A mark taken on the wing can stop a modern game, let a team reset and send players streaming forward. In the earliest versions of Australian football, even the basic rules for handling and moving the ball were different. The game has kept its defining features—kicking, marking, tackling and four posts at each end—but its laws have changed considerably.
There was never one unchanging set of “traditional rules”: local clubs and competitions used different laws as the sport developed. The comparison below is between early versions of the game and the modern rules most fans see in the AFL. Community and junior competitions can use variations of their own.
At a glance: traditional and modern rules
| Area | Early versions of the game | Modern AFL rules |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring | Early rules focused on kicking the ball between the goalposts; scoring conventions developed over time. | A goal is six points; a behind is one point. |
| Moving the ball | Early laws restricted carrying and handling, and changed as the game evolved. | Players can run with the ball but must bounce or touch it on the ground at least every 15 metres. |
| Marking | The distance and conditions for a mark varied between historical rule versions. | A clean catch from a kick that travels at least 15 metres can earn a mark. |
| Out of bounds | Some early rules let the first player to touch a ball out of bounds return it to play. | The umpire generally throws the ball in, with free kicks for certain cases such as deliberate out of bounds. |
| Teams and game management | Player numbers and match arrangements were less standardised in the early years. | AFL teams have 18 players on the field, with interchange players and timed quarters. |
How the rules have changed
Scoring: behinds give teams another way to add points
In the earliest Melbourne rules, the central aim was to kick the ball between the goalposts. The modern scoring system distinguishes between a goal, worth six points, and a behind, worth one. A behind is scored when the ball passes between a goalpost and a behind post, or crosses the goal line after touching a player in certain ways.
The behind became a formal part of the Victorian Football League’s scoring system in 1897. It means a team can make progress even when a shot misses the central posts. For example, a team trailing by five points might be level after scoring a behind, while a goal would put it ahead by one. That makes the scoreline—and the choice to take a shot or pass to a teammate—more nuanced.
Running and disposal: carrying the ball is now part of the contest
Today, a player can run with the ball, provided they bounce it or touch it on the ground at least once every 15 metres. They can also dispose of it by kicking or handballing. A legal handball is made by holding the ball in one hand and punching it with the other; throwing it is not allowed.
Early laws were much more restrictive about carrying and handling, and those details changed as the game took shape. The modern balance lets a player break from a stoppage, but gives opponents a chance to tackle and force a hurried disposal. A midfielder who takes a few bounces through the centre is using a freedom that would not have fitted some early versions of the game.
The rules around holding the ball also shape modern play. If a player has had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball and is legally tackled, they must get rid of it correctly. If they have not had prior opportunity, they generally need to make an immediate, genuine attempt to dispose of it when tackled. That distinction makes a quick handball or kick vital under pressure.
Marking: a catch can stop play and win territory
A mark is awarded for a clean catch from a kick that travels at least 15 metres and has not been touched by another player. The player can then take a kick from the spot, giving teammates time to move into position. Long kicks to a tall forward are therefore not just hopeful attacks: they can create a set shot or give the team a chance to organise around the contest.
Historical laws used different conditions and distances for marking. There is no single old standard that applies to every traditional competition, so it is safer to think of marking as a feature that developed alongside the rules rather than a rule that has stayed fixed since the sport began.
Out of bounds: from a simple return to umpire decisions
In some early versions, the first player to touch the ball after it went out of bounds returned it to play. Modern AFL uses a more structured system. If the ball goes out without being kicked out on the full, an umpire will generally throw it back in near the boundary. A free kick can be paid if a player deliberately forces the ball out in circumstances covered by the rules.
That change matters tactically. A team defending near the boundary can no longer assume that the first touch gives it the ball. Players instead position themselves for the boundary throw-in, where ruckwork and the next ground-ball contest can decide possession.
Contact and safety: the contest remains physical, but the limits are clearer
Australian football has always involved physical contests, and early rules prohibited dangerous actions such as hacking and tripping. Modern laws spell out many more protections, including penalties for high contact and dangerous tackles. Umpires also judge whether a tackle is legal and whether a player has disposed of the ball correctly.
These safeguards do not remove tackling or body pressure. They define how players can apply them. A defender can still close down a ball-carrier, but a tackle that endangers the head or pins an opponent in a dangerous position may bring a free kick or further sanction. The result is a contest where timing and technique matter as much as force.
What has stayed the same?
The game’s basic shape is recognisable across eras: two teams try to move an oval ball towards a set of posts at either end, using kicks, catches and physical contests. The mark remains one of its signature skills, and the ball is still put back into play at the centre after a goal. The modern code is more detailed, but it has not replaced the contest that makes Australian football distinctive.
Team structure and match administration have become more standardised, too. An AFL side fields 18 players, with interchange players available to rotate onto the ground. Quarters run for a set playing time, with time added for stoppages. These systems support the pace and organisation of the professional game; early football had less uniform arrangements.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Were players allowed to run with the ball in traditional Australian football?
It depends on which historical rules you mean. Early laws restricted carrying, and rules changed as the sport developed. Under modern AFL rules, players can run but must bounce or touch the ball on the ground at least every 15 metres.
When did the behind become worth one point?
The Victorian Football League formally adopted the behind as a one-point score in 1897. Scoring practices were not identical across every earlier competition.
Are modern rules the same in every Australian football competition?
No. The AFL has its own rules and interpretations, while state, community, school and junior competitions may use modifications. Team numbers, match length and some playing conditions can differ.
What is the biggest practical difference for a player?
Modern rules allow more running with the ball than some early laws did, but require regular bouncing and correct disposal under pressure. For today’s player, awareness of the 15-metre rule and the holding-the-ball contest is essential.
Final Thoughts
Traditional and modern Australian football share the same broad aim, but the modern game is played under a far more standardised and detailed set of laws. Scoring, running, marking, boundary decisions and player safety have all evolved. Knowing that history helps explain why today’s game looks so fast and tactical—and why a rule such as the 15-metre bounce can shape an entire passage of play.
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.