The A - Z of AFL

1-2
(pronounced one-two) an action where a player handpasses to a teammate, who immediately handpasses back.

19th and 20th man
At a time in the game before the interchange bench was introduced, two reserves were named in addition to the 18 players who started the game on the ground. These players could enter the game only if one of the original 18 left the field and did not return.

All-Australian
A player who has been chosen in the best team of the AFL competition each year, the All-Australian Team.

Bag
Colloquialism for a large number of goals scored by one player.

Ball!
Usually yelled by spectators when an opposition player is tackled in possession of the ball. Short for "holding the ball".

Ball burster
Colloquialism for a massive kick, usually a torpedo punt which travels over 70 metres.

Ball-up
The act of a field umpire putting the ball back into play, either by throwing it straight up into the air, or by bouncing the ball in such a way that it mimics the throwing action. See bounce-down.

Banana
A kick which causes the ball to swing in the air in the opposite direction to the usual. See checkside.

Barrel
A "torpedo punt" kick. See also screwie.

Baulk
A manoeuvre where a player holds the ball to one side, then runs in the other direction to evade a defender.

Behind
One point.

Bench
The interchange area. The "bench" refers to the seat used by the players in this area.

Best on ground
Player judged the best player taking part in any game. Sometimes also referred to as BOG, pronounced "bee-oh-gee".

Bounce-down
(or simply bounce) the act of a field umpire putting the ball back into play by bouncing the ball in such a way that it mimics a vertical throw. See ball-up.

Boundary line
The line drawn on the ground to delimit the field of play.

Boundary throw-in
The act of throwing the ball back into play by the boundary umpire.

Boundary umpire
An official who patrols the boundary line, indicating when it has fully crossed the line, and who then executes a boundary throw-in to return the ball to play. There are two of these umpires per game, one on each side of the oval.

Break
Short term for "break in play"; eg quarter-time, half-time, or three-quarter-time.

Brownlow Medal
The medal given to the Best and Fairest player in the AFL competition each year.

Bump
A contact between players using the hip and/or shoulder. See hip-and-shoulder.

Central umpire
An official who patrols the field of play, awarding free kicks, indicating time-on and time-off, and restarting the game after stoppages, goals etc.

Centre
The middle of the ground, also the name given to a player who starts the game in that position.

Centre bounce
The bounce of the ball in the centre of the ground to start a quarter, or after a goal.

Centre square
A fifty metre square drawn around the centre of the ground.

Charlie
A nickname for the Brownlow Medal.

Checkside
A kick which causes the ball to swing in the air in the opposite direction to the usual. See banana.

Chicken wing tackle
A tackle that locks in an opponent's arm so that he cannot legally dispose of the ball. Generally considered to have been picked up from Rugby League.

Cluster
A type of zone defense consisting of a grid comprising 15 or more players set up to oppose a kick-in.

Contest
A game, on a larger sense, and an interaction between two opposing players, on a smaller one.

Contested possession
A possession achieved as a result of a contest.

Corkie
Colloquialism for a corked muscle, which is a deep bruise, usually in the leg.

Corridor
An imaginary strip of the ground that runs through the centre from goal to goal.

Crumber
A player who waits at the base of a marking pack in order to obtain a loose ball, i.e. To "get the crumbs".

Daisy cutter
A kick that runs along the ground rather than through the air. See grubber. Also may to refer to a drop punt in which the ball travels through the air, but low to the ground.

Designated kicker
A player who is given the ball by another player who has a set shot for goal, so that the receiving player may have a shot on the run for a supergoal.

Disposal
A statistical term indicating that a player disposed of the ball legally by either hand or foot.

Dob
A kick, usually resulting in a goal, or a shot at goal.

Draft
The year-end allocation of young players to the various clubs. Run by the AFL.

Drop kick
A kick that is executed in such a way that the foot contacts the ball at the same time as, or immediately after, it has been dropped to the ground on its end. No longer in common use in AFL due to its perceived inaccuracy. See stab pass.

