Geoffrey Higges

How to Transform Australian Rules Football into a World Game Geoffrey Higges

During my time in Australia during WWII, I enjoyed playing many sports including Australian Rules Football, and I loved following the local Victorian Football League (VFL). Back in England after the war, I was asked to describe the game to a class of secondary students. I drew a big oval on the blackboard, and filled it with the 18 players from each side. I described the shape of the ball, and explained how you could drop-kick it, or punt it, and also that you could pass the ball by punching it out of your hands, but that you were not allowed to throw it, and I explained the scoring system. No one believed me, and their incredulity increased when I tried to explain some of the other amazing rules of play - not surprising perhaps when even Australian Umpires themselves have so much difficulty interpreting the rules. From the original 334 words involving just 10 rules, the current Laws of Australian Rules Football have increased to 20,000 words involving 600 clauses and sub-clauses. This makes fair and consistent umpiring an impossible task, and means that outsiders have no chance of understanding the game. This might also mean that after well over 100 years, the locally popular game has not spread substantially to other countries. The other enduring problem is the amazing way the Australian Football League (AFL) organises the playing season of the top professional league. For example, each club does not play each other club in a fair home and away season; instead, most teams play a different set of opponents from each other during a full season. In this book a brief description of Australian Rules Football is provided for those not entirely familiar with the game, together with a list of many of the current playing laws; then 13 rule changes are proposed that would make decision making more clear cut, while at the same time creating fewer stoppages and a greater flow on of the game. In addition the author asks for a rethink in the organisation of the Australian Football League which would solve the unfairness of the league's schedule, and greatly enhance the acceptance and excitement of the game as a whole. Such changes would mean even greater enjoyment for players and spectators alike, and enhance the opportunity for Australian Rules Football to become a World Game.