G'day, sports enthusiasts!

Australian rules football, what’s that all about? (No seriously, WTF is it all about??)

If you're wondering how a game that combines elements of rugby, soccer, and the occasional kangaroo can be so beloved, then you've come to the right place.

A Brief History: The Kick-Off

The origins of Australian rules football date back to 1858, when mates Tom Wills, William Hammersley, J.B. Thompson, and Thomas Smith put their heads together—figuratively, not literally like in a scrum—and devised a unique, home-grown sport.

In doing so, they unknowingly created the first ever codified football game of any kind in the world.

Before you ask: no, they didn't invent the sport after a particularly rowdy night at the pub. In fact, Wills, who was educated at England's Rugby School, was inspired by the traditional Aboriginal game of Marn Grook, which involved high leaps and kicking a possum-skin ball.

The First Game: A Battle of Biblical Proportions

The first recorded match of Australian rules football was played on August 7, 1858, between Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College. The game resembled a biblical clash, with 40 players on each side and a playing field that spanned the equivalent of two MCGs (Melbourne Cricket Grounds).

After a gruelling 3 days, the match ended in a draw, with both teams scoring just one goal apiece. The result might not have been electrifying, but it marked the beginning of a sport that would take Australia by storm.

The Rules: It's All About the Bounce

Australian rules football is played with an oval-shaped ball that's designed for unpredictability, much like the country's weather. The game is played by 18 players on each side, who use any part of their body to move the ball across the field.

The basic idea is to kick or handball (punch the ball) through the opposing team's goalposts. Kicking the ball between the taller, central posts scores a "goal" worth six points, while a "behind" (between the outer posts) is worth one point. The team with the highest score wins.

One of the sport's most distinctive features is the "mark"—a player catching a ball kicked by another player from at least 15 meters away. This results in an uninterrupted possession, allowing the player to take a free kick. It's like catching a boomerang that never comes back, only in this case, it's intentional!

The AFL: Australia's Super (Footy) League

The sport's premier competition, the Australian Football League (AFL), was established in 1897 as the Victorian Football League (VFL). Today, the AFL features 18 clubs from across the country, with fierce rivalries and passionate fans creating an electrifying atmosphere at matches. The season culminates in the AFL Grand Final, a spectacular event that's as Australian as Vegemite on toast (That’s ozzy marmite)

Quirky Facts and Amusing Anecdotes

1. Forget the Energizer Bunny—Australian rules footballers are the real-life embodiment of endurance. They can cover up to 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) during a single match!

2. In the 1982 VFL Grand Final, Hawthorn player Robert DiPierdomenico punctured a lung and broke a rib but played on, earning him the nickname "Dipper the Indestructible." Crikey, what a legend!

3. The AFL team with the most premiership titles is the Carlton Blues, who share the honour with the Essendon Bombers, both boasting 16 titles each. But who's counting, right? (Spoiler alert: their fans are!)

4. In 1993, Geelong's Gary Ablett Sr. took a spectacular "mark of the century" in a match against Collingwood. Soaring like a homesick angel, Ablett's gravity-defying leap remains one of the most iconic moments in Australian sports history.

5. The "Colliwobbles" is a term used to describe Collingwood's unfortunate tendency to choke during finals matches. But fear not, Magpie fans! With a premiership win in 2010, it seems the curse has been broken—at least for now.

6. Did you know there's an annual Australian rules football match played on a remote island in the Bass Strait? The Currie Cup, held on King Island, boasts some of the most unpredictable weather conditions in the sport. Players often have to contend with gale-force winds, driving rain, and the occasional sheep invasion. Talk about a wild match!

A Fair Dinkum Spectacle

Australian rules football is a unique, fast-paced, and action-packed sport that has captured the hearts of millions. With its rich history, colourful characters, and quirky charm, it's no wonder that the "footy" is a national obsession Down Under.

Whether you're an Aussie expat feeling homesick or just curious about this fascinating game, there's never been a better time to grab a meat pie, don a team scarf, and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Australian rules football as Australian Rugby Union is becoming as scare as the Tasmanian Tiger (no lying).