Appendix:Australian rules football slang
See also List of nicknames used in Australian rules. A B
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See also
1 A
aerial ping-pong - a term used to describe the sport
since the ball often moves back and forth between
two halves of the ground. More often than not a
derogatory term used by rugby league football fans,
the term was more valid through the 1960s and
1970s; the faster paced running game and increased
use of hand passing of the current age has made the
term largely obsolete.
AFL - the sport of Australian Football; i.e. a child
may state we're going to play a game of AFL to
mean the sport, not the league. This term is used
particuarly in New South Wales and Queensland
where Aussie Rules is not a native sport and knowl-
edge of the sport is mostly through the marketing
campaigns of the AFL.
aggett - the piece of leather or oval football that
the game is played with
air conveyance - the football
Arctic Park - nickname of former VFL/AFL head-
quarters ground Waverley Park, for its freezing at-
mosphere
assist - to give the ball to a player who then scores
- this statistic has a long history in other sports such
as NHL hockey, and is just beginning to gain popu-
larity in the game
2 B
bag of... - the number of goals a player kicks in one
game, e.g. a bag of six.
ball in dispute - is a coaching term: refers to the fact
that no one has clean possession of the ball
ball - short for holding the ball - called by supporters
to plead for the umpire to pay a free kick for holding
the ball, often when they fear he might pay holding
the man. Often dragged out as baalllll. See man on
this page
1
banana kick (see checkside)
baulk - where a player either 'sells the dummy' in
order to pass another, or shifts weight from foot to
foot in order to wrong-foot an opponent into believ-
ing he is trying to pass him on one side, but actually
passes him on the other.
behind the stick - a behind
belt the living suitcase out of - a piece of radio-
friendly vernacular, referring to players in a melee,
or a team being thrashed
big men - see tall timber
blind turn - not used as much today: it is a method of
passing an opponent while carrying the ball. The op-
ponent sells the dummy to the opponent, then turns
or spins the other way in order to break free from
the opponents grasp or possible grasp.
bomb - a long high kick
breadbasket - refers to the stomach of a player
3 C
candy (or sell some candy) - see dummy (or sell the
dummy)
centimetre perfect - a pass which somehow avoids
going out of bounds on the full and/or being spoiled
by an opponent. Most commonly used by one of the
AFLs best commentators, Dennis Cometti
Charlie - the Brownlow Medal
cheap stat/cheapie - the disposal from a player who
receives an unpressured and extremely short hand-
pass from a teammate with a free kick or mark is
said to be cheap because receiving the ball takes no
eort
checkside or banana - a kick that is kicked with great
spin causing a curved trajectory through the air such
that it gradually shifts from its initial ight path or
direction in ight to another
chewy on your boot - a call by opposition supporters
or players to a player usually when he is taking a set
shot for goal. It is designed to upset his concentra-
tion when kicking.
2 6
chicken wing - used to describe a tackle where one or
both arms are pinned and the player is then usually
thrown to the ground, unable to break their fall
chip-chip - derogatory name currently used to de-
scribe a game plan where short kicks are preferred
to long ones.
chopped o - intercepted
clanger - a statistic which records errors
clearance - clearing
coathanger - dangerous high tackle with a forceful
straight arm to the opponents neck or head.
Colliwobbles - term coined to describe
Collingwoods failure in nals between 1958
and 1990, including eight grand nal losses and one
draw
corridor - the centre of the eld, and therefore the
most direct way to the goals
creative disposal - an awkward handpass which is
technically illegal, but never penalised
cross country basketball - see aerial ping pong
crumber - small player or rover best at picking the
ball up o the ground after a contest
4 D
daisy cutter - fast-moving low kick
dolly - see 'sitter'
donnybrook - an old term used to describe an all-in
brawl between opposition players
don't argue - when a player with the ball pushes out
his hand in the direction of an opponent to fend them
o on the run at goal; usually, he will be in the air as his
dinosaur - refers to tall players or ruckmen - some-
times also old or veterans
dragged - player is moved from eld to interchange
during game for poor form or conduct (ie. giving
away a fty or making a stupid mistake)
dropped - player is moved to the reserves after a poor
performance
drop kick - a method of kicking the ball with leg
follow through. The ball is dropped to the ground
and foot contact is made with it immediately after it
touches the ground. Ball spins end under end. Not
to be confused with 'drop punt'
F
drop punt - the most common method of kicking
the ball. Foot contacts the ball sililarly to the drop
kick but before it reaches the ground. Ball spins end
under end
dukes - refers to the outstreched arms of a player,
usually when taking or spoiling a mark
dummy (or sell the dummy) - a type of baulk where a
player tricks an opposition player into believing they
are about to do something they are not
5 E
end to end footy - game/activity where two groups in-
discriminantly kick the ball back and forth between
them and compete for possession of the ball on an
individual basis (see kick-to-kick)
6 F
falcon - when the ball hits a player in the face or the
head
fat side - refers to the side of the ground which has
more space on it
fty - short for 50-metre penalty
footy park - Refers to AAMI Stadium in Adelaide (
Its pre-sponsership name was Football Park )
oater - a kick which does not spin and oats
through the air, or a handpass with a very high tra-
jectory, giving opponents enough time to reach the
target
y - refers to players jumping or leaping for the ball
- usually for a mark (ie. the big men y for the
pie/ball)
ying shot - means a player taking a pot shot or kick
foot makes contact with the ball
footy - the name for Australian football throughout
most of Australia (with the exception of NSW, Qld
and ACT); it refers to Rugby League Football in
Sydney and Brisbane. Also the name of the ball it-
self.
free - short for free kick (ie. that should've been a
free)
frequent yer - player that frequently attempts
speckies
fresh air shot/fresh airy - missing the ball with the
kick

