TWITTER.COM/AFLDIVERSITY FACEBOOK.COM/AFLMULTICULTURALPROGRAM THE GAME EXPLAINED 48 & 75 TRAM JOLIMONT STATION Incredibly fast and exciting, Australian Football is full of amazing courage, athleticism and skill. Here is a guide to how the game is played. THE ESSENTIALS The game starts when a field umpire bounces the ball in the middle of the ground. The ball is also bounced in the centre to start each quarter and after a goal has been scored. Games are divided into four quarters of 20 minutes, plus extra time. Teams swap ends after each quarter. There are 22 players in a team and 18 are allowed on the playing field at any one time. THE AIM OF THE GAME It is all about kicking goals. That means kicking the ball through the tall inner sticks (the goalposts) to score six points for your team. If the ball goes between a goalpost and either of the smaller outer sticks, then a behind (worth one point) is scored. The ball play must remain within the boundary line, or else the ball is returned to the umpire to throw the ball back in play. The team that finishes with the biggest total score overall is the winner. THE SCORE WOOLWORTHS AFL PLAYGROUND When it comes to reading or writing the scores, the goals go first, then the behinds, then the total points. 246 BUS For example, a score of 10 goals and six behinds is a total of 66 points and is written 10.6 (66). UMPIRES THE MCG 70 TRAM RICHMOND STATION Field umpires: three field umpires control the game and award free kicks where the rules have been breached Boundary umpires: There are four boundary umpires who decide when the ball is out of bounds or out of bounds on the full. The MCG is located on Brunton Avenue, Richmond and is 2km from Goal umpires: There is a goal umpire at each end of the ground. They decide if a goal or behind has been scored. Melbourne’s CBD. THE HANDBALL A handball is an alternate method of moving the ball towards your goal. It involves holding GETTING THERE the football in one hand and disposing of it by hitting it with the clenched fist of the other hand. CAR Car parking is usually available at the MCG in Yarra Park on event days, via Punt Road. Please THE MARK note long delays can be experienced when exiting the car park. Parking in high-rise parking A mark is taken if a player catches the football after it has been kicked by another player buildings in the CBD is another option. a distance of at least 15 metres and has not touched the ground or been touched by another player when it is in the air. TRAIN For most people, train is the easiest way to get to the MCG. There are two train stations close RUNNING WITH THE BALL to the MCG. Where a player is moving while in possession of the football, he must bounce Jolimont is north of the ground and offers a five-minute walk through Yarra Park to the ground. or touch the football on the ground at least once every 15 metres. From any railway station in the CBD, take the Hurstbridge or Epping lines. The other station is Richmond on the south eastern side of the MCG. To get to Richmond THE TACKLE station from the city, take any train on the Lilydale, Belgrave, Alamein, Glen Waverley, A legal tackle is when an opponent who has the ball is tackled below the Dandenong, Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston or Sandringham lines. shoulders and above the knee. You are not allowed to push an opponent in the back. A player who is tackled illegally while in possession of the ball will TRAM be awarded a free kick. Three tram routes provide access to the MCG. No. 75 travels along Flinders St and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade and No. 48 travels along Collins St and connects with the eastern suburbs via Wellington Parade. Both these routes stop just outside the MCG. No. 70 travels along Flinders St then detours via Melbourne Park and the tram stop is a short walk across the footbridge to the ground. HOW TO BUY TICKETS BUS Tickets for all AFL matches at the MCG The Bus route 246 is run by National Bus Company and stops in Punt Road, just a short walk from the ground. are sold through Ticketek. For more information on the above services visit victrip.com.au. TICKETS CAN BE PURCHASED BY 1. Phoning 132 849. 2. Visiting a Ticketek outlet. 