KICKIN’ IT DOWN UNDER THE EXCITEMENT OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
While obscure beyond the country’s borders, Australian Rules Football is the most popular sport in its eponymous home country. Locally called “footy,” it’s a different beast than American football and rugby, sporting many unique rules while being an exhilarating spectacle. You’ll love the Australian Football League or AFL if you’re into sports. Australian football looks more like rugby than American football. Players aren’t clad in padded uniforms and helmets like their peers across the pond; they wear the simple jersey and shorts combo standard among rugby and soccer players. The game is played with a ferocity not dissimilar to rugby, but several differences make it substantially distinct. When watching the AFL, you’ll notice the field is very different than other sports. The field is oval-shaped and much wider than American football fields. It’s also slightly longer, measuring at least 130 yards. Why so big? It’s necessary to handle the 18 players on each team. That’s a swarm compared to 11-player American football teams.
Unlike its counterparts, the AFL is all about punching and kicking. Players can’t throw the ball — they must kick or punch to pass it. Players can rarely hold on to the ball for long due to the large teams. As a result of these rules, matches are fast and fluid. Consequently, stricter rules on tackling ensure players survive the game. Tackling is restricted to between the shoulders and knees, so it’s not as integral to the AFL as to rugby and American football. Lastly, players must kick the ball through goalposts to score; they can’t punch or carry it. Each side has four goalposts: two marking the outer goal and two marking the inner goal. The inner goalposts are relatively close together and taller, so kicking it through nets 6 points. The two other goalposts are outside the inner posts, and kicking it through those is worth one point. After four 20-minute quarters, the higher score wins. AFL will be thoroughly entertaining for football and rugby fans. It’s an underrated gem with some of the fiercest action in sports. So, grab a vegemite sandwich, slam a Tim Tam, and tune in!
Hi! My name is Madison, but I prefer to go by Madi. I grew up in a small town outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. I enjoy the heat but fell in love with San Diego’s weather. I have three dogs and they consume most of my free time! What I love about working in a PT office is the progress I get to watch and nurture in our patients as they work hard and get better! I plan to one day become a PTA myself, so I am right where I need to be. WELCOME PATIENT CARE COORDINATOR MADI
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