7 G
grab - another word for mark (ie. nice grab)
granny - slang for Grand Final
ground-level - referring to play taking place along
the ground rather than aerially
guts, the - the corridor
8 H
hanger - A term for a spectacular mark where a
player appears to hang high in the air to receive the
ball, also known as a specky
hail mary - when a player kicks or hand passes the
ball to no one in particular in the hope that it will
reach a team mate (ie. that was a hail mary kick)
handy point - a behind scored late in a close game
which either extends a lead to 6x+1 points (so that
the opposition needs to have at least one extra scor-
ing shot to win), or reduces a decit to 6x-1 points
(so that one fewer scoring shot is needed to win)
hard ball - ball is in contested situation or under-
neath a pack (ie. hard ball gets)
hasn't he got a back/neck? the common question of
the supporter after his team is not paid an apparent
push in the back/high tackle free kick
have ones number taken - to be reported; referred to
as such because the umpire writes down the players
number in his notebook
hear footsteps - to believe one is under more pressure
than one actually is
helicopter punt - a kick which gyrates atly like the
turbines of a helicopter, and for which Stephen Ker-
nahan was well known
high yer - Seespecky
hip 'n' shoulder - a legal bump
home crowd decision - a contentious free kick, usu-
ally holding the ball, which is awarded to the home
team after an appeal from the crowd.
hospital pass - player passes the ball to a team-mate
who is immediately in danger of getting bumped,
crunched, or tackled, with severe force - and poten-
tially hurt - as they are put in a vulnerable position
and unable to protect themselves from an opposition
hit.
hot-spot - the area at the top of the goal square which
is a highly contested area.
3
how'd he get rid of it (ump)? - the common question
of the supporter after his team is not paid a holding
the ball free kick
9 I
10 J
jumper punch - an attempt to avoid nes for striking
by grabbing a stful of another players jumper, and
then punching with that st
junk time - a portion of the game with low intensity
after the nal result is beyond doubt
11 K
kick-to-kick - name of an informal Australian past-
time based on Australian rules football for catch and
kick type games, which also includes end to end
footy. Often used as a derogatory term to describe
possession based games of football. Also refers
to the post-game time allocated to allow spectators
onto the eld. Spectators will bring AFL balls to the
game to participate in this (kick-to-kick available at
certain times under certain circumstances only).
kick for touch - kick that just lands inside the bound-
ary line (borrowed from rugby), with no intended
target player.
kicking in danger - swinging a boot at the ball when
an opposition players head or hands are in the ac-
tion of retrieving it - one example of this was an in-
cident in 2005 when Steven King scissor-kicked into
the air during a ruck contest and caused major facial
injuries to Je White, however most of the time it
refers to a ground-level situation)
12 L
lead - player running into the clear to present himself
to a fellow team mate as a possible target to receive
a pass from him
leg - to illegally tackle a player below the knees (as
in hes legged him.)
long break - half time break
13 M
maggot - slang for umpire - white maggot is the more
traditional terminology, but this has been gener-
alised since umpires switched to coloured uniforms
4 19 S
magoos - derogatory rhyming slang for the reserves,
also known as the twos
man - short for holding the man- called by supporters
to plead for the umpire to pay a free kick for holding
the man, often when they fear he might pay holding
the ball. The two are often screamed simultaneously
by opposing fans. See ball on this page
man mountain - Used to describe a tall player. (eg
Hes a bit of a man mountain. - sometimes used as
just mountain as in Hes a mountain.)
minor score - a behind
mongrel punt - a kick that spins awkwarldy but goes
in the correct direction
mug - see 'yamug' (below)
14 N
nutmeg - usually a handball between the legs of an
opponent to a team mate.
nuggety - Refers to the type of player who makes
the most of a limited skill set through their determi-
nation and will power; usually a back pocket. Or,
referring to a shorter and stockier player.
15 O scoop - picks up the ball on the run.
one day in September, the - the Grand Final
one-hander - a one handed catch / mark
16 P September - used to refer to the nals series
paddock - The playing eld
pill - another term used to describe the ball
pine, the - the interchange bench
ping - To take a shot at the goals (i.e. Have a ping)
pinged - describes the player when the umpire pays
a free kick (i.e. pinged for holding the ball)
poster - a behind scored by the ball hitting the goal
post
proud club - most commonly used to euphemisti-
cally describe once-great clubs who are performing
poorly
prune - term used to describe the ball
17 Q
18 R
rainmaker - a very high kick that doesn't cover much
ground
red time - the nal two playing minutes of any quar-
ter
rotation - tactical interchanges or positional changes
used to ensure that followers do not succumb to fa-
tigue
roost - a technique of kicking the ball; one which
the player kicks the ball a signicant distance both
height and length
rushed behind - conceding a minor score when in
defence
19 S
sausage roll - used to refer to a team scoring a goal
(see Australian rhyming slang)
scrag - hold a player by the jumper behind play or
after they have taken a mark.
scone - nickname for football players head.
screamer - see specky
screw shot - refers to a kick on the run which needs to
be kicked back over the shoulder, 'around the corner'
or over the head to go through goal
set shot - used when a player has taken a mark or has
a free kick, and is permitted to kick for goal without
any physical pressure placed on him
shank - when a player has mis-cued a kick, he is said
to have shanked it
shark - to rove a ruck tap-out from the opposing
ruckman
shepherd - to block the path of an opposing player.
A perfectly legal tactic when performed within 5
metres of the ball.
sherrin - the common ball manufacturer, also a name
for the ball
shirtfront - dangerous front-on bump if done incor-
rectly.

