Australian Football League: Background, Event Visit and Significance Today

This report provides a detailed study of the Australian Football League (AFL), including its background, event visit experience, and significance to Australians today. The AFL is the highest attended sport event in Australia and has become a leading football code in the nation. It has attracted the interest of Australians more than any other football code and is attended by the highest number of spectators. The report also highlights the benefits provided by the AFL, including its role in bridging the gap between white Australians and indigenous Australians, expanding participation of females, and improving the physical health of players. AFL has a great role in the culture of Australia and has helped to bridge the gap between white Australians and indigenous Australians.

RUNNING HEAD: Introduction to Australia 0
Introduction to Australia

Introduction to Australia 1
Contents
Contents.................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Background...........................................................................................................................................2
Event visit..............................................................................................................................................3
What does Australian Rules football mean to Australians today...........................................................4
Conclusion.............................................................................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................6

Introduction to Australia 2
Introduction
The Australian Football League (AFL) is also known as Aussie Rules. The Australian
Football season shows the pride of Australians in their national sport. AFL has highest
audience of all the events take place in Australia. It is managed and administered by the
Australian Football League. The rules were formed in 1859 by the Melbourne Football Club.
The AFL takes place during winter which lasts from March until September. The AFL season
mostly takes place in Melbourne. There are two main stadiums in Melbourne, Etihad Stadium
and Melbourne Cricket Ground. There are selected games which also take place in Sydney,
Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and some other locations around the country. This report provides
the detailed study of Australian Football League. Further it explains the visit along with
observations and experience. Finally it discusses what Australian Rules football means to
Australians today.
Background
Aussie rules are the main code of football. The AFL attracts the highest audience of any sport
in Australia and has fourth highest audience of any professional sport in world. There are 16
venues in every state of Australia which is capable of hosting AFL (Adair & Vamplew,
1997). The Melbourne Cricket Ground is the largest venue and has capacity of 100,024. The
grand finale is played every year here only. The game starts in the last weekend of March
and continues until the end of March. The game is played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Each game is separated into 4 twenty minute quarters with a break of twenty minute, plus
time on stoppage for goals and injuries. The game is played on a grass oval which needs not
to be specific. However, the field should be oval between 135 to 185 metres in dimension and
110 to 155 metres in width. The game includes two teams of 18 players with an additional
four players on an interchange bench. The players strive to score points by kicking on an oval
shaped ball. The players pass the ball to other players either by kicking it or punching it with
their palm. But they cannot pass ball by throwing. A player who catches the ball earns the
right to make next move without intervention. The players try to win the ball by tackling
opposition and stopping their progress. The play moves forward, backward and around of the
field. The unique feature of game is mark, where players catch the ball from kick is awarded
possession. The normal point worth one score whereas ball kicked through goal earns six
points. The team with the most points wins at the end. AFL is locally known as footy. This

Introduction to Australia 3
game is played at amateur level in many countries (Murray & Howat, 2002). AFLW is
Australian Rules football league for the female players. AFLW is run by the AFL. The first
season of this league was begun in 2017 with eight teams. The AFLW is in it’s second year.
The teams are based of five states of Australia. It has quite different rules than AFL.
The black and proud is one of iconic images of Australia. In 1993, the original AFL
footballer Nicky Winmar stood against racial abuse and created history. He pulled his shirt in
crowd and pointed to his chest and indicated that “He is black and proud to be black”
(Klugman & Osmond, 2013). It made a powerful prejudice on nation. There is something that
people are mad about Australian Rules football. Even the book is also written by Matthew
Klugman Blood Matterswhich explains sports, music and medicine (Klugman, 2009). His
work on willingness of footy fans was highlighted on television, radio and newspapers. The
writer resides in Melbourne and addresses sport studies at Victoria University.
Event visit
I went to AFL game for the very first time and returned home yesterday only. I have a lot of
thoughts about visit. For a unique and truly sporting experience, I head to the Melbourne
Cricket ground to watch an AFL game at Melbourne. The Melbourne Cricket ground is the
definitive sport to see a game of footy. I instantly fell in love with footy. The popularity of
the game often approaches obsession.
I went to watch the final between Geelong cats and Collingwood Magpies. It was amusing. I
have never gotten into this game in spite of being from a family whose grandmother knows
all the words to Swans club song. It was meant to cheer favourite team and drink beer
friends. I saw the game is reckless and action filled so I just Google image AFL players to see
graphical appeal. I execrate they are the most attractive athletes in the best possible shape I
have ever seen (Coutts, et. al. 2015). They seem like mix of rugby and American football but
without pads and aggravating strike time.
Sports’ betting was equally interesting in match. Sports’ betting is permitted in Australia. It
is easy to bet in a sports betting outlet. A person can bet for just $5 or more and can vest
interest in game. I secured my first bet on the grand final and it was quite thrilling (Sullivan,
et. al. 2014).

