Which game is more physical ? AFL VS RL ?

[Antonius]

Having never played RL, I'd say it's the more physical sport in terms of knocks, bumps, etc. But in terms of fitness and all-round athleticism, including toughness, Australian rules wins, as well as skill-wise.

You can see this in the body types of players from both sports, RL players are chunky, big men, if not they stand no chance. In Australian rules you must be strong but not to the extent of RL.

 

[The Dice Man]

Length of gametime in RL = 80 minutes.
Length of gametime in AFL = 120 minutes.

 

[1908]

AFL players are tough and league players are chunky? You AFL people really can't see the forest from the trees can you?
Geoff Toovey was probably the toughest (toughest meaning he would take knocks and get up and go again) league player I can remember and he was 175cm and weighed 76kg.
League players are all shapes and sizes eg Brett Hodgson is completely different to Shane Webcke or even Englishman Rob Burrow who is 66kg.
When it comes to toughness league wins hands down no competition.

 

[Jabso]

A thing that hasn't been mentioned is the wide variety of sizes an average aussie rules team has. The full forward is around 192cm and often around 100kgs, some smaller midfielders around around 182 cms and around 85kgs at the heaviest. It is a lot tougher running around with a pretty average body size and height against men who are often 50% heavier than you. Who is tougher, a man 100kgs getting hit by a 110kg man or a skinny 80kg man getting hit by a bulky 100kg man from all angles.

While some fullbacks in RL are pretty light looking, they are still pretty muscley and compact and they can be that because it's an explosive sport, aussie rules is an endurance sport so that extra muscle would be a burden.

 

[jamesisabomber]

very hard to compare the games as they are both very different but certainly afl is much fitter and those who state rugby players are just as fit clearly have never played a game of afl in there lives, also some of the big hits in afl come mid air and or ala jason cloke 2002 prelim come from spoils gone wrong from behind there is also the ability to be hit from every angle and trust me when i say that i have played both games and you wouldnt believe how many league boys get fairly hurt playing afl because they dont know where the hits are comming from. however the league players are clearly the better tacklers of the two games hence the reason teams such as the swans and lions regularly train with them to enhance there defensive skills

 

[littleduck]

Just on AFL, I think one reason some league fans don't like it is that lack of physicalness. And the fact that players can hit players who aren't looking doesn't win them many favours, the thing many like about league is that a player/team has 13 guys in front of him that he must try and find a way of getting past be it strength, speed, skill or a combo. Hitting from behind isn't tough in league, smashing a guy who knows its coming is much harder.

I think that's major turn off for Leaguies who try their hand at playing AFL... but spectators it makes didley squat difference.

 

[littleduck]

Length of gametime in RL = 80 minutes.
Length of gametime in AFL = 120 minutes.

I thought quarters were 20 minutes?

 

[The Dice Man]

I thought quarters were 20 minutes?

You dont actually watch football do you? Because if you did you'd know a Qtr generally last around 30 minutes. In that space of time, time-on is often blown, but usually the players are still jostling or running to position in that time.

So while there may only be 20 minutes of time one can score in Football, usually players would spend around 30 minutes physically and mentally* playing the game per quarter.


*Denotes something that league players dont have to worry about.

 

[littleduck]

You dont actually watch football do you? Because if you did you'd know a Qtr generally last around 30 minutes. In that space of time, time-on is often blown, but usually the players are still jostling or running to position in that time.

So while there may only be 20 minutes of time one can score in Football, usually players would spend around 30 minutes physically and mentally* playing the game per quarter.


*Denotes something that league players dont have to worry about.

RL games have time-out during each half and ultimately each half lasts 40 minutes.

AFL games have a constantly running clock and run to about 30 minutes to fit in a 20 minute quarter.

Official an AFL game is 80 minutes long.

Official a RL game is 80 minutes long.

Correct me if I'm wrong?

 

[The Dice Man]

RL games have time-out during each half and ultimately each half lasts 40 minutes.

AFL games have a constantly running clock and run to about 30 minutes to fit in a 20 minute quarter.

Official an AFL game is 80 minutes long.

Official a RL game is 80 minutes long.

Correct me if I'm wrong?

I already corrected you. The season starts in around 2 months, try and catch a game if you can.

 

[littleduck]

I already corrected you. The season starts in around 2 months, try and catch a game if you can.

All you did was be misleading by saying:

Length of gametime in RL = 80 minutes.
Length of gametime in AFL = 120 minutes.

Length of gametime in both AFL and RL is officially 80 minutes as far as I know.

However, AFL games generally have an additional 40 minutes of stoppages for the entire match while RL only has up to 10 minutes for the entire match.

 

[The Dice Man]

However, AFL games generally have an additional 40 minutes of stoppages for the entire match while RL only has up to 10 minutes for the entire match.

See you corrected yourself in the end. Now why on earth were you asking me when you already knew?