shocker - refers to a player or a team performing
badly, either in a piece of play or throughout the
whole game.
show pony - player who tends to over nesse simple
tasks, yet also generally shirks the hard ball contests;
also used to describe an umpire who is excessively
amboyant with his signalling
sitter - player should be able to easily mark the ball,
or kick the goal (ie. drops a sitter or misses a sitter)
skipper - the captain of the team
sling - when someone is spun around in a tackle by
the collar
smother - player stops a kick from being properly
executed
snag - a slang term for a goal, based upon sausage
roll (see above)
snap - ambitious kick at goal from dicult angle,
sometimes over the head
soda - a gimme shot on goal
soccer - kicked the ball o the ground in the manner
of an soccer player
spear tackle - when a player tackles an opponent,
turns them upside down and then drives them head
rst into the ground
spent it before he had it - player drops the ball trying
to pass it
speedster - an exceptionally fast player
special - Made famous by Bruce McAveney refers to
emerging young talent ( as in: That blokes special!
) smacking, rout, annihilation, shellacking, massacre,
specky - a high mark over one or more other players;
presumably short for 'spectacular mark'
spiritual leader - the buzz word of 2006, when a
player shows on eld or o eld leadership, though
they may not be the captain. Often the player is a se-
nior player who has previously been captain of the
team, or one renown for his wisdom and toughness
(e.g. Aaron Hamill is a spiritual leader at St. Kilda)
spoil - when a player has a certain mark only to have
it aected by another player resulting in the mark
not being taken
spray (1) - a harsh lecture given to a poorly per-
forming player or team by the coach or captain; also
called a bake or a roast
spray (2) - to miss a shot at goal
5
stacks on the mill - a pack forms on top of the ball,
forcing a ball-up
State of Origin - (a term devised in Australian rules
circles, now used only in rugby league.) Interstate
games in which players are selected on the basis of
which Australian state they rst played in.
stepladder - the player over whom a specky is taken
sti - unlucky or harshly dealt with (i.e. he was sti
not to get a free)
switch play - to kick the ball laterally; no ground is
gained, but ground is usually more easily gained af-
terwards.
20 T
tagger - a player whose sole purpose is to negate an
opposition player. Usually involves following and
scragging.
tall timber - refers to tall or key position players
telegraph - to inadvertently make it obvious who the
intended target of a pass is
Telstra dome - one of two main football grounds in
the city of Melbourne (now known as 'Etihad Sta-
dium' when sponsorship deal ended
the G - the Melbourne Cricket Ground, or M.C.G.
thrashing - a big win or loss, usually by fty points or
more; also called, among other things, a smashing,
pounding, thumping, domination, etc.
throw - an illegal pass (ie, a handball conducted by
throwing instead of properly punching)
tiggy touchwood - a soft decision given by the umpire
ton - one hundred goals in a season
torpedo - method of kicking the ball, named due to
ball spiralling or spinning in the air in torpedo like
fashion. Often referred to as a 'torp'.
triple-double - one player taking more than ten kicks,
ten marks and ten handpasses in one game; triple-
doubles are almost exclusively a basketball statistic,
but Australian football commentators occasionally
make reference to it
6 28 EXTERNAL LINK

