. Though perhaps not quite as welcome! The term is derived from when early 19th century students at Cambridge University were given a wooden spoon when they achieved the lowest possible exam mark but still managed to pass.
If you are not lucky enough to be one of the adoring fans who pack into the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Grand Final day you can still watch it from the comfort of your armchair or favourite pub. But – make sure you wear your club colours!
