Is Australian football played in high school just like American football?

Question

I know very little about Aussie football, but I'm considering doing a foreign exchange program next year, so I should probably know this stuff...

Answer 1

It definitely is, but the football players aren't treated like gods, they are just average blokes. Also, aussie football is a lot bloody different to that namby pamby 'lets wrap ourselves in bubble wrap and run into each other' c**p they play in America.

All three codes of football played in Australia (rugby league, rugby union, and aussie rules) all require A LOT more skill than NFL.

Answer 2

Dave, your full of Sh*t.

Aussie Rules is played in every state and territory,

h**l, i live in Canberra and its pretty big. AFL games get around 30000 to 40000 spectators, League and Union get around 25000 especially in NSW and QLD. Soccer would be lucky to get 10000.

Anyway, Aussie Rules, Rugby League and Union are played at all levels, But there is less emphasis on high school footy compared to the emphasis on college football in America.

Answer 3

Australia is a bizarre place to live as there are 4 competing football codes all played at a National league level. Australian Rules, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer. Soccer is pretty universal in the country, but Australian Rules only has a strong tradition in the States of Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, Wheras League and Union are predominantly played in NSW and Queensland (though all are played in some capacity in all states).

As to whether it is played the same as footbal in HS in the US, the answer is generally no.Some wealthy and traditional schools tend to have a strong football culture and cultivate the 'Pep Rally' style surrounding US high school Football, but these are generally private schools. There is no High School - College - Major League progression in Oz sport as this is usually run external to the school system.

Best way to find out about it is to actually go to an AFL match (National Competition) in Either Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth to get an appreciation for the excitement and complexity of the game!