AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

Evening Star, Issue 16086, 11 April 1916, Page 6

AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL

NOVEL RULES OB' A BRISK GAME. TV-ams representing the Victorian and South Australian contingents now in England mot in a match under Australian rules at Catford recently, when tho Victorians won by six goals and eight " hchinds" (14 points) to four goals and .seven. " behinds " (31 points). The Australian rules arc a curious mixture of Ruby and Association. A, Rugby ball is used, and you can handlo it- and punt and drop-kick and mako your mark. On the other hand, thero are no serums and no touch-downs. Except that you may not uso your hands to collar a man nor " boost "'him from behind, and that you cannot nm with the ball for more than 10 yardrt without bouncing it, almost anything ifc permitted. You can slap tho' ball ofpunt it with your fist, catch it or gra)* it off tho ground, or kick it or pass it-, in any direction. Tho one thing ia to get it along. Tho result is a gannj which., vlulo informal and rathe? scrambling, is undeniably fast and entertaining as a spectacle. It is, moreover, a companionablo game, for every man on either side is marked and shepherded about tho field by an enemy. Instead of anything liko a line-up in respective territories, tho whole two teams are scattered in apparent pronuscuousness about tlio ground, strolling in friendly couples, And this was a friendly match, though keen enough from the start, and almost frenzied in tho final quarter. Ninety per cent, of tho spectators were men of tho Australian and New Zealand forces now home from the Dardanelles, who yelled for "Vic" or "South," or gave advice to individual players with a vigor and freedom quito unusual on British football fields.