Australian Rules Football uses two kinds of scoring that are easy to mix up: points in a match and premiership points on the season ladder. A match score is built from goals and behinds, while a team earns ladder points from winning or drawing a game. The word “round” refers to a set of scheduled matches in the season; teams do not receive points just for taking part in a round.
Once you know what a goal and a behind are, the scoreboard is simple to read. A team’s score might appear as 12.8 (80): that means 12 goals and eight behinds, adding up to 80 points. Here’s how the scoring works, and how match results affect a team’s position over the rounds.
How scoring works in an Australian Rules match
There are two ways to score: a goal is worth six points, and a behind is worth one point. The scorekeeper adds them together for the team’s total.
| Score type | Points | Typical result |
|---|---|---|
| Goal | 6 | The ball is kicked between the two central goalposts without being touched by another player. |
| Behind | 1 | The ball passes between a goalpost and a behind post, or meets another behind-scoring condition. |
For example, if a side kicks 12 goals and eight behinds, its total is 12 × 6, plus eight: 80 points. The opponent’s score is calculated in the same way. The team with more points at the end of the match wins.
What counts as a goal?
A goal is scored when a player kicks the ball completely across the goal line between the two taller central posts. The ball must not be touched by another player on its way through. A kick from close range and a long kick from the middle of the ground are worth the same six points if they meet those conditions.
The ball must be kicked to score a goal. A handball through the central posts does not earn six points; it results in a behind. That distinction gives players a reason to choose a kick at goal when they have the space and time, rather than trying to punch or handball the ball through.
What counts as a behind?
The two shorter posts on either side of the goalposts are called behind posts. A score between a central goalpost and a behind post is one point. A behind can also be awarded when the ball passes between the central posts after being touched by another player, or when it hits a goalpost.
Defenders can also concede a behind by deliberately taking the ball across their own goal line. This is known as a rushed behind. It can be a sensible way to prevent an opponent from getting a clear shot at a six-point goal, but it still adds one point to the attacking team’s score.
A behind is not just a consolation score. In a close game, that single point can decide the result. Teams also use their accuracy and volume of scoring shots to judge how well their attack is working: a side that creates many chances but kicks too many behinds may leave the door open for its opponent.
How to read the scoreboard
Australian Rules scoreboards usually show goals, behinds and the combined total in that order. So 10.14 (74) means 10 goals (60 points) and 14 behinds (14 points), for 74 points altogether. The total in brackets is the figure used to compare the teams.
At the end of a match, a score of 74 to 73 is a one-point win. A score of 74 to 74 is a draw. The number of goals alone does not decide the winner: a team with fewer goals can still win if it has enough behinds to make its overall total higher.
What does “scoring rounds” mean on the ladder?
A season round is a group of fixtures, not a separate scoring period with its own points system. In the AFL home-and-away season, teams generally earn four premiership points for a win, two for a draw and none for a loss. A team’s ladder points build up over the rounds.
For instance, after five matches, a team with three wins, one draw and one loss has 14 premiership points: three wins × four, plus two for the draw. The loss adds no points. This is different from the match score of goals and behinds, which determines who won each game.
If teams finish level on premiership points, the AFL uses percentage to help rank them. Percentage is calculated by dividing a team’s points scored by its points conceded, then multiplying by 100. A strong percentage can matter when two teams have the same number of ladder points near the end of the season.
Finals work differently from the home-and-away ladder. They are knockout matches: a team must win to progress, and the match score still comes from goals and behinds. Finals results do not add the usual premiership points to a team’s home-and-away total.
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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 between the two central goalposts without being touched by another player before crossing the line.
How many points is a behind?
A behind is worth one point. It can be scored in several ways, including kicking the ball between a goalpost and a behind post, or having the ball touch a player before it passes between the goalposts.
What does 12.8 mean on an AFL scoreboard?
It means 12 goals and eight behinds. The total is 80 points: 12 goals are worth 72 points, and the eight behinds add eight more.
How many ladder points does an AFL team get for a win?
In the AFL home-and-away season, a win earns four premiership points. A draw earns two, and a loss earns none. Those points are separate from the goals and behinds scored during the match.
Final Thoughts
To work out an Australian Rules score, multiply the goals by six, add the behinds, and compare the totals. Keep that match scoring separate from the season ladder: results across the rounds determine premiership points, while goals and behinds decide each game. Once you’ve got that distinction, reading a scoreboard or following the ladder is straightforward.
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.