Hi Zev,
"Australian Rules Football" or Footy to us.
It is very different from other football codes.
Possibly the closest other style is Irish (gaelic) football.
The closest thing to American football,(we call it Grid-Iron), we have is Rugby.
Rugby is also a very popular sport here with our national side (the Walabies) being the best in the world.
-Infact we just beat the French national side in a test match in Melbourne tonight. (29-12)
Footy is far and away the main sport.
It is a very fast game, -and very physical.
The ball can be passed in any direction, but not thrown. -It must be punched from one hand by the other.
The ball can also be kicked in any direction.
-Oh yeah the shape of the ball is very similar to that of a rugby ball (or slightly larger and more rounded than an American fooball).
The other thing is that you can run with the ball (in any direction) -but must bounce the ball every 20-30 metres.
A team consists of 18 players on the field at once, and pretty much any player can play any position, although there are 18 defined positions and certain players will be more suited to certain positions than others.
There are a limited number of interchanges -much like soccer.
There is no goal-keeper.
The goals consist of four vertical posts.
The centre two being taller.
6 points is awarded for KICKING the ball through the centre posts.
If the ball is touched (ie by anything other than a foot) as is goes through it only counts for one point.
Also if the ball hits a post and goes through, one point.
If the ball misses and goes between one of the taller posts and the shorter (side) post it is one point.
Generally a "6 pointer" is called a "goal" and a "1 pointer" a "behind".
Players can be tackled, -but only below the shoulders and above the knees.
-Oh, I didn't mention that the ball is played OFF the ground. i.e you can use your hands!
The game is quite free-flowing -in that it only stops for a few seconds at a time when a mark is taken, or a free-kick given.
A mark is when a player catches the ball from a kick that has travelled 15 metres or more. (usually 40-50, and sometimes as much as 70 metres!). These marks are contested by many players at a time and can be very spectacular.
A free kick is usually awarded for an especially rough tackle or if a player is caught with the ball and did not make enough of an effort to "get rid of it". (ie. "holding the ball")
-Oh yeah play is started by a "bounce down" after a goal. -and also if a tackle ends with just a pile of bodies on the ground. (like a ruck in rugby)
whew!
This is probably not very complete (and possibly not perfectly acurate) so the other Aussies feel free to correct me. -I am not that much of a Footy fan. -I am a Rugby Union fan, since that is the (football)sport I played for my highschool and University.
Cheers
peleton.