Historically, it was the first type of football played in Australia. Some believe that its origin is seen in the games of our indigenous brothers. Although initially developed in Victoria, it spread to all of the Australian colonies during the second half of the 19th century.

The purpose of this article is to list the differences from the “Australian rules”. These are the differences that set it apart from other soccer codes.

• There are 18 players on each team, making it the game with the most players on the field at one time: 36 total. You can play 9 per side; 14 per side; 15 per side and 16 per side. Smaller numbers are common for underage teams.

• The field is in the shape of an ellipse (oval); up to 160 meters long and 120 meters wide in the center. Youth teams play on a much smaller oval.

• There is no offside.

• There are no plugins.

• There are players from both sides scattered around the field, usually in pairs, with one from each team.

• The game is a 360 degree game. That means the players are all around you, in contrast to rugby and American football games where teams play against each other.

• Players may wear sleeveless shirts without padding.

• Long distance kicking and high scoring are features of the game.

• The game at the senior level is played during four quarters of 20 minutes of real playing time. This means that the players are on the ground for more than two hours, making it the longest game of any football code.

• The scoring scheme consists of kicking the ball between the posts at either end of the field. There are four posts placed seven meters apart. To score a goal, (worth 6 points), the ball must be kicked through the center posts without another player touching it. Otherwise, the score is one point. Hitting the inside posts or passing between the outside posts is also worth a point.

• Play at the senior level is controlled by three field officials stationed around the oval assisted by four boundary officials (whose role is to determine when the ball is out of play and throw it on the command of the field official) and two field referees. goal. Typically one field referee, two boundary referees, and two goal referees would officiate at other levels of the game.

• There is no expulsion rule, but players can be reported for serious offenses, such as hitting.

• Players may be awarded free kicks for infractions of the rules or a mark (catching a ball from a kick from more than 15 meters). This means that the opposing player stands on the mark indicated by the referee, allowing the player with the free kick the opportunity to kick or handball the ball without interference.

• Tackling is part of the game. A player must be in possession of the ball before he can be tackled. It must be approached according to the rules. Otherwise, a free kick is awarded.

• Players may herd to protect the ball carrier.

• The game contains a lot of running and kicking by all players.

These are the factors that make our Australian game unique and very different. It confuses fans of rugby and football (soccer, in most of the world) games and supporters of American football when they first see it. But what they see ‘live’ is the fastest and most difficult soccer game in the world.