Australian Rules Football uses two types of scores: goals and behinds. A goal is worth six points, while a behind is worth one. That simple difference can turn a close match in the final minutes, so knowing what counts as each score makes it easier to follow the action.
The key is how the ball crosses the scoring line. A kick that passes between the two tall central posts can earn six points, but only if it meets the rules. Other ways the ball crosses the goal line usually result in a behind. Here’s how the scoring works, including what happens when a kick is touched or hits a post.
How many points is a goal in Australian Rules Football?
A goal is worth six points. It is scored when a player kicks the ball and it passes completely over the goal line between the two central goalposts without being touched by another player after the kick.
The ball does not have to fly through the air. A kick can bounce or roll across the line and still count as a goal, as long as no other player touches it and it does not hit a goalpost. Players can score with a drop punt, snap, dribble or other legal kick.
A goal can come from open play, a set shot after a mark or free kick, or a kick from close range during a scramble. The method does not change the value: each goal adds six points to the team’s total.
What is a behind?
A behind is worth one point. It is scored when the ball crosses the goal line but does not meet the conditions for a goal. That includes several common situations:
- The ball passes between a central goalpost and a shorter behind post.
- A kick passes between the central goalposts but is touched by another player before crossing the line.
- The ball crosses between the central goalposts after being handballed or carried over the line, rather than kicked.
- A kick hits a goalpost, even if it then bounces through the goal area.
- A defending player sends the ball through their own goal area.
The goalposts are the two taller central posts. A shorter behind post stands on either side. Together, these four posts help show whether the ball has gone through the goal area or wide of it. If the ball goes past the outside of a behind post, it is generally out of bounds rather than a score.
What happens if a kick is touched?
A kick that is touched by any player before it crosses the goal line cannot count as a goal. If it still crosses between the central goalposts, the attacking team gets a behind. This can happen when a defender gets a hand to a goal-bound kick, or when a teammate accidentally deflects it.
For example, suppose a forward kicks toward the middle of the goals and a defender brushes the ball with a hand. If the ball goes through the central posts, it is a behind, not a goal. If it is not touched and crosses cleanly, it is six points. A kick that hits a central goalpost also scores only a behind.
Touching the ball after it has already crossed the goal line does not change the score. The important question is whether another player touched it before it crossed.
How team scores are written
Australian football scores are usually displayed as goals, behinds and total points. The format is goals.behinds (total points). To work out the total, multiply the goals by six and add the behinds.
| Score shown | Calculation | Total points |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 6 goals × 6 points, plus 1 behind | 37 |
| 10.12 | 10 goals × 6 points, plus 12 behinds | 72 |
| 8.8 | 8 goals × 6 points, plus 8 behinds | 56 |
So if the scoreboard reads 10.12, the team has kicked 10 goals and 12 behinds, for 72 points. The total alone does not show how many scoring chances became goals, which is why the goals-and-behinds figures are useful when judging a team’s accuracy.
Who signals the score, and what happens next?
A goal umpire watches the scoring area and signals a goal by waving two flags. A behind is signalled with one flag. The goal umpire then confirms the score with the field umpire, and the scoreboard is updated.
After a goal, play restarts with a ball-up in the centre of the ground. After a behind, the defending team normally brings the ball back into play with a kick from the goal square. That gives the two scores different effects beyond their value: a goal leads to a central restart, while a behind gives the defending side possession near its own scoring end.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can a ball bounce through the goals and count as six?
Yes. If it was kicked by an attacking player, crosses between the central goalposts and is not touched by another player or a goalpost, it can count as a goal even if it bounces first.
Does a handball through the goalposts count as a goal?
No. A goal must come from a kick. If a handball crosses between the central goalposts, it is a behind.
What if a defender touches a goal-bound kick?
If the ball crosses between the central goalposts after being touched before it crosses the line, the score is a behind. It cannot count as a goal.
How do you calculate a score such as 12.7?
Multiply 12 goals by six, then add seven behinds: 72 + 7 = 79 points.
Final Thoughts
The scoring rule is easy to remember: a clean, untouched kick through the two central goalposts is six points; most other scoring crossings are worth one. Read a score as goals, behinds and total points, and you can quickly see both how much a team has scored and how accurately it has finished its chances.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.
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