Beginner’s Guide to Australian Football? American Reacts

[@damiancoughlan]

I’m a big fan of the AFL here in the States. I love the passion and pageantry associated with the game. I’m still learning the game, and still can’t get my head around what a disposal is. My favorite team is Richmond Tigers and can’t wait for the season to get started for real on Thursday. Great video! Looking forward to more AFL content from you.

[@themoviehobbit355]

Disposal is when you handball too another player or kick it too another play If it's a fumble it's not a disposal

[@RickyisSwan]

My friend, wondering if you mean USAFL or watching our game from over there? The USAFL is played as an amateur sport in the US, and there are 40 different leagues, including a women’s league. Because it’s amateur, it’s nowhere near as brutal as our game, and it’s more a social game with beers and barbecue afterwards. I’m sure they would welcome you if you wanted to play. Disposals are kicks and hand passes. If a player has 10 kicks and six hand passes, that is a total of 16 disposals. Cheers. 🇦🇺🦘🦢🦢🦢

[@filoboy88]

I’ve seen bits of snippets on the USAFL it just looks like everyone involved has a lot of fun playing and you’ve got a pretty handy ambassador in Mason Cox to help it grow.

[@RickyisSwan]

@@filoboy88 They just celebrated 25 years. They are really into it. They’ve got really colourful Guernseys that look better than our AFL jumpers. Each team must have no more than 50% expat Aussies and the rest must be locals. They take it really seriously in regards to the format, but as I said it’s still a social event. Yes Cox is a good ambassador.

[@judileeming1589]

My 7 year old granddaughter led the Tigers out onto the MCG at a game last year. My daughter’s godfather is 91 and a life long Richmond fan as he was born in Richmond and he was so excited that you would think she was his great granddaughter leading them out. Well, actually his great granddaughter plays for the Geelong Cats team in the Women’s league.

[@shmick6079]

The NRL is the most popular in two states. The AFL is most popular in all the other states. TV viewership for both leagues is comparable, but when you look at crowd attendances and club membership numbers, the AFL is comfortably the most popular. That probably makes sense since it’s more of a national code and it was invented here.

[@DeftPol]

Again though, the NRL is also in Melbourne and New Zealand - a territory that the AFL is never going to have a shot in. Also, as a Sydneysider, the line that it’s “invented in Australia” as a reason to support it has no resonance with me as in truth it’s culturally not so much “Australian” as it is intrinsically and aggressively “Melbournian” and if you’ve spent time with Melbournians, you know they’re a nation unto themselves almost don’t consider themselves part of the rest of the country. I’d also argue that from a cultural standpoint, given that the NRL has driven effectively every rule change in Rugby League for the last 70 years, the sport is in fact now emphatically an Australian product.

[@shmick6079]

@@DeftPol that’s misleading since Australian football is just as vital in WA, SA, TAS and is also very popular in NT and southern NSW. My understanding of how this occurred is that Sydney private schools voted that they should play rugby and not Aus football in the early 20th century because they didn’t want to promote something that started in Melbourne. Football seems to spread like religion does, so that makes a lot of sense.

[@DeftPol]

@@shmick6079But again, the NRL has New Zealand - which is more populous than SA and WA combined. But as I’ve already pointed out the NRL are in Victoria too, with the Storm being a very successful franchise - indeed on pure financials they’re one of the best run clubs in the country across all sports. Add to that that the NRL also has a passionate following in the ACT (where there is no AFL team) with the Raiders - a territory with a similar population in a more condensed area to the AFL’s emerging expansion region of Tasmania.

[@user-mg1p]

​@@shmick6079And what all these Queensland and NSW fail to know that Southern NSW is Australian rules always. And Aussie Rules is very popular in NSW and Queensland! They make out it's not even there!

[@user-mg1p]

​@@DeftPolTasmania emerging? You are totally not aware of the status of Australian rules football with that absurd statement. "Emerging" your kidding!

[@mikeythehat6693]

You're opening a can of worms there Menke (with your questions about NRL and Aussie Rules) Believe me when I tell you that, that's a scab that you don't want to pick at.

