Aussie Rules

[Hector]

I saw my first game of this yesterday. I was one of 70,000 people (it really is a huge sport in Victoria) watching Essendon (who have been enveloped in a drugs scandal) against Richmond. Once you've got used to the huge oval playing area (this is also the Melbourne cricket ground, where test matches are played), the large numbers of players (18 on each team) and officials (about 10), the 4 vertical goalposts, and the linesmen taking the throw-ins (with their back to the pitch), it's a thoroughly absorbing game. The slickness of some of the passing was a joy to behold.

Richmond won by 104 points to 65.

 

[Blaarev]

I saw my first game of this yesterday. I was one of 70,000 people (it really is a huge sport in Victoria) watching Essendon (who have been enveloped in a drugs scandal) against Richmond. Once you've got used to the huge oval playing area (this is also the Melbourne cricket ground, where test matches are played), the large numbers of players (18 on each team) and officials (about 10), the 4 vertical goalposts, and the linesmen taking the throw-ins (with their back to the pitch), it's a thoroughly absorbing game. The slickness of some of the passing was a joy to behold.

Richmond won by 104 points to 65.

A rubgy like sport played at a cricket ground...... As if I didn't struggle enough with grasping the difference between Rugby League and Rugby Union, and Cricket in general.

That said, I watched an Aussie Rules game on TV once and even if I didn't understand all the rules it was highly entertaining.

70000? Good crowd!

 

[Macky]

A rubgy like sport played at a cricket ground

Actually, it's gaelic football, played with a rugby ball, on a cricket pitch

 

[Lako42]

Actually, it's gaelic football, played with a rugby ball, on a cricket pitch

It was actually a regulated game over 20 years before gaelic football was.

My Aussie rules obsessed house mates in Brisbane thought it more likely to have come from an Aboriginal game that I can not remember the name of.

 

[Blue Maniac]

It was actually a regulated game over 20 years before gaelic football was.

My Aussie rules obsessed house mates in Brisbane thought it more likely to have come from an Aboriginal game that I can not remember the name of.

http://www.ausport.gov.au/participa...es/individual_games/ball_games/marn-grook.pdf

 

[Lako42]

http://www.ausport.gov.au/participa...es/individual_games/ball_games/marn-grook.pdf

That's the one BM, nice find.

 

[Blue Maniac]

That's the one BM, nice find.

I like the slightly racist picture. All the kids are black because, let's face it, this is a blackie's game. Look, one of them hasn't even got shoes on. The savages. Why don't they all just **** off and get drunk.

 

[Macky]

It was actually a regulated game over 20 years before gaelic football was.

My Aussie rules obsessed house mates in Brisbane thought it more likely to have come from an Aboriginal game that I can not remember the name of.

Seems a bit tenuous, looking at the .pdf of the blackamoors that the BM posted. Seems to be a completely different game.

But regardless of its origin, it is gaelic football, played with a rugby ball, on a cricket pitch.

 

[Lako42]

Seems a bit tenuous, looking at the .pdf of the blackamoors that the BM posted. Seems to be a completely different game.

But regardless of its origin, it is gaelic football, played with a rugby ball, on a cricket pitch.

Gaelic football is Aussie Rules

 

[Macky]

Gaelic football is Aussie Rules

Even though Gaelic football is far older?

 

[Joe_Fox]

Its a great sport, arguably more entertaining than football. I was at the Carlton v Richmond semi final at the MCG in front of 95000. Carlton (my team) won against the odds. I can happily watch a full match (2 hours at least) without getting bored. Some of the clubs date back to around the same time as Everton and the like. AFL is just a really good game. I believe it was played to keep cricketers fit during their close season.

 

[Hector]

Its a great sport, arguably more entertaining than football. I was at the Carlton v Richmond semi final at the MCG in front of 95000. Carlton (my team) won against the odds. I can happily watch a full match (2 hours at least) without getting bored. Some of the clubs date back to around the same time as Everton and the like. AFL is just a really good game. I believe it was played to keep cricketers fit during their close season.

The lady who is teaching me some molecular biology was really upset because Richmond (nicknamed "The Tigers") lost that match. She had the the Richmond team picture stuck to the lab fridge door, and painted her fingernails black and yellow for weeks beforehand.

 

[Hector]

Its a great sport, arguably more entertaining than football. I was at the Carlton v Richmond semi final at the MCG in front of 95000. Carlton (my team) won against the odds. I can happily watch a full match (2 hours at least) without getting bored. Some of the clubs date back to around the same time as Everton and the like. AFL is just a really good game. I believe it was played to keep cricketers fit during their close season.

You did well to get a ticket. I gather they were hard to come by.

 

[Joe_Fox]

Not too hard, just got there early. The Grand Final attendance was 100,045 or something crazy.

 

[Hector]

Not too hard, just got there early. The Grand Final attendance was 100,045 or something crazy.

I watched it at a friend's house with a few families that get together as a ritual each year. The social element eclipsed the play and I was surprised to find I was paying more attention to it than most. It wasn't a great game by all accounts - certainly more disjointed and less flowing than the live game I saw. Hawthorn were clearly the better team, and deserved winners, though.