Introduction to Australia 4
I experienced that Melbourne Cricket stadium was decisive spot to see a match of footy. The
stadium was constructed in 1853 and can cover over 100,000 people. It is an awesome sport
to see live. The interesting thing about Melbourne supporters is that games at Melbourne
Cricket stadium will be filled. AFL is overwhelming as it includes lots of actions, a bizarrely
shaped ball and a huge field. I would not have into AFL because if I did not have any friend
taking me along to first glance at Melbourne Cricket ground. The people of Melbourne are
enthusiasts about game and feel pleased to share their urge for the game with newcomers
joining to the sport (Coulter, Mallett & Singer, 2016)
It is exciting to choose a team and shout for. It is the most popular way to sport a team by
team’s jersey or scarf and connect with locals. It also provided opportunity to me to register
interest in PlayAFL. I enjoyed watching match with beer and pie. The pie is a perfect
companion to cold beer. There is nothing like a pot of beer and four and twenty’ pie.
What does Australian Rules football mean to Australians today
The Australian Rules football is one of the greatest things ever invented. It has become
leading football code in the nation. It has attracted interest of Australians than any other
football code. Australian Rules football is attended by the highest spectators. The report of
government shows that more than 2.5 million people attended game in 2005-2006. It is one of
the world’s five professional sport leagues. Due to the efforts of AFL, Australians have
become successful in standout crowd spitting, discrimination on the basis of religion, racial
outbursts and gender preferences. They have also introduced illicit drugs policy in 2005 in
which players are tested for illegal substances. The Aussie Rules employs tens of thousands
of people in across country. From players to admin staff, employees at grounds, media,
security and sponsors from industries. The AFL is good for both economy and society
(Rennie, et. al. 2017). It is the most communally responsible sporting initiative. It adds a huge
social utility to wider community. It is an ethnic game and national wealth.
Melbourne gets more than viable benefits from accommodating AFL grand finale. The
Australians are benefitted psychologically and socially. It is because AFL is more than a
game. It is an honourable festival which brings together people in comprehensive ways
(Corbett, et. al. 2018). It highlights the cultural heritage and achievements of aboriginal
footballers.

Introduction to Australia 5
The compensation and benefits are given to retain and motivate employees. AFL has helped
to bridge the gap between in the past between Australians and indigenous Australians. The
involvement of people in footy promotes social harmony. It encourages people from various
cultural backgrounds to involve in football on a local level. AFL has created arena in which
non-indigenous Australians celebrate indigenous achievement. The success of indigenous
players has provided a powerful stage for the nation to conscience confronted with
discrimination (Gorman & Oliver, 2018).
The benefits provided by AFL have expanded participation of females with the introduction
of AFL’s Women League. AFL has also improved physical health of players. A study
conducted shows that every dollar spend on football generates $4.40 return in the form of
mental health, personal development, service outcomes, physical health and wellbeing
(Weekly Times, 2015). The persons associated with football aged 18 to 24 years have better
mental health than the general population. The football rules bring communities together and
leveraged to achieve non-sport outcomes.
Conclusion
From the above report, it can be concluded that AFL has important place among all the sport
events of Australia. AFL shows the pride of Australians and has the highest number of
attendance. The background of Australian Rules football match is explained which includes
each and every detail of AFL. The report enlightens the event visit which includes the field
notes and observations. The visit provides the insight into AFL. The match has really
talented athletes and they are super fascinating to watch. Further it describes the importance
of Australian Rules football to Australians today. It has benefitted to the game of Australian
Rules at highest levels. AFL has great role in the culture of Australia. AFL has helped to
bridge the gap between white Australians and indigenous Australians.

Introduction to Australia 6
References
Adair, D. and Vamplew, W., 1997. Sport in Australian history. Oxford University Press,
Australia.
Corbett, D.M., Bartlett, J.D., O’connor, F., Back, N., Torres-Ronda, L. and Robertson, S.,
2018. Development of physical and skill training drill prescription systems for elite
Australian Rules football. Science and Medicine in Football, 2(1), pp.51-57.
Coulter, T.J., Mallett, C.J. and Singer, J.A., 2016. A subculture of mental toughness in an
Australian Football League club. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 22, pp.98-113.
Coutts, A.J., Kempton, T., Sullivan, C., Bilsborough, J., Cordy, J. and Rampinini, E., 2015.
Metabolic power and energetic costs of professional Australian Football match-play. Journal
of science and medicine in sport, 18(2), pp.219-224.
Gorman, S. and Oliver, P., 2018. Working into space: agency, motivation, identity:
Indigenous players in the Australian Football League. Sport and Contested Identities:
Contemporary Issues and Debates, pp.209-227.
Klugman, M. and Osmond, G., 2013. Black and proud: the story of an iconic AFL photo.
NewSouth.
Klugman, M., 2009. Passion play: Love, hope and heartbreak at the footy. Hunter Publishers.
Murray, D. and Howat, G., 2002. The relationships among service quality, value, satisfaction,
and future intentions of customers at an Australian sports and leisure centre. Sport
Management Review, 5(1), pp.25-43.
Rennie, M.J., Watsford, M.L., Spurrs, R.W., Kelly, S.J. and Pine, M.J., 2017. Phases of
match-play in professional Australian Football: descriptive analysis and reliability
assessment. Journal of science and medicine in sport.
Sullivan, C., Bilsborough, J.C., Cianciosi, M., Hocking, J., Cordy, J. and Coutts, A.J., 2014.
Match score affects activity profile and skill performance in professional Australian Football
players. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 17(3), pp.326-331.
United States Australian Football League, 2018. Accessed on 10 April, 2018. Available
fromhttps://usafl.com/intro

Introduction to Australia 7
Weekly Times, 2015. Study confirms social and health benefits for community football.
Accessed on 11 April, 2018. Available from
https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/sport/country-football/study-confirms-social-and-
health-benefits-for-community-football/news-story/17ab338612a822f4691cb3047b735532