[@Mirrorgirl492]

Every kid in Primary School in Victoria learns their 6 X Table first 😉😜

[@jessovenden]

Yes. You grow up just knowing that six times table.

[@NoName-ds5uq]

Every kid in Tasmania learns to kick a footie before that! Peter Hudson? Average 6 goals per game? You don’t need your times table for that! 😉

[@davidhines68]

Cuddling the Sherrin gave me a chuckle.

[@filoboy88]

I don’t subscribe to or pay any attention to the bickering by both nrl and afl fans about which code is better. I personally enjoy both and both have their own unique traits.

[@uncle_thulhu]

Mate, so happy to see you back on the Aussie stuff, all fit and healthy. You're always welcome down here.🇦🇺❤

[@MenkeYT]

Thanks boss♥️

[@threestumps7560]

A disposal is a kick or handpass so a player with 10 kicks and 2 handpass will have 12 disposals

[@jamessmith5666]

You gotta come to Adelaide mate and see a Port home game! Not as big as an MCG crowd, but just as loud

[@banta-pd8zj]

This is just to illustrate the point, imagine a team won displaying a score line like this: 5 76 112 If you saw something like that you'd go WTF? You get my drift? Now that game would be worth a watch. It can also show whether one team is on the ball or not when their goals outnumber their behinds and the other team had as many goes at kicking a score but fewer goals like 5 5 30 1 9 10 It gives an immediate indicator that something was drastically wrong with their forwards even though the back lines are feeding their forwards as effectively as their opponents. I'm sure others can come up with all sorts of examples.

[@000nicholas]

There's a school yard version of the game with no goal posts and the idea is to keep the ball, and everybody chases the person with it, it is called "Kill the Dill with the Pill".

[@MenkeYT]

You don't wanna know what we called that growing up in the US 😅😅😅

[@horatiomh]

When I've been to AFL games players look tiny because the ground is so big but when I've been in a room with players they're big men.

[@judileeming1589]

I remember my son standing next to Locket and making Locket look small but then when my son stood next to Andrew Bogut he was dwarfed by him, and yet Locket looked huge on the ground when we sat in the front row behind the goals.

[@Mulley85]

We also play Rugby Union, however we havent had a good team since 1999

[@bradbell7630]

This is why we are such great punters

[@jessovenden]

Hi Menke. Our game is probably older than almost any other type of “football” in the world. Australian indigenous people played a similar game since who knows when. But official, codified Australian Rules football is older than any other sport, with records that date from before 1850 in Melbourne. Almost everyone talks to strangers about the footy when winter comes. It’s like a religion, only fun. NB! The supporters own the clubs. That’s unique too.

[@RickyisSwan]

Mate, most Aussie rules fans are not fond of rugby. Played mainly in NSW and QLD, the crowds are usually a third of most Aussie rules games. The fast pace and high scoring of Aussie rules means we don’t like the stop start nature of NRL, rugby. Also ours is a much more skilful game whereas rugby is mainly crash and bash. 🇦🇺🦘🦢

[@DeftPol]

It’s worth noting that NSW and Qld are where half the population lives and the NRL also has a highly successful side based in Melbourne, and also has a strong foothold in New Zealand with the Warriors - and given NZ has more people on its own than the other two dominant AFL states of SA and WA, the whole “we cover more territory” line touted by a lot of AFL people isn’t quite as accurate as it sounds. As for knocking the NRL for being “stop start”, the only “stop” is for a tackle and the game doesn’t really even stop; the defensive line has to spend the two seconds it takes for the play the ball to happen racing back 10 metres. When you compare that with the number of times a game of AFL “stops” with a mark, AFL feels like it stops more. As for “skill” - it’s all a matter of what you value. The NRL is hyper focused on precision and structure - you can’t stuff up as even the tiniest hint of a fumble constitutes lost possession - whatever else you might want to say about the NRL, saying it lacks “skill” in comparison to the AFL, which is constantly devolving into messy clusterfumbles is a bit insulting. In a sense, the AFL is the polar opposite - it values precision and accuracy so little, that it changed its point scoring system early in its formation to provide a reward for missing.

