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In the sport of Australian rules football, each of the eighteen players in a team is assigned to a particular named position on the field of play. These positions describe both the player's main role and by implication their location on the ground. As the game has evolved, tactics and team formations have changed, and the names of the positions and the duties involved have evolved too. There are 18 positions in Australian rules football, not including four (sometimes 6–8) interchange players who may replace another player on the ground at any time during play.
The fluid nature of the modern game means the positions in football are not as formally defined as in sports such as rugby or American football. Even so, most players will play in a limited range of positions throughout their career, as each position requires a particular set of skills. Footballers who are able to play comfortably in numerous positions are referred to as utility players.
In an effort to maintain traditional positions, at the beginning of each quarter and after each goal each team must have a maximum of 6 players in each 50m arc, including 1 in the goal square. Each team are also restricted to a maximum of 4 within the centre square, including 1 in the centre circle. If this is breached, a free kick is awarded.[1]
The term back line can either refer to the full-back line consisting of the two back pockets and the full-back, or both the full- and half-back lines, which collectively can also be referred to as the defence, defensive unit[2] or the back six.[3]
The full-back position has always been a purely defensive role, with the aim of stopping the full-forward from getting the ball and scoring. But, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of the back and down the field quickly has become a more important tactic, the full-back often starts a chain of passes up the ground. The defensive aspect of the position remains important, with the ability to accelerate and change direction quickly. Spoiling the ball is also of utmost importance. The full-back often kicks the ball back into play after a point has been scored, although some teams prefer a midfielder or the small back pockets for this role, freeing the (typically taller) fullback player to attempt to mark the kick in.
Notable full-backs:
The back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.
Back pocket players need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness. Back pockets generally play on the smaller, faster forward pockets and let the fullback play on the stronger full forward.
Some back-pockets are small, fast players, whose role is to clear a loose ball from defence or play on a forward of similar size and speed. Others are 'mid-sized' defenders, with enough height and strength to contest or spoil marks and enough mobility to fulfil the first role.
Back pocket is not an exclusive position. Tall defenders (i.e. full back/centre half-back) may play in the back pocket to match up effectively on a tall forward playing in the forward pocket.
Numerous back pocket players have gone on to coach successfully, including Kevin Sheedy, Mick Malthouse, Tom Hafey, Denis Pagan and David Parkin.[4]
Notable back pocket players:
The half-back line consists of two half-back flankers and the centre half-back. The role of centre half-back has remained largely unmodified throughout the years.[5] The centre half-back dominates play to a significant extent, and hence is considered a key position in defence.[5]
Ideally, the centre half-back should be a durable player, quite tall and well-built.[5] Along with their half-back flankers, centre half-backs are the first line of defence, but also key players in winning the ball, and creating and assisting in attack.[6]
Centre half-backs must have a great understanding of team structures, especially the strategies for kick-ins.[7] They need to be able to compete and take contested marks, and also run off their opponent to win uncontested possessions and force their opponents to chase.[7]
Notable centre half-backs:
The half-back flank is very similar to the back pocket position. However, a true half-back flanker is more attacking and concentrates on rebounding the ball out of the defensive 50. Sometimes half-back flankers even forgo their defensive duties in order to be more attacking. When a half-back flanker is attacking, they play like a wing-back in soccer (or an attacking full-back), and if they are more defensive then they play like a traditional full-back in soccer.
Notable half-back flankers:
The centre half-forward's role is usually the most demanding of any player on field, with a tall frame, good marking skills, strength and most importantly, athleticism, required.
A centre half-forward who is strongly built and specialises in charging packs is often categorised as a power forward.[8]
Notable centre half-forwards:
Standing wide of the centre half-forward, the half-forward flankers provide an alternate target for balls coming from the midfield.
Half-forward flankers usually move the ball into the forward line along the flanks. They might kick the ball into the forward line, pass the ball to another running player, or have a shot at goal themselves. These days half-forward flankers usually push into the midfield and, rather than being a specialist position, half-forward flank can be played by centres, wingers, rovers/ruck-rovers, or even attacking half-back flankers.
Notable half-forward flankers:
The forward line, similarly to the back line, can either refer to the full-forward line or both the full- and half-forward lines.
Full-forwards are good at one-on-one contests with the opposition and are the main target in the forward line when attacking. This means they can produce mass numbers of goals in a season or match. Contests in the goalsquare require the strength and weight to be able to jostle or wrestle opponents to front position and keep fullbacks at bay and not as much running is required as midfielders. As a result, full-forwards are typically both tall and powerfully built. A full-forward that is strongly built and specialises in charging packs is often categorised as a power forward.
