Why do they call the game Aussie Rules if........?

Question

......all the players do is form a big pack & wrestle for the ball?

I cannot see where any skills are involved.

Answer 1

Nah, they've done away with the rules these days.

I'd like to be in amongst them wrestling though. I'd keep getting pulled up for holding-the-man!

Answer 2

As others have said- you might be confused with rugby.

As tori b has summed up perfectly- Aussie Rules is football where there are no scrums or "packs" of people wrestling for a ball. Rugby and aussie rules are 2 different sports.


Also, Aussie rules or AFL does require skills.
After the first siren, the umpire bounces the ball on the ground (or throws it into the air if the condition of the ground is poor), and the two ruckmen (typically the tallest players from each team), battle for the ball in the air on its way back down.
The ball can be propelled in any direction by way of a foot, clenched fist (called a handball or handpass) or open-hand tap (unlike rugby football there is no knock-on rule) but it cannot be thrown under any circumstances. Throwing is defined in the rules quite broadly but is essentially any open hand disposal that causes the ball to move upward in the air.

A player may run with the ball but it must be bounced or touched on the ground at least once every 15 metres. Opposition players may bump or tackle the player to obtain the ball and, when tackled, the player must dispose of the ball cleanly or risk being penalised for holding the ball. The ball carrier may only be tackled between the shoulders and knees. If the opposition player forcefully contacts a player in the back whilst performing a tackle, the opposition player will be penalised for a push in the back. If the opposition tackles the player with possession below the knees, it is ruled as a low tackle or a trip, and the team with possession of the football gets a free kick.
If a player takes possession of the ball that has traveled more than 15 metres from another player's kick, by way of a catch, it is claimed as a mark and that player may then have a free kick (meaning that the game stops while he prepares to kick from the point at which he marked). Alternatively, he may choose to "play on:" forfeiting the set shot in the hope of pressing an advantage for his team (rather than allowing the opposition to reposition while he prepares for the free kick). Once a player has chosen to play on, normal play resumes and the player who took the mark is again able to be tackled.
There are different styles of kicking depending on how the ball is held in the hand. The most common style of kicking seen in today's game, due principally to its superior accuracy, is the drop punt (the ball is dropped from the hands down, almost to the ground, to be kicked so that the ball rotates in a reverse end over end motion as it travels through the air). Other commonly used kicks are the torpedo punt (also known as the spiral or screw punt; the ball is held at an angle and kicked, which makes the ball spiral in the air, resulting in extra distance) and the checkside punt or "snap", used to curve the ball towards targets that are on an angle. Forms of kicking which have now disappeared from the game include the drop kick (similar to the drop punt except that the ball is allowed to make contact with the ground momentarily before being struck with the foot) and place kick (where the ball is first placed on the ground when shooting for goal, similar to the place kick used in rugby union). Imagine you are playing in an Aussie Rules match, there is one minute left on the clock. Your team is losing by a goal, you have to transport the ball from the back line to the forward line in one minute.
Josh Fraser kicks the ball to Dale Thomas but it's smothered . (Play on).
Leon Davis gets a handball off to you, you play on and kick a 65m goal and win .
I understand some people like you don't like our game.
But - Don't go out bagging it on the internet.
As they say in chess- checkmate.

Answer 3

I'm not sure which sport you're talking about. Aussie Rules is football where there are no scrums or "packs" of people wrestling for a ball. That is rugby and a totally different sport. Get your facts right.

Answer 4

By the looks of the question you are an American. Aussie Rules (AFL) is known to have it's wrestles, Especially when it is really close to the last 5 minutes of the game in a close match.

Answer 5

Why is rugby called rugby because thats where the rules were drawn up.

Australian rules is called that for the same reason the code of football rules were drawn up in Australia hence the name Australian rules so it could be distinguished between soccer rugby and all other types of football

Answer 6

Well, the players are not the sharpest tools in the shed.

Most wouldn't be able to understand the rules anyway so they just let them run out onto the ground & do their own thing.

Answer 7

Other sports go by a name-------soccer, football, rugby, basketball, hockey etc...

The developers of this game couldn't think up a name to call the game & came up with AUstralian Rules----------& just how intelligent is that?????????

Answer 8

Because Aussie's have massive ego's and love people saying "Australian Rules Football". Clever world play on their part.

But skills aren't needed, they just use different rules.

Answer 9

If you're gona ask a question, make sure you haven't snorted any coke before you do

Answer 10

i think ur thinking about rugby mate....thats a sport where u sniff other guys bums