[@brianmckenzie4890]

Over half of NSW is AFL territory though. It is really only Sydney and the North Eastern third of the state that seriously plays rugby

[@RickyisSwan]

@@brianmckenzie4890 40,000 at the SCG on Thursday night is double the crowd for the rugby match of the day.

[@RickyisSwan]

@@DeftPol The high scoring and excitement of Aussie rules is the reason for higher weekly attendances than any other Ball sport in the world per capita, and is the fourth highest in the world regardless of population. Rugby is played in many countries of the world but not one of those countries features in the four top weekly attendances. Obviously a sport is only as good as how many people go to watch it. The NRL draws 15 to 20,000 people for its match of the day. AFL match of the day can be anything from about 60,000 to 90,000 for some games. The AFL grand final has drawn above 100,000 people for the last two years. Always over 90,000.

[@RickyisSwan]

@@DeftPol Not sure why you would include New Zealand? Don't think they play AFL in the Amazon rainforest either.

[@annabanana7071]

Thank Dog footy's back this week 🎉 Got my tickets for the Lions vs Blues on Friday night at the Gabba. I'm an Eagles supporter (yeah yeah I know 😂 ) but it should be a good game

[@Barto0482]

As a New South Welshman (Person from NSW), I heavily prefer Australian Football over the English game of Rugby League (I like it but it’s just not as good imo). Australian Football is the only sport to have been made in Australia, so that’s a big reason why it’s our national sport. It’s a lot of fun to play and watch and I’m surprised it’s not as big as it is overseas. The game is huge in many parts of Australia. Despite the NRL being the main sport of NSW and QLD, it’s still quite popular and relevant and it’s getting bigger every year

[@DeftPol]

I find it hard to believe you’re a New South Welshman if you’re honestly calling the game “Australian”. What it is is Victorian, and yes there’s a difference and it’s one that every New South Welshman knows all too well because every Victorian can never stop banging on about their state and their city. The game itself was originally “Victorian Rules Football” and not “Australian Rules Football” and there were - unsurprisingly - many in Victoria that fought against the rebranding because they barely considered themselves part of Federation - an attitude that still holds to this day. As a genuine NSWelshman, I recognise the NRL for what it really is - a game born of class struggle in a shared experience of working people across the UK and Australia. Victorian Football has always been - and in my view remains - an almost chauvinistically regional game that tries to present itself as a national “movement” but importantly one that can only even centre itself from Melbourne.

[@SuzyTrippa]

I used to watch you ages ago when you watched AFL games etc ... Good to see you back, you cut your hair off 😮 looks good!

[@MenkeYT]

Welcome back!

[@Ducatirati]

Yeah , been around a while , and Rugby and Soccor were played but at school level , AFL Became a codified game with rules and a charter , a couple of years of smoothing it out but 1858 , the first ever codified football game game was born , a full dozen years before the F A cup in England / Europe , early games were played on Rugger pitches, coz , cricket grounds weren't available , and it quickly became a derogatory statement from Rugby people who said well ,yes they play Rugby, but they play the Australian Rules, but the it needed a large ground and went to Cricket grounds coz that was the reason for its inception, now Australian rules all right , it a massive crowd 121,696 , it's an awesome game of attrition cheers

[@karenstrong8887]

It is not like other mashed up sports because it was the first sport. The first coded football anywhere.

[@Ghost1218]

Great video opening round this week

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

Queenslanders and NSW mostly like NRL. The try hard fans dont tend to like AFL. Call it Ariel ping-pong. 😂 Ive grown up both in Victoria and NSW and like both sports. Id prefer to play AFL as its more action and exciting.