Drop punt
A kick that is executed by contacting the ball on its end, so that it rotates around its mid-point end over end. Usually considered the most accurate of kicks.

Dropping the ball
Illegally disposing of the ball, when tackled, by releasing it without handpassing or kicking.

Emergency umpire
A qualified field umpire who sits on the interchange bench during a game. He can pay free kicks only for interchange infringements and may report players, and can replace an injured or fatigued umpire.

Fat side
An imaginary area of the ground that indicates the greatest space occupied by the least number of players. See thin side.

Field umpire
See central umpire.

Fifty
Short term for "fifty-metre penalty".

Fifty, the
An arc drawn at each end of the ground indicating the distance from the goal line, in this case 50 metres.

Final siren
The siren that sounds to signal the end of the game.

Finals
The post-season series of games that decide the premiership.

Finals berth
A position in the finals series.

Flag
Common expression for the Premiership, based upon the early practice of awarding a flag in lieu of a trophy for winning the premiership (analogous to the pennant in American sports).

Flank
An indicative area of the ground that lies between the wing and pocket on both sides of the centre. There are four flanks: 2 forward and 2 back, 2 left and 2 right. Also referred to as "half-forward flank" and "half-back flank".

Flick pass
The variant of a handball which propels the ball with a flick of an open hand, rather than a clenched fist. Once legal in South Australian leagues, but now uniformly outlawed.

Flight
A description of the way a ball travels through the air.

Flood
The act of getting as many players as possible between the ball carrier and the goal a team is defending.

Followers
An old term used to describe on-the-ball players; specifically, the ruck, ruck rover and rover were considered followers.

Four points
Common parlance for winning a game. The "four points" refers to the number of premiership points awarded for a win in an AFL game and in many other leagues.

Free kick
An possession of the ball given to a player as a result of an infringement by an opposition player. These are only awarded by the central umpire.

Full-back
The area of the ground directly in front of the opposition's goals. Also the name given to the player placed in that position. Usually opposed by the full-forward.

Full-forward
The area of the ground directly in front of a team's goals. Also the name given to the player placed in that position. Usually opposed by the full-back.

Full-time
The end of the game. See final siren.

Goal
A maximum score (equivalent to 6 points) achieved by kicking the ball between the two goal-posts without it touching either post or any other player.

Goal line
A section of the boundary line that runs from one behind post to the other, at each end. All four posts (2 goal and 2 behind) are set directly on this line.

Goal posts
Two tall posts at each end of the ground indicating the major scoring zone, positioned 6.4m apart.

Goal square
The 6.4×9m rectangle drawn on the ground directly in front of each goal.

Goal umpire
An official who adjudicates the score, signals the score (out-of-bounds, point, or goal), waves flags to indicate the score to the crowd, and serves as official scorekeeper. There are two of these umpires per game, one at each end.

Gorilla
Colloquially, a large, strong defender who plays body-on-body defence against the strongest forwards.

Grubber
A kick that runs along the ground rather than though the air. See daisy cutter.

Guernsey
The jersey worn by players.

Guts
Term for the corridor.

Half-back
The area of the ground lying halfway between the centre and full-back. Also the name given to the player placed in that position. Usually opposed by the half-forward.

Half-forward
The area of the ground lying halfway between the centre and full-forward. Also the name given to the player placed in that position. Usually opposed by the half-back.

Half-time
The long break between the second and third quarters.

Hammy
Generally used when a player sustains an injury to this tendon, e.g. "he's done a hammy".

Handball
Executed by holding the ball on the flat palm of one hand and hitting it with the other clenched fist, the opposite of a throw.

High tackle
A tackle that is executed above the opposition player's shoulders. Will result in a free kick.

Hitout
A tap by a ruckman to a team's advantage.

Huddle
The grouping of players on the ground at quarter-time and three-quarter-time breaks

In-and-under player
A player who tries to win hard ball gets by forcing the ball out of packs.

Inside 50
The act of running or passing the ball inside the 50m arc.

Interchange
The designated area of the ground where players wait to be allowed onto the field after another player has left, i.e. One player is interchanged for another.