As well as contesting marks with their strength, full forwards will try to run into space to shake off their defender and take an uncontested mark (this is known as "leading", "leading for the ball" or "leading into space"). This means that the full forward needs to be fast, but only in short bursts. In modern times, some teams have experimented by playing a smaller and faster player (possibly a former forward pocket or flanker) at full forward in order to beat the defender with speed rather than strength. In the case of Mark Williams (Hawthorn) and Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs), this has been extremely successful.
Notable full-forwards:
The forward pocket is designed as either a role for a second full forward (also known as a third key forward) or for players who are smaller but faster and more agile and capable of kicking brilliantly on the run (this is the more traditional forward pocket). Many forward pockets, like rovers, are quick thinking and opportunistic "crumbing" players. This means that they need to be short enough to pick up the ball quickly after it hits the ground from a contest, think and move quickly to evade potential tackles, and kick or set up a goal.
Like some back pockets, some forward pockets are like medium-sized full forwards—tall and strong enough to contest marks, and mobile enough to crumb the ball. Some players in this mould, such as Russell Robertson, are capable of playing full forward outright.
Crumbing forward pockets do not exclusively crumb the ball. Sometimes, they lead for the ball like full forwards, so they have to be competent at marking the ball. Some forward pockets can even jump so high that they can contest marks, despite their lack of height.
Notable forward pocket players:
The followers are three different roles, the "ruck", "rover" and "ruck-rover".
Also known as the on-ball division, the followers consist of three players: a ruck, a ruck-rover and a rover. They are known as followers because they have traditionally been used as players that follow the ball all around the ground as opposed to playing in a set position. With modern Australian rules football there is a decreased emphasis on set positions, but followers generally cover much more ground than other players on the field.
Ruck—their role is to contest with the opposing ruck at centre bounces which take place at the start of each quarter or after each goal and also at stoppages (i.e., boundary throw-ins, ball ups). The ruck usually uses their height (typically rucks are much taller than average) to palm or tap the ball down so that a ruck-rover or rover can run onto it—similar to an NBA centre at the tip-off. Traditionally, rucks have simply been tall players with limited skill and speed, whose only job was to provide a contest in the ruck. In recent times, however, rucks have become faster and more skilled, so they can play as an extra midfielder in between ruck contests.
The tallest AFL players ever are rucks Mason Cox (Collingwood), Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle), Peter Street (Western Bulldogs) and Ned Reeves (Hawthorn), all of whom measure 2.11 metres (6 ft 11 in). Before them the record was held by Matthew "Spider" Burton (Fremantle and North Melbourne) at 2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in). Gold Coast's Jarrod Witts also stands at 2.10 metres (6 ft 11 in).
Notable Rucks:
Ruck-rover—their role is to be directly beneath the flight of the ball when a ruck taps the ball down, allowing an easy take away, or clearance, from a stoppage. Typically, players are not as tall as the ruck.
Rover—their role is to lurk around centre bounces and stoppages to receive the ball from a ruck or ruck-rover and complete a clearance. Rovers are typically the smallest player on the ground. In modern football, the rover, ruck-rover, centre and wingers are often grouped together as midfielders.
The traditional ruck-rover and rover positions are an anachronism in today's game. Along with the centre line players, the ruck-rover and rover form the midfield.
The traditional centreline consists of the centre and the wingmen. These three players are usually good at winning the ball and running with it.[6] They help turn defence into attack and set up attacking plays.[6] As their main role is to deliver the ball to the forwards, they are sometimes called link men.[6]
Physically, centre line players need to have good turning agility, above-average ability to read the play and, as they are involved in both attack and defence, a high level of stamina and teamwork.[6] Furthermore, they must possess very good kicking or handball skills, preferably on both sides of the body.
The centreline and on-ballers form what is known as the midfield. Midfielders are generally separated into two categories: inside midfielders and outside midfielders. The inside midfielders' main responsibility is to win the ball from the stoppages and feed it out to the outside midfielders, who are generally the quicker, more elusive players.
Notable midfielders:
Taggers, also known as run-with players or stoppers, mark the opposition's best player (often a midfielder, although sometimes a half-back[9]) and restrict their impact on the game. Good taggers must be fit, disciplined and focused.[10] They must be strong enough to keep their position in stoppages and contested play (without conceding free kicks), yet fast enough to match their opponent's spread.[11] Notable taggers include Ryan Crowley, Steven Baker, Brett Kirk, Cameron Ling, Kane Cornes,[10] Ben Jacobs,[12] Brady Rawlings, Shane Heard, Matt de Boer and Finn Maginness.