[@timrozitis961]

First time watching (I think) and when I saw you watching a port beanie, I nearly turned it off....but I'm glad I watched the whole reaction. The original one you mention was targeted at a specifically US audience (so they focus on "big hits, no pads" and "high scores"). I think this newer one is a better primer TBH, but there is so much nuances that non of them can show everything.... With the score, most broadcasters include the total (and sometimes ignore the breakdown), so you don't need to do the Maths, they include the answer.... I was lucky enough to go to a Grand Final - the atmosphere at the MCG is always great with a crowd, but it's even more special totally full on Grand Final day. The crowd buzzes in the leadup to the game, is silenced for the National Anthem, and erupts in a roar afterwards that sort of counts down to the bounce and erupts more for the first bounce - and then holds the volume (with occasional pleas to the umpire) for about the first 10 minutes. And while it isn't really sustained after that, the crowd builds again for every pivotal moment (and I'm sure would swell in a close finish) Season starts tomorrow (March 7) - Go the Dees! (NB: I dislike Brayshaw as a commentator, but the 2021 GF commentary "surely not another.....bang.....bang, bang, bang" gets me every time (yes through Dees covered lenses))

[@Nathan-bu5ci]

If you want the experience of a full MCG or mostly full you should go to a Collinwood game, or Carlton, or Richmond, or Essendon, better if you can watch a game of a combination of those teams playing each other.

[@brendoncrofts6714]

AFL best game on the planet

[@jayweb51]

Check out the video Mason Cox: Don't Believe in Never, it's about an American playing in thr AFL

[@judileeming1589]

US population is 5% of World population and Australian population is 0.3% In the States where AFL is a religion, most people have a team that they follow. There is always a minority that hate it. Most kids start playing from about 5 years old but it is a very restricted game for the little kids (no contact) and more about participating and building skills. My grandson is playing in the Under 14’s and up to this year it has been mandatory for every player on his team to wear head protection and he is still going to wear head protection. All players wear mouth guards. Saying that, the next suburb over from me has a Gridiron team. We play just about every sport here except buzkashi 😂 😂 😂

[@gamortie]

7:26 that’s because there are so many more ways to score than in AFL

[@michaelfink64]

Even though we live in the upside down part of the world, we don't watch videos backwards.

[@brockmurley]

2024 season kicks off March 7th Aussie time. Go Cats! 😺

[@MenkeYT]

Good to see you brother!! Hope you're well

[@brockmurley]

@@MenkeYT same. Doing good thanks. I now reside in a suburb of Geelong. 10 minute drive from the home stadium. Whereabouts are you these days?

[@MenkeYT]

@@brockmurley now you have no excuse not to go to every game!! 😉 I live in the Houston Texas area!

[@brockmurley]

@@MenkeYT I'll definately try to get to some. I might buy a membership. Ah nice, you can get along to some Rockets' games.

[@PBMS123]

Aussie rules came before NFL, 9 years after Rugby Union, Basketball does come about for another 40 years. Certainly didn't mash a bunch of sports together.

[@carltraill4414]

Types of rugby came before Australian Football but it wasn't Union. Australian football was the first codified sport.

[@PBMS123]

@@carltraill4414 The two types: "Rugby (aka. Rugby Union) and Rugby league. "The code of football later known as rugby union can be traced to three events: the first set of written rules in 1845, the Blackheath Club's ... 1845 is before Aussie Rules was codified.

[@darrenmoore1305]

@@PBMS123Traced yes, but the actual rules of union weren't standardised until 1870. That was 11 years after the Laws of Australian Football were written. First codified rules for Association Football (Soccer) were laid down in 1863, four years after Australian Football. Rugby league 1895, American football from 1880. So yes, Australian rules is the oldest codified football code in the world, noting that the teams playing to Rugby Rules and Cambridge Rules no longer exist.

[@PBMS123]

​@@darrenmoore1305 didnt happen in 1859, clubs basically all had their own rules. Now you want to talk about "standardised" rules. Arguably that didn't happen until 1866, when 12 new laws were published the Victorian Rules of 1866, and teams of the colonies of QLD and NSW actually adopted those rules. It wasn't until the late 1870s when Tasmania and South Aust. agreed to modified rules (where the game was played on a rectangular field). Affiliation of all the states didn't occur until at the earliest 1877.

