Beginners Guide To The Game
Firstly, here is a little bit of information on the goals and scoring system of the game
Each end of the field (also referred to as the oval, ground etc.) has four posts.
There are two goal posts in the middle, and to the side of them are two point posts.
Every time your team scores a goal (between the two inner goal posts) your team is awarded 6 points.
Every time the ball goes between one of the goal posts and one of the point posts, your team is awarded 1 point. This is known as a behind.
Your team also score 1 point if; the other team touches the ball and it then goes between any of the posts at your scoring end...including between the goal posts, or if the ball touches one of the goal posts on the way through.
(Because of the above rules, the opposition will often try and punch the ball through the goal posts so you only gain 1 point!)
If your team were to score 6 goals (6 points each) and 4 behinds (1 point each), your score would be: (6 x 6) + (4 x 1) = 40 points.
You will often see this score written as 6 4 40. That is 6 goals, 4 behinds and a total of 40 points. It gets easier I promise!
Below are the basic rules and regulations of the game
At The Beginning
At the start of the game (and each quarter), one of the field umpires will stand in the centre square, hold the ball above his head and blow the whistle. This signals the timekeepers to start the clock. He will then bounce the ball in the centre of the ground and the two "ruckmen" jump to try to tap it down to one of their team mates.

Marking
If you are the first player to mark (catch) the ball, and you are in control of it then you are awarded the mark. The ball must travel at least 10 metres to take a mark.

The Mark
This is the point on the ground where you actually marked the ball. An opposing player will stand on this mark to try and put you off your kick!

Play On
You are allowed a small amount of movement after you've taken the mark but you have to decide straight away whether you are going to take the mark or play on. So if you try to pass to a team mate, run past the mark, run forward/sideways or backward, then you are considered to have "played on" and are free to be tackled!

In The Back
If the opposing player literally pushes you in the back then a free should be awarded to you. It basically means that the opposition cannot push you in the back, whatever situation you are in.

Hip and Shoulder
This is bascially where you can knock an opponent out of the way by bumping them with your shoulder.

Around The Neck
If your opponent tries to tackle you higher than your shoulders then you should be awarded a free against them. Simalarly, your opponent cannot tackle you if you do not have the ball and they cannot hold onto your guernsey.

Running Too Far
If you are running with the ball you can only advance a maximum of 15 metres (in the umpires estimation). To "reset" this 15 metres you can either bounce the ball or touch the ball on the ground (only usually used in wet whether).

Holdong The Ball
If you are carrying the ball while you are tackled by your opponent you can be deemed to be "holding the ball". This can only be, if you had a chance to get rid of the ball prior to the tackle, but didn't.
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