A score in Australian rules football is built from two different results: a goal and a behind. A goal is worth six points, while a behind is worth one. That simple difference shapes the way teams attack, defend and decide whether to take a shot from a difficult angle.
You will often see a score written as goals.behinds.total. For example, 10.12 (72) means a team has kicked 10 goals and 12 behinds, for a total of 72 points. Here is how each score is awarded, what the posts mean, and why a ball that looks like a goal can sometimes count for only one point.
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 completely over the goal line between the two taller central posts, without the ball being touched by another player on its way through and without hitting a goal post.
The ball does not have to travel through the air all the way. It can bounce before crossing the goal line and still count as a goal, as long as it meets the scoring conditions. A player can also score from a set shot after taking a mark or receiving a free kick, or during open play after a pass from a teammate.
For example, if a forward marks the ball close to goal and kicks it cleanly between the central posts, the team receives six points. The goal umpire signals the score by waving both flags.
What is a behind worth?
A behind is worth one point. It is awarded in several situations, including when the ball passes between a central goal post and a shorter behind post. A behind can also be scored if the ball hits a goal post, or if it passes between the central posts after being touched by another player.
A ball that is handballed or carried through the goal posts is not a goal, because a goal must be kicked. It counts as a behind if it crosses the scoring line between the goal posts. Defenders can also concede a behind by deliberately forcing the ball over their own goal line, rather than letting an attacking player score a goal.
The goal umpire signals a behind by waving one flag. The defending team then restarts play with a kick-in from the goal square.
Goal posts, behind posts and the scoring area
Each end of the ground has four posts: two taller goal posts in the middle and a shorter behind post on either side. Their positions divide the scoring area into three sections:
- Between the goal posts: six points if the ball is kicked through under the goal-scoring rules; otherwise, usually one point.
- Between a goal post and a behind post: one point for a behind.
- Outside the behind posts: the ball is out of bounds or out on the full, rather than a score.
Hitting a goal post is a behind, even if the ball rebounds back into the field of play. That is one reason defenders may try to pressure a forward into taking a rushed or off-balance shot: a small change in direction can turn a six-point opportunity into a single point.
How to read an AFL score
Scores are usually displayed in the format goals.behinds (total points). To check the total, multiply the goals by six, then add the behinds.
| Score shown | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 10.12 (72) | 10 goals × 6, plus 12 behinds | 72 points |
| 12.8 (80) | 12 goals × 6, plus 8 behinds | 80 points |
| 8.15 (63) | 8 goals × 6, plus 15 behinds | 63 points |
The team with the higher total wins. Goals and behinds are both added to the scoreboard, but they are not equal: a goal contributes six times as much as a behind. In a close match, that difference can decide the result. A team trailing by five points, for instance, could move ahead with one goal; a behind would leave it four points short.
Why teams sometimes take a difficult shot
A player near goal has to weigh up the chance of scoring six against the risk of missing or kicking only a behind. A shot from straight in front is usually a better opportunity than one from near the boundary, where the angle is tight. Coaches and teammates may also look for a pass to a player in a better position instead of a speculative kick.
Still, a behind is not always a wasted attack. It adds a point and pins the opposition near its goal while it takes the kick-in. But when a team needs to catch up quickly, goals matter far more. The scoreboard makes that trade-off clear: steady behinds can build a total, yet accurate goal-kicking is often what changes a match.
Defenders have their own decisions to make. They may spoil or smother a shot to stop a clean goal, but any touch can affect the result. If a defender touches the ball before it passes between the goal posts, a would-be goal is generally reduced to a behind. That can be a valuable defensive play, even though the attacking side still gets one point.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many points is a goal in Australian Rules Football?
A goal is worth six points. It must be kicked through the two central goal posts without being touched by another player or hitting a goal post.
How many points is a behind?
A behind is worth one point. It can be scored when the ball passes between a goal post and a behind post, hits a goal post, or crosses between the central posts after being touched.
What does 14.9 mean on an AFL scoreboard?
It means 14 goals and nine behinds. The total is 14 × 6 + 9, which equals 93 points.
Can a team score a goal by handballing the ball through the posts?
No. A goal has to be kicked. If the ball is handballed through the central posts, it counts as a behind, not a six-point goal.
Final Thoughts
The scoring system is easy to work out once you know the key numbers: a goal is six points, and a behind is one. Read the score as goals, behinds and total points, then use the posts to understand how each score was awarded. That makes it easier to follow the scoreboard—and the tactical choices behind every shot at goal.
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.