Australian Rules

British

noun

Also called: national code. (functioning as singular) a game resembling rugby football, played in Australia between teams of 18 men each on an oval pitch, with a ball resembling a large rugby ball. Players attempt to kick the ball between posts (without crossbars) at either end of the pitch, scoring six points for a goal (between the two main posts) and one point for a behind (between either of two outer posts and the main posts). They may punch or kick the ball and run with it provided that they bounce it every ten yards

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Rugby and Australian Rules are potentially good sources of talent like Welsh rugby union star Louis Rees-Zammit, who signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a returner/running back/wide receiver.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 25, 2024

Good’s father, Kerry Good, is a former Australian Rules football player and a current board member of the North Melbourne AFL club.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 15, 2024

Australian Rules footballer Heather Anderson was the first professional female athlete to be officially diagnosed with CTE earlier this year.

From BBC • Nov. 15, 2023

As a result, Adam Gotsis, a defensive tackle with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is the only non-kicker to make the jump from Australian Rules to the NFL.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 24, 2023

She has tried her hand at swimming and Australian Rules Football as tennis took a back seat for a while to guard against injury.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2023

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023