[@carltraill4414]

@@PBMS123 it wasn't a codified sport in 1845. Schools still played with completely different rules than each other and before games the schools had to decide on mutual rules. It wasn't until 1871 that it became a fully codified sport.

[@bradbell7630]

And 24 million love footy

[@DasGuntLord01]

HE'S ALIVE

[@ibd1977]

Liking your beanie mate 👍

[@jasonmorris2957]

Why was the afl video clip backwards?

[@shaundecker6218]

User aka Menke may have his settings set to Mirrored, much like when you have the front facing camera on your phone, it looks F-ed and looks "backwards"

[@kieranjoel5251]

Hey mate, love your reaction to our great game of Aussie Rules Football! As stated in the video you just watched, AFL is the most attended game in the world on average per capita (population). Please check out any of the following videos and I promise you’ll be hooked to the sport of AFL. Why AFL is the best sport in the world The 100 BEST goals of 2023 Best of the decade 2010-2019: Best goals Best of the decade 2010-2019: Best marks AFL grand final 2023 highlights Top moments in AFL this decade 2010-2019 Best of the decade 2010-2019: Brutal bumps and tackles AFL Biggest bumps and hits ever Eddie Betts - the Pied Piper The best goals of Eddie betts’ remarkable career Kysaiah Pickett is a human highlight reel Get Excited: Izak Rankine’s best highlights Chad wingard Port Adelaide career highlights Cyril Rioli’s Career highlights Lance Franklin best 23 goals Jeremy howe best marks afl 2011-2019 Gary Ablett's 29 best ever moments, milestones and performances | 2020 | AFL AFL grand final 2018 highlights

[@gamortie]

6:18 Dustin Martin being scragged by Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

[@johnsutton3600]

the team with the most points wins...makes sense...yep

[@geraldblaney9764]

Facebook no longer working in australia lol

[@solreaver83]

Afl is the biggest followed by cricket which was number one when I was growing up. Qlnd and nsw are the 2 biggest league states but I'm not sure league is the biggest in nsw but may still be in qld so over all its way behind in game support and last I heard it's shrinking.

[@Happy-Harris]

Queenslanders are bandwagon supporters, I should know I was born here but grew up elsewhere. When I came back everyone was on the Brisbane Lions train then after they lost to Port in 04 it was like whats AFL? But yeah its mostly always a big deal when State Of Origin comes around for a Queenslander.

[@solreaver83]

@@Happy-Harris yeah I did most of my schooling there but I agree with you

[@michaelmayo9048]

TV audiences for the last. NFL superbowl 123 million AFL grand final 125 million 😂

[@bradbell7630]

Plus Australia is a pretty place there’s just no one here

[@themoviehobbit355]

Good! we don't want anymore people

[@peterwallis5827]

hw have you flipped the video around 🤣🤣🤣

[@bradbell7630]

28 million that’s it

[@Alex.The.Lionnnnn]

Oi mate is that a real Sherrin???

[@scottgordon4360]

Come down for a home Port game.You wont see anyone with a full set of teeth.

[@michaelmayo9048]

In 2023 NRL 3.5 million spectators AFL 7.5 million spectators 😂

[@DeftPol]

You’re talking to an American - their Super Bowel got 100 million…

[@michaelmayo9048]

If your talking about TV audiences for the superbowl . AFL had 125 million for their grand final.

[@WaDarkPhoenix]

*vomits a little seeing the port beanie* Welcome back though dude!

[@deanwimbridge9318]

The video is backwards mate ?

[@adeptusmagi]

they dont wear body armour like softies either

[@dylans2376]

Correct choice of beanie 🍐

[@Danger_Mouse3619]

Did you watch the NFL in Vegas yesterday?

[@suemoore984]

Video is reversed for your viewers 😊

[@Darrylc73]

Don't watse your time.

[@kellielewis4490]

❤🇦🇺👍

[@dmgk3707]

Jeez I wish he'd just shut up!

[@maaaateyourrekidding6918]

ngl, don't bother with this sport 🤣🤮🤮