3. Online via their website ticketek.com.au. For more information visit ticketek.com.au. AMENITIES PRAYER ROOM VEGETARIAN FOOD A Prayer room is located on level B1 Vegetarian food is available at all near aisle M30. outlets around the stadium. PARENT ROOMS DISABLED ACCESS FUN AND FREE ACTIVITIES Parent rooms and baby change The MCG has wheelchair-friendly stations are located around seating, parking, entrance points FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES the stadium. and bathrooms. Don’t forget to check out the INFORMATION DRY AREA ( ALCOHOL FREE ) Woolworths AFL Playground For more information, ask an MCG event There is designated dry area seating at every AFL match at the MCG! Just Opens 90 minutes before the start of each match at the MCG. staff or a security guard. request this category on the Ticketek The Woolworths AFL Playground is located near gate 6. website when you are buying your tickets. TWITTER.COM/AFLDIVERSITY FACEBOOK.COM/AFLMULTICULTURALPROGRAM Spencer Street City SOUTHERN CROSS STATION THE GAME EXPLAINED Railway Line t Car Park e e Ent ry C To Flinders r djer i Wa y t n Wuru s. S & Collin s St y CBD - 4min walk e Pedestrian Bridge Incredibly fast and exciting, Australian Football is full of amazing courage, l Channel d Gate u n Nine Car Park E t D r ie 5 s D Ticket Sales National athleticism and skill. Here is a guide to how the game is played. & WOOLWORTHS AFL PLAYGROUND E Ticket Sales Australia Bank Aurora Lane Lacrosse Apartments Gate Gate 6 4 THE ESSENTIALS t ree The game starts when a field umpire bounces the ball in the middle of the ground. The ball is also bounced in the t Medibank Private LaTrobe St T ick Accessible Ramp et S Lift centre to start each quarter and after a goal has been scored. (Access to External ales Gate (street level) obe S Concourse) 3 Tr Games are divided into four quarters of 20 minutes, plus extra time. Teams swap ends after each quarter. La t ales et S ick T ree There are 22 players in a team and 18 are allowed on the playing field at any one time. Gate t 7 Car Park Etihad Entries Batmans Hill Drive Stadium A & B TRAM STOP rke S u T THE AIM OF THE GAME ick Bo et S ales Gate T k It is all about kicking goals. That means kicking the ball through the tall inner sticks (the goalposts) to score six ic 1 S et points for your team. If the ball goes between a goalpost and either of the smaller outer sticks, then a behind ales Quest (worth one point) is scored. The ball play must remain within the boundary line, or else the ball is returned to the Apartments ETIHAD Gate Gate umpire to throw the ball back in play. The team that finishes with the biggest total score overall is the winner. 8 9 Etihad Stadium Service Entrance (Access to B2 Ring Road) STADIUM THE SCORE Victoria Point Seven Network Pedestrian When it comes to reading or writing the scores, the goals go first, then the behinds, then the total points. Accessible Lift Tunnel to Car (street level) Bendigo Bank For example, a score of 10 goals and six behinds is a total of 66 points and is written 10.6 (66). Park Level B3 AFL House To Footscray Rd. Harbour Esplanade TRAM STOP Central National Australia To Victoria Harbour New Quay Pier Bank Car Park & UMPIRES Waterfront City Field umpires: three field umpires control the game and award free kicks where the rules have been breached Shed 14 Shed 9 Water Front Taxi Rank Boundary umpires: There are four boundary umpires who decide when the ball is out of bounds or out of bounds on the full. Etihad Stadium is located at 740 Bourke Street, Docklands and is 2km from Goal umpires: There is a goal umpire at each end of the ground. They decide if a goal or behind has been scored. Melbourne’s CBD. THE HANDBALL A handball is an alternate method of moving the ball towards your goal. It involves holding GETTING THERE the football in one hand and disposing of it by hitting it with the clenched fist of the other hand. CAR On match days, patrons can enter the Etihad Stadium via Car Park B off the Bourke Street THE MARK extension or via Car Park D and Car Park E off Wurundjeri Way. A mark is taken if a player catches the football after it has been kicked by another player a distance of at least 15 metres and has not touched the ground or been touched by another player when it is in the air. TRAIN For most people, train is the easiest way to get to Etihad Stadium. Southern Cross is the nearest train station to Etihad Stadium. It is approximately a four-minute walk across the RUNNING WITH THE BALL Bourke Street pedestrian footbridge.