AFL - is short for Australian Football League, which concerns the playing of Australian Rules Football, Australian Rules, or just Footy. The game is played on a oval shaped field where a similarly shaped ball is kicked through the air for 4 quarters. The players wear tight shorts and jump on each other's back to catch the ball. Each team is made up of 18 players who try to kick the ball between two large posts for lots of points, or between two smaller posts for less points. AFL is mostly played by people in the Southern States of Australia, in fact until recent years it was known as the Victorian Football League until the late 80's when it changed to AFL. This was justified several years later when the Brisbane Team whipped everyone by winning three premierships in a row.
"FOOTY" - is a blanket term for AFL, Rugby Union, Rugby League and to a lesser extent kicking a football back and forth in a park or backyard. The exclaimation "the footy is on!" can mean that any type of the aforementioned ball sport is currently being broadcast on the television.
FOOTY SUPPORTER - Supporters will barrack or "go" for a team of their choosing, but usually one that is closest to their place of residence. AFL supporters will wear scarves, beanies and face paint in the colour of their team, where as Rugby League supporters will do the same but their jerseys cost more because they have sleeves. I have yet to see a Rugby Union Supporter who doesn't drive a Nissan Patrol.
RUGBY LEAGUE - Is more often played in the Northern States, although it has become popular in Victoria of late. Chunky men with no necks try to get the ball to their end of the field by kicking, running, scrumming, throwing, tackling, punching and dacking the opposing team. Players will retire, then make a comeback several years later. Or retire and move to Wiggan to finish out their careers.
RUGBY LEAGUE PLAYERS - Are more often than not of the same intelligence of a box of weetbix, although there are exceptions to this rule. Every fortnight there is another report of a player punching a woman, beating a woman or being charged with rape, theft, assault, swearing, destruction of property, defecating in public and unprovoked attacks on bar patrons. Of course, they can't help it because they're trained to beat each other senseless on the field and they have trouble telling the difference.
RUGBY UNION - Played all over Australia by a better breed of sportsman. Probably because Private schools encourage their young men to participate. Very similar to Rugby League except most people only get excited about it if the English Team are likely to be playing in the country.
SOCCER - Soccer is what Football is called in Australia, to differentiate it from the three other types of Football that we play. Mostly the only people who like Soccer in Australia are those who have migrated here from Europe, although ever since Australia made it through the Oceania group playoffs and got into the 2006 World Cup for the first time since the Boer War, everyone claims that they never stopped supporting them. Their popularity lasted as long as the team lasted in the Germany 2006 World Cup.
