How Does the Set Format Work in Australian Rules Football?

If you’re looking for the “sets” in Australian Rules Football, you won’t find them on the scoreboard. Unlike sports that divide play into sets, footy is played in quarters, and the team with the most points at the end wins. The word “set” does come up in phrases such as “set shot,” but that describes a kick at goal—not a section of the match.

The basic match format

A standard Australian rules match has four quarters. At AFL level, each quarter is 20 minutes of playing time, with additional time—known as time-on—added for stoppages. That means a quarter takes longer than 20 minutes on the clock in real time. Local, junior and other competitions may use shorter quarters or different timing rules.

There are breaks at quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter-time. Teams change ends at the end of every quarter, which helps balance out conditions such as wind and sun. The two sides’ scores carry across all four quarters; there is no separate winner for each period.

The match begins with a ball-up at the centre of the ground. The same kind of restart happens after every goal. A behind, worth one point, instead gives the defending team a kick from its goal square.

How the score works

Each team attacks a pair of tall goalposts at one end of the oval and defends the pair at the other. A goal is worth six points. A behind is worth one. The scoreboard usually shows goals, behinds and the combined total—for example, 12.8 (80) means 12 goals and eight behinds, adding up to 80 points.

The total is what decides the winner. A side can kick more goals but still lose if its opponent scores enough behinds. For example, 10.10 (70) beats 10.8 (68): both teams have kicked ten goals, but the first side has two more behinds.

Scoring continues through all four quarters. A team might build a lead early, then protect it with defensive pressure and careful possession, while the trailing side takes more risks to create scoring chances. Because goals are worth six, a short burst of accurate forward play can quickly change the game.

What happens during each quarter?

Once the opening ball-up puts the ball in play, teams try to move it towards their scoring end by kicking, handballing or running with it. Players can be tackled, and play is regularly stopped for free kicks, marks, boundary throw-ins and ball-ups. The clock’s time-on accounts for stoppages, so the quarter does not simply end when 20 minutes have elapsed on the playing-time clock.

When the siren sounds, the quarter is over once the field umpire acknowledges it. A free kick awarded before the siren can still be taken afterward, which may give a player one last chance to score. The next quarter then starts with another centre bounce.

The four-quarter structure creates natural tactical checkpoints. Coaches can review match-ups and adjust plans during the breaks: a team might move a defender onto a dangerous forward, use a quicker player around the contest, or change how it brings the ball out of defence. Players also rotate through the interchange bench during play, so the same 18 players do not have to stay on the ground for the entire match.

What if the scores are level?

In many home-and-away matches, a tie at the end of the fourth quarter stands as a draw. Finals are different: AFL finals use extra time to produce a winner. If the scores are still level after the initial extra period, further extra-time periods are played until one team finishes ahead.

Rules can vary between competitions, so it is worth checking the regulations for a local league or tournament. The central idea remains the same: regular play is four quarters, and the competition’s rules determine what happens if the total scores are tied at the end.

“Set shot” doesn’t mean a set in the match

A set shot is a kick taken after a player has been awarded a mark or free kick, often with a goal in mind. A mark is generally awarded when a player cleanly catches a kick that has travelled at least 15 metres without being touched by another player. The player can take time to line up the kick, play on, or—depending on the situation—choose another legal disposal.

So if a commentator says a forward has a “set shot from 40 metres,” they mean the player has a chance to take an unpressured kick from around 40 metres out. They are not referring to a fifth period or a set-based scoring format. Set plays and set shots are parts of the game; they do not change how the match is divided.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many sets are in an Australian rules match?

There are no sets in the standard match format. A game is divided into four quarters, and the points from each quarter are added together.

How long is an Australian rules football match?

At AFL level, each quarter has 20 minutes of playing time plus time-on for stoppages. Breaks between quarters add further elapsed time. Other competitions may use shorter quarters or different timing arrangements.

Does each quarter have its own score?

Teams score throughout each quarter, but those points contribute to one match total. The winner is the side with the higher total after the fourth quarter, unless the competition’s rules require extra time.

What is a set shot?

A set shot is a kick—often at goal—taken after a mark or free kick. “Set” describes the player’s chance to take the kick without immediate pressure, not a separate part of the match.

Final Thoughts

Australian Rules Football is built around four quarters, not sets. The clock allows for time-on, scores accumulate across the match, and goals and behinds combine to decide the result. Once you know that structure, terms such as “set shot” make more sense: they describe a moment in play, while the match itself keeps rolling towards the final siren.