Australian rules football, often called Aussie rules or footy, is a popular sport played across Australia. It’s known for its fast pace, athleticism, and unique rules like no tackling above the shoulders. Australian rules football has a rich culture and history going back to the 1850s. Like any popular sport, it has inspired many riddles over the years. Below are 47 riddles about footy to challenge football fans and help people learn more about this beloved game. The questions cover football equipment, field positions, rules, players, terminology, statistics, and more. Scroll down for the answers!
Riddles About Australian Rules Football
1. What piece of equipment in Aussie rules is made of leather and lace?
2. I’m the person who contests the ball after it has gone between the big posts. Who am I?
3. We call the grassy area where footy is played this. What is it?
4. What punishing training drill involves players running constantly between two points?
5. Which player is stationed deep in defence and is the last line before the goal?
6. Which small forwards are known for their pace, agility and high leaping ability?
7. What term describes when a footballer holds the ball longer than they’re allowed?
8. What is the nickname given to the Sherrin football?
9. Which player typically covers the most ground during a match?
10. What is the name for a goal worth six points?
11. What is the name of the defender who plays on the full forward?
12. If a footballer takes a specky, what are they doing?
13. What is the penalty for inaccurate kicking at goal called?
14. What are very short passes between players close to each called?
15. What is the name for the player who rucks the ball at centre bounces?
16. What is the term for when the ball is kicked between the behind posts?
17. What is the name of the umpire who uses visual signals like crosses to communicate?
18. What is the term used when a player catches a ball directly from another’s kick?
19. What is the name of the tactic where lots of handballs move the ball quickly?
20. What is the name of the square in the centre where ruck contests happen?
21. What is it called when a player catches the ball and calls “mark!”?
22. What is the term for goals and behinds added together?
23. What is the name for defensive players who play in front of the fullback?
24. What piece of equipment used in the game has four panels of leather?
25. What name is given to a dominant win by more than 10 goals?
26. What is the term for the player responsible for punching the ball forward from contests?
27. What is the nickname given to a goal scored without the ball touching the ground?
28. What is the term used to describe physically exhausted players?
29. What name is given to a kick where players tap the ball along the ground?
30. What is the unusual name given to the goalposts used in Aussie rules?
31. What is the name of the zone deep in defence in front of goal?
32. What is the senior umpire on the field called?
33. What are very short distances in football measured in?
34. What is the term used to describe generally undisputed catches?
35. What position does the player wear a number one guernsey usually play?
36. What is the slang term used to describe a handball given to a player in space?
37. What is another name used for the mark inside 50 yards from goal?
38. What is meant by the term “clearing kick” after a behind is scored?
39. What name is given to smothers, chasedowns and brave acts in games?
40. What piece of equipment do footballers wear over their shin bones during play?
41. What is the term used to describe a long kick into the forward line from defence?
42. What is the term used to describe very high, spectacular marks?
43. What is the name for quick, encroaching defensive moves towards the ball carrier?
44. What is the slang name given to the AFL tribunal?
45. What is the term used to describe play where neither team can gain an advantage?
46. What name is given to the tactic of flooding extra players back into defence?
47. What number is the total score worth if a team scores 11 behinds in a game?
Answers to the Riddles
1. The football or “Sherrin” is made of leather and lace.
2. The fullback contests the ball after it goes through the goal posts for a behind.
3. The grassy playing field is called the “oval” in Aussie rules.
4. Running repeatedly between two points is called “yo-yo” training.
5. The fullback is stationed deep in defence as the last line before goal.
6. Small agile forwards are called “crumbers.”
7. Holding onto the ball too long results in a ball-up decision called holding the ball.
8. The Sherrin football has the nickname “the pill.”
9. Rovers typically cover the most ground during games.
10. A super goal scored from outside 50m is worth six points.
11. The fullback’s direct opponent is called the full forward.
12. When a player catches the ball midair it’s called a “specky” or spectacular mark.
13. Shanking easy attempts at goal results in a “poster” or hitting the post.
14. Short passes between players in close quarters are called “give-and-go’s.”
15. The ruckman contests the ball at centre bounces.
16. Scoring a behind is called “rushing” the ball between the posts.
17. Field umpires uses hand signals to communicate decisions.
18. Catching the ball directly from another’s kick is called taking a ball “on the full.”
19. Fast ball movement using many handballs is known as playing “chip and run” football.
20. The central square where ruck contests happen is called the “centre square.”
21. Catching the ball and calling “mark” is called simply “taking a mark.”
22. Goals and behinds combined give a team’s “score.”
23. Defenders in front of the fullback are called half-backs.
24. The oval-shaped football has four leather panels.
25. Thrashing an opponent by over 10 goals is called “giving them a bake.”
26. Players who punch the ball forward from packs are irreverently called “seagulls.”
27. Spectacular goals scored without a bounce are nicknamed “helicopters.”
28. Exhausted players are described as being “out on their feet.”
29. Gentle ground kicks moved along by teammates tapping it are called soccering the ball.
30. The unusual nickname for the goalposts is “the big sticks.”
31. The key defensive 50-yard arc in front of goal is called “the hotspot.”
32. The senior umpire is called the field umpire.
33. Short distances on ovals are measured in “steps.”
34. Undisputed marks are called “chest marks.”
35. The fullback typically wears the #1 guernsey.
36. A handball to an open teammate is called “finding a man on.”
37. A mark within 50 yards of goals is nicknamed a “salad bowl.”
38. Kicking the ball out after a behind is called a “clearing kick.”
39. Brave plays are described by the slang term “mongrel acts.”
40. Players wear shin guards called “socks” during games.
41. A long forward kick from the defence is called a “banana kick.”
42. Incredibly high marks are affectionately called “screamers.”
43. Rapid encroaching defensive tactics are called the “press.”
44. The AFL Tribunal ruling on offenses has the ironic nickname “the Electric Chair.”
45. Stalemated contests where possession changes often is called “telephone football.”
46. Flooding back extra defenders is called playing “loose men back.”
47. 11 behinds gives a total score of 47 – not enough to win!
Conclusion
I hope you enjoyed testing your Australian rules football knowledge with these 47 footy riddles. Aussie rules is full of unique culture, history, equipment, positions, and terminology that can make it almost seem like a foreign language. These brain teasers cover many aspects of footy, from players and positions, goal kicking terms and names for marks and handballs, measurements on ovals, defensive structures, and more. Riddles engage the mind, so next time you watch or play Australian rules football, listen for these colorful phrases and see if you can solve some odd sayings about this one-of-a-kind sport.
