Aussie Rules Football vs Rugby – Tilly J
In the land down under, where the sun beats down with the intensity of a thousand barbecues and kangaroos reign supreme, there exists a rivalry as fierce as a dingo defending its territory. It’s not between two rival gangs of koalas or competing shrimp on the barbie recipes. No, this rivalry is between two sports that are as quintessentially as Australian as Vegemite on toast: Aussie Rules Football and Rugby.
In one corner, we have Aussie Rules Football, a game where players fly through the air like boomerangs and kick balls with the precision of a kangaroo boxing match. In the other corner, we have Rugby Union, a sport where burly men tackle each other with the force of a stampede of emus.
Aussie Rules Football:
Picture this: a sprawling oval field, resembling a giant Vegemite jar lid, where players clad in tight shorts and colorful jerseys battle it out with a strange-shaped ball that they punt, pass, and handball with reckless abandon. The objective? Kicking the ball between the middle, taller goalposts (worth six points) or through the outer posts (worth one point)
But don’t be fooled by its apparent simplicity. Aussie Rules Football is a game of skill, strategy, and sheer athleticism. Players leap into the air like kangaroos on a trampoline, making spectacular marks (catches) that would put a circus acrobat to shame. And let’s not forget the bone-crunching tackles that send opponents flying like a cockatoo caught in a gust of wind.
Some simple rules:
The game starts with the umpire holding the ball high and bouncing it in the centre square. Two players or “ruckmen” jump for the ball and try to tap it down to one of their teammates. This starting method also occurs after every goal, with the ball being brought back to the center on each occasion.
The ball can be passed backwards and forwards, but cannot be thrown; it must instead be ‘handballed’, which involves holding the ball in the palm of the hand and punching it with the other. Players can also kick the ball – if it is kicked more than 15m and caught by another player who is not touched in flight and calls a ‘mark,’ then they get a free kick.
Players can run with the ball but must not run more than 15m without bouncing the ball or touching it to the ground. Tackling is allowed, but it must be below the shoulder and above the knee. Players can also knock each other out of the way using a ‘hip and shoulder’ from the side.
Rugby Union:
On the other hand, we have Rugby, a sport steeped in tradition, where players resemble modern-day gladiators clad in armor-like jerseys, ready to battle on the pitch. With its scrums, rucks, and mauls, Rugby Union can seem like a chaotic game of human Tetris, as players form intricate formations to gain possession of the ball.
But despite its apparent complexity, Rugby Union is a game of brute force and cunning strategy.
Some simple rules:
Before the start of the match, the referee tosses a coin to decide which team will kick off the match. The captain of the team that wins the toss gets to decide which end he wants to attack first, or whether his side or the opposition will kick off. The game is started by a place kick or a dropkick from the middle of the halfway line. The ball must travel forwards at least 10 metres from the kick-off. Tackles must be below the sternum and try to avoid the knees, if not a yellow or red card can be given to the tackler. Unlike Aussie rules, you can only pass backwards, if forwards, a penalty an be given, and isntead of 18 players on a pitch, there’s 15.
The Showdown:
So, which sport reigns supreme in the land of the Southern Cross? Well, that depends on who you ask. Aussie Rules Football fans will argue that their sport is the true embodiment of Australian spirit, with its fast-paced action and high-flying antics. Rugby supporters , on the other hand, will claim that their sport is the epitome of toughness and camaraderie, with its bone-jarring tackles and scrappy gameplay. When I went to my first Aussie rules football match, I do admit I was just far too confused to understand what was going on, I think at one point I was supporting the other team… being too used to rugby rules was not helpful, my brain was just frazzled but I’ll blame it on the jet-lag. I do recommend going to a match if you heading Down Under anytime soon, the atmosphere was buzzing and a specialty is a potato tornado on a stick (was defo worth the 6 bucks). I did really like going to the Aussie rules footy match, I truly embraced the Ozzie spirit, but my host family did know me a little bit too well, and took me to see the Canberra Raiders against Newcastle Knights in the NRL. Although this was a league game, I saw the first women’s match at the GIO Canberra Stadium as well as the men’s, and at least I knew all the rules. Overall, rugby wins for me, but Aussie Rules Football is a good contender with its ferocious tackles and tight vests.
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