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First AFL game

A few weeks ago I went to my first AFL game. Sydney Swans vs Essendon at the ANZ Stadium. I went with my cousin who did an excellent job of explaining everything to me as the game progressed. There's quite a bit to take in. Like there's constant substitutions, on going throughout the game. They don't stop the play. There's certain rules about catches and kicks. The coaches and other training staff for each team sit in a gantry box, like the commentators and look down on the match and are in constant communication with a guy on the sidelines, who relays orders to the other players. There's extra players, who are not assigned to one particular team, and are running onto the field giving additional orders. There's maybe 5 of them. There's maybe 8 referees on the playing field - one for each half, four linesmen and 2 by the posts. Goals can be scored in a few different ways and yield different amounts of points.
I had watched a bit of AFL on TV before and what surprised me from seeing it live was that the playing field seemed much smaller, but the players were constantly running about.



I saw this tackle on TV in an AFL and it made me want to see more AFL games to see players KO'd like that. It seems such a barbaric sport compared to the gentleman's game of football (...soccer....).



NRL violence this time. Eels vs Bulldogs; Eels in blue, Bulldogs in white.








Pic unrelated. Just a guy that lives a tree.



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