Players named as the interchange, also often known as the "bench", are not permitted to enter the field of play unless substituting for a player during the game. Up to four players can be named on the bench; this number has steadily increased from a single player in the 1930s. Representative teams (such as State of Origin teams or honorific teams such as the AFL Team of the Century), practise and exhibition matches often feature an extended interchange bench of up to six or eight players.
Until the 1970s, the single interchange player, known as the "nineteenth man" or the "reserve" acted only as a substitution for an injured or out-of-form player; the player substituted out of the game could take no further part. Since the 1970s, interchange has increased from two to three to four players, and substitutions may be made as often as the coach wishes, with players allowed to be moved onto and off from the ground for several rests during the game.
The four players named on the interchange bench in the teamsheet (which is submitted ninety minutes before the commencement of the game) must actually start on the bench; however, they may be substituted immediately if the coach wishes.
From 2011 until 2015, the AFL level interchange rules provided that each team was permitted three interchange players (instead of four) and one substitute player.
The substitute sat on the bench and began the game wearing a green vest over his playing guernsey. He was not permitted to enter the field of play, nor be interchanged while wearing the green vest. At any time during the game, he could be substituted for one of the other players in the team—either on the ground or on the bench. He took off his green vest, and the player he substituted put on a red vest. The player in the red vest could take no further part in the game. Teams were limited to a single substitution per game. Players were substituted for tactical reasons or to replace an injured player.
At the start of the 2016 season, the substitute rule was removed, returning to four available interchange players.
The substitute returned in the 2021 season, but was only available to replace an injured player, with the regular sub (to be used for any reason) returning for the 2023 season.
There are very few players in the AFL league who possess the skill and poise to be able to consistently perform to a very high standard in many different positions. Some of these players do not receive the recognition they deserve, while others, such as Matthew Pavlich, Jimmy Bartel, and Adam Goodes, are praised for their versatility and ability to influence a game from any position.
Traditionally, a utility player is an unheralded but nonetheless important player. He does not dominate one position, instead he is like a "spare parts" player because he can fill in at a variety of positions and do a good job in each.
Nowadays, the need for more versatility in players has resulted in many players "doubling up" their roles. Practically every midfielder can play forward pocket, back pocket, half-forward flank or half-back flank. Most, if not all, starting ruckmen can play as tall forwards, or in rarer cases, tall defenders. Some tall defenders can play as tall forwards and vice versa. This means that most AFL players have a specialist position and one or two "fill-in" positions.
One exception to this would be a player who is actually a specialist at two positions, not just a fill-in (i.e. Adam Hunter, the Eagles' best centre-half back, is also one of their most dominant full forwards). Another exception would be midfielders, such as James Hird and Anthony Koutoufides, who have the height and strength to play key positions. This requires an extremely rare blend of skills and abilities.
Below are a number of players who are notable for their ability to dominate various positions.
Notable players:
| Alternative name | Positions | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Key defenders or tall defenders | Full back, centre-half back | |
| Rucks, on-ballers, on-ball division on-ball brigade |
Ruckman, ruck-rover, rover | See Followers above |
| Centreline | Wingers, centre | Term nowadays obsolete, positions considered part of the Midfield |
| Big men | Ruckmen | (see "tall timber", below) |
| Key forwards or tall forwards | Centre-half forward, full forward | |
| Tall timber | Ruckmen, centre-half forward, full forward, full back, centre-half back | This is a slang term, but it refers to all the players whose height may be more important than their speed |
| Crumber, small forward | Forward pocket | Any small, fast forward may sometimes called a "crumber" or "small forward" |
| Resting ruckman | Ruckmen | A ruckman playing in the forward line between stints in the ruck is a "resting ruckman" (as in, he's taking a rest from ruck duties by playing up forward). Traditionally, as ruckmen could not be taken off (as they could not come back on), they may have rested in the back pocket instead. |
| Rotating defender | Midfielder, defender | Midfielders and defenders who rotate through each other's positions. Often sees midfielders move to defence and play as creative defenders. |
| Rebounder, mop-up player | Back pocket, half-back flank | A back pocket or half-back flanker whose main job is to rebound the ball out of defence may be called a "rebounder" or "mop-up player". A player who is really good at setting up attacks from defence, due to their quality ball skills and decision-making abilities, may be referred to as a quarterback (this slang term is a reference to American football). |
| Key position player | Full back, centre-half back, centre-half forward, full forward | Used to describe any of the taller forwards or defenders |
| Swingman or swing-men | Utility player | Typically used to describe a utility player who is a specialist at two or more positions. |
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