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 on-field positions in professional Australian rules football, not including the interchange players (normally between two and six) who may replace another player on the ground at any time during play. Women's football uses 16 players, with one less forward and defender. Junior football can often decrease the numbers further, based on player availability or ground size.
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 and prevent teams "flooding" their defensive side of the ground, the "6-6-6" rule was introduced ahead of the 2019 season. At the beginning of each quarter and after a goal is scored, each team must have a maximum of six players in each 50m arc, and six players in the middle section of the ground. Of the six players in the middle section, each team is also restricted to a maximum of four within the centre square, including one in the centre circle. If this is breached, the ruckman for the offending side receives a warning on behalf of the team. If the rule is again breached, a free kick is awarded.
Back line 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 or the back six.
Full-back 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) full-back player to attempt to mark the kick-in.
Notable full-backs:
George 'Jocka' Todd Jack Regan Vic Thorp Fred Baring Fred Hughson Stephen Silvagni Chris Langford Geoff Southby David Dench Kelvin Moore Gary Malarkey Rod Carter Gary Pert Michael Brennan Ashley McIntosh Darren Gaspar Ben Rutten Simon Prestigiacomo Darren Glass Brian Lake Matthew Scarlett Dustin Fletcher Mal Michael Mick Martyn Shane Wakelin Tom Jonas Alex Rance Harris Andrews Tom Lonergan Harris Andrews Jacob Weitering
Back pocket 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.
Notable back pocket players:
Wally Donald Bernie Smith Brad Hardie Gary Ayres Charlie Sutton Ian Nankervis John Rantall Laurie Fowler Mark Browning Jeff Dunne Andrew Collins Glenn Archer James Clement Shane Parker David Wirrpanda Michael Green Chris Johnson Ang Christou Gavin Wanganeen Darren Milburn Campbell Brown Ben Hart Daniel Edwards Dale Morris
Half-back line
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. The centre half-back dominates play to a significant extent, and hence is considered a key position in defence.
The centre half-back is often a tall and sturdy player. Along with their half-back flankers, centre half-backs are the first line of defence, but also key players in winning the ball, leading and assisting the offense.McLeod and Jaques, 2006, p. 129
Centre half-backs are required to have a solid understanding of team structures, mainly the strategies used for kick-ins. They need to compete in contests, take contested marks, run off their opponent to win uncontested possessions, and force their opponents to chase.
Notable centre half-backs:
Albert Collier Tom Fitzmaurice Wally Buttsworth Gordon Strang Bert Deacon Neil Roberts Col Austen Gary Hardeman Peter Knights Billy Picken Ross Glendinning Paul Roos Chris Mew Chris Grant Michael Sexton Glen Jakovich Sean Wellman Justin Leppitsch Trent Croad Josh Gibson Luke McPharlin Peter Dean
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:
Kevin Murray Bruce Doull Luke Hodge Andrew McLeod Trevor Barker Ken Fletcher Wayne Schimmelbusch Guy McKenna John Worsfold Nigel Smart Mark Bayes Mervyn Keane David O'Halloran Ken Hinkley Brett Lovett David Grant Dean Laidley Mark Bickley Grant Birchall Brett Deledio Shannon Hurn Paul Seedsman
Forward line The forward line, similarly to the back line, can either refer to the full-forward line or both the full- and half-forward lines. In modern football, there is little differentiation between the half-forward and full-forward lines, with the forward 6 being interchangeable across the entire area.
Full-forward 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:
Peter Hudson John Coleman Gordon Coventry Jason Dunstall Tony Lockett Doug Wade Bob Pratt Jack Titus Jack Moriarty Bill Mohr Harry Vallence Dick Lee Ken Farmer George Doig Fred Fanning Peter McKenna Geoff Blethyn Alex Jesaulenko Michael Moncrieff Alastair Lynch Matthew Lloyd Tony Modra Saverio Rocca Brendan Fevola Lance Franklin Barry Hall Jack Riewoldt Joe Daniher Josh J. Kennedy Tom Hawkins Charlie Curnow
Forward pocket 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:
Jeff Farmer Silvio Foschini Vin Catoggio Peter Daicos Norm Goss Brad Johnson Brad Hardie Leon Davis Angus Monfries Phillip Matera Cyril Rioli Eddie Betts Brett Ebert Charlie Cameron Stephen Milne Mark LeCras Hayden Ballantyne Michael Walters
Centre half-forward The centre half-forward's role is usually the most demanding of any player on field; requiring a tall frame, good marking skills, strength and most importantly, athleticism, being required.
A centre half-forward who is strongly built and specialises in charging packs is often categorised as a power forward.Return of the power forward Rohan Connolly for realfooty.com.au 17 April 2010
Notable centre half-forwards:
Wayne Carey Royce Hart Albert Thurgood Barrie Robran Bernie Quinlan Ted Whitten Darrel Baldock Dermott Brereton Stephen Kernahan Garry Lyon Terry Daniher Ivor Warne-Smith Laurie Nash Ken Hands Fred Flanagan Horrie Clover Ken Fraser Nick Riewoldt Matthew Pavlich Warren Tredrea Graham Cornes Kelvin Templeton Jonathan Brown Matthew Richardson Jarryd Roughead Travis Cloke Taylor Walker
Half-forward flank 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. The term "high half-forward" has recently been used to describe a mid-sized forward who plays as a connector between the midfield and defence, not close to goal.
Notable half-forward flankers:
Gary Ablett Sr Darren Jarman Alex Jesaulenko Malcolm Blight Gary Buckenara Peter Daicos Wayne Johnston Michael Turner Roger Dean Graham Arthur Paul Hudson James Hird Jason Akermanis Nicky Winmar Phil Krakouer Mick Conlan Mark Mercuri Nathan Brown Brad Johnson Stevie Johnson
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