The Field
Aussie Rules is played on cricket ovals; thus, there are no standard dimensions for a football field (usually called
"ground" or "paddock"). The field should be an oval between 135 and 185 meters in length and 110 and 155 meters
in width. (The Melbourne Cricket Ground is considered an ideal surface; its dimensions are 165m length by 135m
width.) The boundary is marked with a white line drawn a few meters from the stands.
The goals are two sets of posts erected at the far ends of the oval. The inner set of posts is the goal posts, 6.4
meters (roughly 7 yards) apart on the boundary line, and at least 6 meters tall.
Two behind posts are set 6.4 meters from either side of the goal posts on the boundary line, and must be at least 3
meters tall. All posts must be padded to a height of 2 meters.
A goal square (actually a rectangle) extends 9 meters into the ground from the goal posts, and is 6.4 meters in width.
A radius is drawn on the oval 50 meters from each goal. This merely serves as a range finder; any AFL player
should be able to kick a goal from this line, and perhaps beyond.
The center circle is marked at the precise center of the oval, 3 meters in diameter, bisected by a lateral line
extending 2 meters either side of the diameter, and dividing the field in half. A center square is centered on this, 45
meters on each side. These markings control the conduct of center bounces, as will be seen later.
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