The Iglu Guide | Blog
A beginner’s guide to Aussie sport
It’s a well-known fact that we Aussies love our sport. If something can be thrown or kicked – and has a sniff of competition, we’ll call it a game and support it every step of the way.
Sport goes to the very heart of the Aussie way of life – it brings us together, breaks down barriers and gives us a real sense of identity and belonging.
Thanks to the amazing climate, our sporting culture continues to thrive and grow. But if you’re new to Australia, don’t know your NRL from your AFL, or why the nation grinds to a halt on Melbourne Cup Day – this is for you.
Australian Football League (AFL)
One of the most played and watched sports in Australia, AFL (or Aussie Rules) is the ball game that has taken over the country. What once began down south as a fun way to keep cricketers fit in the off-season, has transformed into an 18-team mega league that unites and divides families and friends across the country. Locked deep into the Victorian heritage, there’s even an extra holiday over Grand Finals weekend to celebrate – or commiserate – the end of the season.
The game
Played on an oval, as opposed to the traditional rectangle, each team fields 18 players all trying to get points on the board by getting the ball up the field, and through the posts. It can be kicked or carried, but it has to be bounced every 15 metres. The game lasts for four lots of 20-minute sessions and players are able to score from any field position. One of the more complicated games to understand, you can take a deeper dive right here.
Good to know
AFL was invented in Melbourne in the late 1850s and was originally called Victorian Rules. Blending various rules from the English game, the Aussies soon put their own spin on it – and the rest is history.
Rugby League
Especially popular across NSW and Queensland, Rugby League is often considered the country’s premier rugby code. Each year, ten teams compete as part of the National Rugby League (NRL) for the coveted top spot, and a place in October’s televised Grand Final. The State of Origin is another hugely popular best-of-three competition between the NSW Blues and the Queensland Maroons. Hotly contested and anticipated every year, you’re either barracking for the Blues or the Maroons and there’s nothing in between.
The game
A full contact game of rugby, the basic aim is to score more points than the other side. Each team has 13 players and they are only allowed possession of the ball for six tackles before kicking it down the field, or ‘handing-over’ to the other team. The ball can only be passed sideways or backwards, or it is considered to have been ‘knocked on’. A 4-point try is awarded when the ball is grounded over the line, followed by the opportunity to convert via a goal kick, for an extra 2-points. Drop goals will earn 1-point and are taken on the fly.
Good to know
Recent research revealed the Brisbane Broncos to be the most supported team in the NRL, followed closely by the Melbourne Storm. Sydneysiders can throw their support behind the popular Manly Sea Eagles who never fail to deliver a great game.
Ruby Union
This rugby code was first established in Sydney back in 1864 and is most popular in NSW, ACT and Queensland. The Super Rugby competition invites teams to compete from all over the southern hemisphere, including the NSW Waratahs and the Queensland Reds. In more recent times, the wins have been dominated by the powerful New Zealand teams, but this hasn’t dulled our enthusiasm or support in any way. On the international field, The Wallabies have taken home the Rugby World Cup trophy twice, and they annually battle it out in the Rugby Championship (formally known as Tri Nations) alongside Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa. The rivalries are fierce, and the games never disappoint in quality.
The game
Played with 15 players on a larger pitch than rugby league, there are many different ways to get points on the board. A try is worth 5-points, with an extra 2-points if that converts with the goal kick. Penalty goals earn 3-points and can often clinch the match. Interspersed with rucks, lineouts and mauls, it’s an energetic 80 minutes of full contact physical action.
Good to know
Women’s rugby is becoming increasingly popular with the inaugural Super W tournament launching in 2018. Currently dominated by the NSW Waratahs, the competition is heating up and is definitely one to watch.
Cricket
Nothing says Aussie summer like the sound of rippled applause and whites on the field. Rooted in community spirit, cricket is a game that brings people together whether it’s played in the park, on the beach or at a backyard BBQ. Thanks to the Brits introducing it to all their colonies, it’s popular around the world and has spawned many great Aussie household names like Don Bradman, Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting. From test cricket and one-day cricket to Twenty20 and beyond, the game continues to evolve and adapt, drawing in new fans and players along the way.
The game
Two competing teams of 11 players take turns to score as many runs as possible. There are a certain number of overs (six deliveries of the ball) in each innings depending on the game format being played. Test cricket has at least 90 overs across a day, One Day cricket has 50 overs and the faster paced T20 cricket has 20. Test cricket can take up to five days to play, the most famous being the Ashes which pits Australia against England every two years. One day cricket (ONI) is a much shorter affair with just one innings of 50 overs for each team. T20 cricket takes that framework a step further again with just 20 overs allocated to each team. It adds new action and appeal to the game and is drawing in large crowds.
Good to know
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been ranked as the best in the world. Back in 1877, Australia beat England here by 45 runs in the world’s first ever test match – and the rest is sporting history.
The best of the rest
Soccer
The beautiful game surprisingly has a very long history in Australia, and it continues to grow in popularity as the A League expands and the international teams make a mark on the world. The Socceroos and the Matildas enjoy enormous home support whenever they play, and Australia is currently pitching alongside Indonesia to host the 2024 World Cup.
Horseracing
In terms of attendance, horseracing is not far behind AFL with billions of dollars regularly wagered across a racing season. Established in 1810, it has gone from strength to strength and continues to grow in popularity. From humble beginnings, horseracing has become synonymous with the story of Australia, and the country famously grinds to a halt for the Melbourne Cup, the race that stops a nation in its tracks.