Interchange gate
A 20m zone marked on the boundary line through which players being interchanged must run.

Kick
A legal disposal of the ball by foot.

Kick-in
The return of the ball back into play after a behind has been scored.

Kick-off line
The line on the goal square which is parallel to the goal line.

King hit
A description of an illegal physical attack on a player behind play, generally to the head region which leaves the victim in a dazed or unconscious state.

Ladder
The position of teams on the Premiership list, determined by their win-loss ratio and percentage.

Lead
For a forward to run into space and away from his direct opponent, hoping to attract a pass from his teammate.

Legged
Common parlance for an illegal low tackle, which is any tackle below the knees. If detected by the umpire will result in a free kick against the offender.

Major
Goooaaaaal!

Magarey Medal
The medal given to the Best and Fairest player in the SANFL competition each year.

Man-on-man
The "traditional" defensive style of a defender playing close to an opposition forward. See zone-off.

Mark
A clean catch of the ball after it has been kicked by another player (either by a teammate or by the opposition), before it has touched the ground, or been touched by any other player, and after it has travelled a minimum of 15 metres.

Midfield
An indicative area of the ground that covers half-foward to half-back down the centre, and out to the wings and flanks.

Midfielder
A player who roams and plays within the midfield.

On the ball
A player who is not in any set position but who follows the ball all over the ground; also known as a follower.

On the mark
A player who stands on the point on the ground where a free kick, or a mark, was awarded.

Out on the full
A kick that travels across the boundary line without first being touched by a player or hitting the ground. This will result in a free kick to the opposition team, taken by the player closest to the point at which the ball crossed the boundary line.

Oval
The ground on which an Australian Rules Football game is played. Derived from the common shape of the ground.

Pack
A mass of players from both sides all attempting to get the ball at the same time. Can be used for players flying for a mark or scrambling for the ball at ground level.

Pass
A kick that ends with the ball in the possession of a teammate.

Pick
Chosen in the draft, or chosen to play in a game.

Pill
Colloquialism for the ball.

Pine, the
Colloquialism for the interchange bench where players wait to return to the field of play, originally made of wood.

Playmaker
A player who directs a team play by action or deed during a game.

Possession
Obtaining the ball.

Pocket
An indicative part of the ground, equivalent to the area proscribed by an imaginary arc running from the goal post to a point on the boundary line halfway to the fifty-metre arc. There are two pockets at each end of the ground, referred to as the left and right, forward and back pockets, e.g. Left-forward pocket.

Point
The basic scoring unit.

Poster
A kicked ball which hits a goal post, resulting in a behind being scored rather than a goal.

Premiership
Awarded to the winner of the Grand Final. See the flag.

Quarter
A period of play. Each game is divided into four quarters of equal length. Quarters in the AFL and other senior last 20 minutes plus time-on.

Quarter-time
The gap between the first and second quarters.

Raking
A description of a kicking style that results in long kicks. Generally only applied to left-footed players.

Rebound
The act of moving the ball forward after winning it as the result of a turnover in the defensive end of the ground.

Receiver
A player who is known for accepting the ball from teammates rather than getting it from opposition players.

Recruit
A player picked up in a draft.

Reported
The state of a player after an umpire has written their name into a notebook, during play, for an act that may result in the player being suspended.

Rising star
A young player who is maturing into a genuine star of the game.

Rookie
A player who is on an AFL club's playing list, but who cannot play senior games unless replacing a long-term injured or retired player.

Roost
A long kick.

Rubbed out
Colloquialism for being suspended.

Ruck
A tall player who contests the ball-up or throw-in. Also "ruckman".

Running bounce
Bouncing the football on the ground and back to himself while running, which must be done once every fifteen metres.

Rushed behind
The concession of a behind for the opposition team. This concedes one point in regular competition. After a rule change in 2009, if an umpire considers that the rushed behind was deliberate then a free kick can be paid to the opposition.

Sausage roll
Rhyming slang for "goal".

Screamer
A spectacular high mark, usually in a contested situation. See specky.

