Australian Rules Football Tours & Experience 2025

Australian Rules Football is the contact sport itself, while AFL (Australian Football League) is the premier professional competition. AFL is the top-tier league featuring 18 professional teams, each consisting of 18 players on field, with field umpires, boundary umpires, and goal umpires officiating. The sport is also played at community and amateur levels nationwide.

In AFL and Australian Rules Football, each team consists of 18 players on the oval field at any time, plus 4 interchange players on the bench who can rotate throughout the match. This differs from rugby which uses 13-15 players depending on the code.

No! Throwing the ball is illegal in Australian Rules Football. Players must either kick the ball or handball it (punch the ball with a closed fist from one hand). If a player throws the ball, the field umpire immediately awards a free kick to the opposing team. This is one of the sport's defining rules.

Holding the ball is a fundamental rule violation. When a player is tackled and has had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball but fails to legally kick or handball it, the field umpire awards a free kick against them. However, if tackled immediately upon catching the ball with no prior opportunity, it's "ball up" - a neutral restart.

Goal umpires stand behind the goal posts at each end of the oval field. They judge whether the ball passes between the two tall goal posts (6 points - signaled by waving both flags), hits a post, or passes between a goal post and shorter behind post (1 point - signaled by waving one flag). Their decisions are crucial in this high-scoring contact sport.

Field umpires award free kicks for numerous infringements including: high tackles (above shoulders), pushing in the back, holding the ball violations, throwing the ball, deliberate out of bounds, illegal blocking of opponents, tripping, and unrealistic attempts to keep the ball in play. The attacking team benefits most from free kicks in scoring range of the goal posts.

Boundary umpires patrol the perimeter of the oval field. When the ball crosses the boundary line, they throw it back into play over their heads toward the center. They also judge whether players deliberately forced the ball out (resulting in a free kick to the opposition) or if it legitimately went out during play.

When a player cleanly catches the ball directly from another player's kick that has traveled at least 15 meters without being touched, it's called a "mark." The player who marks receives a free kick and can take their time to kick to a teammate, assess the attacking team's position, or shoot at the goal posts. Spectacular high-flying marks are crowd favorites in this contact sport.

Historically, Queensland and New South Wales favored rugby league over Australian Rules Football. However, AFL has grown significantly with the Brisbane Lions (established 1987) and Sydney Swans (1982) becoming successful franchises. The Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western Sydney Giants have further expanded this contact sport's presence in traditional rugby states, though rugby codes still dominate grassroots participation in these regions.

Australian Rules Football is classified as a contact sport because players can legally bump, shepherd, and tackle opponents. Physical contests are integral - players collide at high speed contesting marks, the attacking team faces aggressive tackling, and bumping opponents (when eyes on the ball) is permitted. However, tackles must be between shoulders and knees, and field umpires award free kicks for dangerous high contact or pushing in the back.

The attacking team aims to move the ball toward their scoring end through kicking and handballing (never throwing the ball). They use strategies like switching play across the oval field, catching the ball for marks to gain territory, drawing free kicks from opponents' mistakes like holding the ball, and ultimately kicking accurately between the goal posts. Each team consists of 18 players working in coordinated attacking and defensive structures throughout the four quarters.

The AFL Finals series (September) offers the most excitement with field umpires controlling high-stakes matches where every free kick matters. Anzac Day (April 25) provides incredible atmosphere as goal umpires signal scores in this emotional clash. Easter Monday and Queen's Birthday weekend feature traditional blockbuster matches. Winter months (May-August) offer regular season contact sport action with 18 players per team battling for finals positions.