21 U Appendix:Australian English vocabulary

ump - umpire Wikipedia

unit - Used to describe a tough/big player (eg, Hes
a bit of a unit.) VFL/AFL players

unselsh - said about a player who probably could WikiProject AFL

have scored a goal but chose to pass the ball to an-
List of VFL/AFL players by ethnicity
other player in a better position.
List of overseas-born AFL players
utility player - refers to one who can be used or
placed in many positions on the eld Australian English vocabulary

22 V 28 External link
via the cape - when a team switches play and moves List of Rex Hunt Footy Nicknames
the ball close to the boundary line from defense into
attack

23 W
wet weather footy - describes the ugly, slow style of
game which must be played in heavy rain
white maggot - slang for umpire wearing white
woodwork - goal or behind post. (ie. into the wood-
work - when ball hits the post)
workhorse - an exceptionally hard working, or work-
manlike player
worm burner - a kick along the ground that keeps
low, and skids along the grass
wrapped up - used to describe a player who has been
well tackled, usually by more than one opponent (ie.
he was well wrapped up)

24 X

25 Y
yamug - most often used in derogitory sense, refer-
ring to the umpire; but it can also be used for players
of the opposition
yellow maggot - see white maggot

26 Z

27 See also
Appendix:Australian English football terms
 7

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