Screwie
A torpedo punt kick. Name derived from the way the ball appears to "screw" or "torpedo" through the air.

Season
A year of AFL competition.

Set Shot
An attempt to kick a goal from a mark or a free kick. See shot.

Shark
Obtaining possession of the ball, often in a difficult position, particularly from the hitout of the opposing ruck.

Shepherd
A block placed on an opposing player. This can be to stop him tackling a teammate in possession of the ball, or attempting to gather it; to stop him intercepting a ball heading for goal; or just to stop him possessing the ball himself.

Shinboners
Prior to the 1950s, the official nickname of the North Melbourne Football Club, and still used unofficially today to embody courage and spirit at the club.

Shot
An attempt to kick a goal.

Showdown
A game between Adelaide and Port Adelaide, both based in South Australia.

Siren
A loud sound used to signal the start and end of the game, and the start and end of each quarter.

Sit
A description of the best position from which to take a hit mark.

Smother
The act of stopping a kick immediately after it leaves the boot. Generally undertaken with the hands.

Snag
A description of an unlikely act, eg "he snagged a goal" implies the player kicked a goal in difficult or unexpected circumstances. Can also be applied to a mark. Also colloquialism for any goal, derived from the rhyming slang sausage roll.

Snap
A shot at goal, usually executed under pressure.

Soccer
To kick the ball off the ground without first taking the ball in the hands.

Specky
Short term for "spectacular mark". Generally refers to the act of taking a high mark, usually in a contested situation.

Spell, to have a
To be interchanged off the ground.

Spillage
Occurs when a ball comes off the top of a pack of players attempting to mark a ball.

Spoil
A punch or slap of the ball which hinders an opposition player from talking a mark.

Stab pass
A kick that travels very low to the ground to a teammate. Until the 1970s this was usually a drop kick.

Stepladder
Colloquially, the player upon whose shoulders another player jumps to take a specky.

Supergoal
A goal which scores nine points instead of six, earned by kicking a goal from beyond a set distance, usually 50m in AFL pre-season competitions. Seen only in practice and exhibition games.

Suspended
The state of a player who has been refused permission to play by a legislated tribunal. See reported.

Sweeper
A player who plays loose across the half-back line in order to act as a link between the backline and midfield.

Switch
To move the ball laterally across the ground, hoping to find an easier path to the forward-line.

Tackle
The grabbing of an opposition player in possession of the ball, in order to impede his progress or to force him to dispose of the ball quickly.

Tagger
A defensive player whose task is to prevent an opposition midfielder from having an impact on the game.

Term
Colloquialism for quarter.

Thin side
An imaginary area of the ground that indicates the least space occupied by the greatest number of players. See fat side.

Three-quarter-time
The break between the third and fourth quarters.

Throw
An illegal disposal of a ball by hand. Will result in a free kick to the opposition.

Time-on
Time added on to the end of each quarter to compensate for time lost during general play by stoppages. The amount of time to be added on is determined by independent time-keepers who stop the game clock when indicated by the central umpires.

Torpedo
A punt kick that rotates the ball around its long axis, which is aligned with the direction the ball is travelling. See screwie and barrell.

Touch
Colloquialism for possession or disposal.

Touched
A term to indicate that a ball was touched by another player after being kicked; such a kick cannot result in either a mark or a goal.

Trip
The act of bringing a player to ground, or attempting to do so, by making contact below the knee. Will result in a free kick to the opposition; furthermore, tripping with the foot or leg will lead to a report.

Turnover
The loss of possession of the ball to the opposition.

Tunnelling
Bumping an airborne player attempting a mark with the intention of unbalancing them.

Wing
An indicative area of the ground that lies between the forward and back flanks on both sides of the centre. There are only two on the ground.

Wooden spoon
The imaginary "award" said to be received by the team finished last on the ladder at the end of a season.

Zone
A defensive arrangement of players on a section of the ground, designed to stifle the forward movement of the ball by the opposition

Zone off
The act of a defender leaving some space between himself and his opponent. This is contrary to the normal defensive style of man-on-man.