An 18-a-side game that is a cross between
Gaelic football, rugby, and soccer, and is
unique to Australia, although association and
rugby football are also played there. Each
side is placed in 5 lines of 3 persons each.
Three players follow the ball all the time.
The 2 goalposts, at each end, are 6 m/19 ft
high and 6.4 m/21 ft apart. On either side
are 2 smaller posts. The football is oval,
and weighs a little more than a rugby ball. A
goal (6 points) is scored when the ball is
kicked between the goalposts, if it is not
touched on the way. If the ball passes
between a goalpost and one of the smaller
posts, or hits a post, the score is a
`behind', or one 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. This code originated on the
Australian goldfields in the 1850s.