Terms in Aussie Rules Football

G

the Gabba

the brisbane cricket ground

Located in the suburb of Wooloongabba, it is the home of the Brisbane Lions.

goal

a score of six points

Scored when the ball is kicked by an attacking player completely between the goal posts. The ball may be punted, drop kicked, or kicked off the ground if the ball is loose, and may cross the goal line at any height from ground level up to an infinite height, and may bounce before crossing the line. The ball may not contact or pass over the goal post, touch a player on the defensive team, or be touched by any part of the body of an attacker other than the foot or lower leg. The alternate method of scoring is a behind, which scores one point; if the ball passes between the goal posts but is not awarded a goal by the above provisions, it scores a behind.

goal structure

two posts

The goal structure consists of two posts at least 6 metres in height and spaced 6.4 metres apart. There is no crossbar and no net. Professional AFL goal posts like those used on the MCG are 15 m tall, with behind posts standing at 10 m, though most local football grounds don’t require posts nearly this tall.

goalsneak

a player who catches the opposition unawares and scores a goal

Usually describes a forward player, particularly in a forward pocket, who is small and nimble and who uses pace and cunning to snatch a goal after a running play.Tom Wills, the founder of Australian Football, was implacably opposed to the offside rule that prevented free forward movement of the ball, despite some of their anglophile contemporaries arguing strongly in its favour. These proponents of the offside rule scorned the relatively easy kicking of goals as cheating and sneaking, but the Wills camp turned it to their favour and the early full-forward position was even named goalsneak as a proud differentiation from the English offside rule.

grubber

a type of kick where the ball moves erratically along the ground

The technique with this kick is to make the ball roll and tumble close to the ground, making it hard for the defending team to pick up. Its properties make it hard to handle, giving it both high and low bouncing. On random occasions, the ball may uncannily sit up in a perfect catching position.

guard of honour

formed by players for those who are leaving the field

It is most often seen after a landmark game or a players retirement game. After playing in the little league at half time of senior matches, the junior players line up to form a guard of honour for when the players return to the field. Fremantle formed a guard in 1996 for Fitzroy's last match.
Melbourne and Essendon formed a guard in 2005 to honour Indian Ocean tsunami victim Troy Broadbridge.
Collingwood and North Melbourne formed a guard in 2006 for retiring player Saverio Rocca, who forged a successful goalkicking career at both clubs.

guernsey

a type of shirt worn by footy players

The word jumper is also used. Typically sleeveless, although long sleeves may also be worn. It features the player's number on the back, the colours of the player's team, and the team and sponsor logos. Aussie football is unique in referring to the player's shirt this way, with other sports referring their uniforms as a jersey.
Unlike sports such as Association football and American football, the surnames of aussie rules footballers do not appear on their playing uniform.
By extension, the expression to get a guernsey is a metaphor for being selected for something or to gain recognition for an achievement.

guts

colloquial term for the corridor

The imaginary strip of the ground that runs through the centre from goal to goal.
A team who moves the ball in this area is said to play through the corridor.

 

Australian Football has developed a unique and rich terminology.
This list is an alphabetical glossary of terms, jargon and slang.