football, Australian rules

Game that combines aspects of Gaelic football, rugby, and association football; it is played between two teams of 18 players each, with an inflated oval ball. It is unique to Australia.

The game is played on an oval pitch with a pair of goalposts at each end. On either side of each pair of goalposts is a smaller post. Each team is placed in five lines of three persons each, and three players follow the ball all the time. Points are scored by kicking the ball between the goalposts, without its being touched on the way (‘goal’, 6 points), or by passing the ball between a goalpost and one of the smaller posts, or causing it to hit a post (‘behind’, 1 point). There are no scrums, line-outs, or off-side rules. A player must get rid of the ball immediately on starting to run, by kicking, punching, or bouncing it every 10 m/33 ft. No tackling (as in rugby) is allowed.