Footy - that's Aussie-speak for Australian Rules Football - is a popular Australian national sport which, to an American point of view, combines several better-known games into a fast-action, intense and grueling competition of 18 men per team vying to put a bouncy, spherical ball through a set of four posts at the end zones of a large field. Players move the ball by kicking it (like soccer), bumping it (like a volleyball), tossing it behind (like in rugby) or bouncing it (like a basketball) as they run. Points are awarded for getting the ball through the posts: six points through the middle two posts and one point through the outer posts. The score adds up quickly as the game moves almost non-stop through four, twenty minute quarters. It is a riveting game!
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| Ann and Behan under the Lion's paw! |
Along with our friends from s/v Totem (Behan and Jamie Gifford), we witnessed the Brisbane Lions defeat the Adelaide Crows at the Gabba arena near Brisbane on Saturday night with a score of 95-85. The competition was intense and the outcome wasn't determined until the final minutes of the game. Complete with a hug from the team mascot and greasy food from the arena vendors, we thoroughly enjoyed this Aussie national sport and would become Footy fans if given the chance! Go Lions!