Just to humour you I will state that the stoppages in RL include players standing around, scratching their armpits and eating bannanas while someone has a shot at the sticks.. or some beefhead has landed on his head and busted his neck and needs to be carried off on a stretcher.

Generally players dont jostle, run or wrestle for position in RL stoppages.

In Aus Rules when a behind is kicked or time on is blown for a ball up or a goal is kicked, players are sprinting or wrestling back to position.

But you know this anyway.

 

[MadRyan]

Length of gametime in both AFL and RL is officially 80 minutes as far as I know.

However, AFL games generally have an additional 40 minutes of stoppages for the entire match while RL only has up to 10 minutes for the entire match.

An average AFL game lasts at least 120 minutes, and that's for most local senior grades too. Any supporter would know this. I've played full games of competitive rugby and let me tell you, the actual player stoppages are heaven compared to AFL. The amount of actual player rest time, inactively if you will is massive compared to AFL. During an AFL game, you’re always on the move, either keeping up with your opponent or attempting to create the play. I found in rugby, once you’re not involved in a certain play you have a fair amount of time to catch your breath, basically a walk into position. The ball could be on the other side of the field and even if it was to transfer quickly, you’d make a play and have more rest time. Where as in AFL, you make a 100% burst, it goes out of bounds. This isn’t a stoppage for players, far from it. What people who have never played the game don’t understand is that you have at least five seconds breather until your opponent tries to out smart you and position himself. You wrestle for position, It’s thrown in, you wrestle and you go again. It goes down the field and either you have to run to space or your opponent will, so you’re off again. You do this for thirty minutes each quarter.

Add that with the tackling, bumping, jumping, sharp turning and bursts of speed, it’s a far more demanding game to play. Rugby, you run straight, add a few dodge, admittedly take some very big hits. Yeah, it takes a lot out of you, but the amount of rest time available is far greater. Also the fact that games only last 80 minutes exactly. You also have no opponent to chase around either, which is a luxury. I actually don’t mind Rugby, but the 120 minutes of physical and mental competitiveness you have to go through in an AFL game out weights Rugby’s by a mile.

 

[Aucklander]

Unlimited interchange.

 

[fishmonger]

why is it that some people associate football with toughness ?? Especially in NSW and QLD.

ie. that can be football because it isn't physical enough.

I really couldn't care less. A little bit of physicality adds to the spectacle, but why not just watch WWF if all you want to see is a bunch of ****ters groping each other.

 

[sydney eagle]

Both games are physically demanding; but usually require different skills. I can appreciate the skills of both League and Aussie Rules, and enjoy watching a good game of either.

 

[Walsh Bay]

I've never played RL but I've played both Footy and Rugby and the big difference, as others have said, was the mental concentration. Footy seemed to have so many more variables and players had to anticipate a wider range of possibilities - including where the hits were going to come from. After a footy game you're pretty mentally stuffed. That's one of the reasons I admire our great midfielders so much, their powers of concentration are phenomenal.

Also, the last-quarter pain if you're anything but super fit is unbelievable.

But when you're hit in rugby you stay hit.

 

[ARES]

RL is not that tough.


What hits?? You mean tackles.

The hits aren't that many, most of the time you are tackled not hit. You are taught to tackle, stop the opposition player in his tracks.
Grappling tackles that players hold on to, its so monotonous.

The hits are from approx 5-10 meters and very few.

You will only see a few hard hits and lucky if there is one hard spectacular hit in a game.

It is exhausting because it is a boring game that requires you to catch a ball and run 5 meters before you counter an opposition player and you try and dodge the player. Most big players try and ride the tackles gaining some yards. Repeat above until you kick the ball to the opposition for their turn to be tackled...

hits pfffft!!

 

[littleduck]

RL is not that tough.


What hits?? You mean tackles.

The hits aren't that many, most of the time you are tackled not hit. You are taught to tackle, stop the opposition player in his tracks.
Grappling tackles that players hold on to, its so monotonous.

The hits are from approx 5-10 meters and very few.

You will only see a few hard hits and lucky if there is one hard spectacular hit in a game.

It is exhausting because it is a boring game that requires you to catch a ball and run 5 meters before you counter an opposition player and you try and dodge the player. Most big players try and ride the tackles gaining some yards. Repeat above until you kick the ball to the opposition for their turn to be tackled...

hits pfffft!!

isnt it tougher to go through the middle of opposition players to score than to kick over their heads or run around them?

 

[*Crash*]

Calcio is more physical than both, so what?

 

[harmesy 37]

I don't know about this ... maybe we should ask someone like .... mmm... let me think... Dermott Brereton and Diper. Maybe they might what to impart some knowledge and discuss the 1989 grand final. Maybe they would know if AFL was tough?

Brereton ended up peeing blood and Diper had lung damage.

1992 g/final Ablett cleaned up Don Pyke.

2001-05 - Pickett cleaned up about 5 blokes with hip and shoulders when they weren't expecting it... maybe we should ask all these blokes if they think australian footy is tough enough for them?

I know ... i have an idea... let's go up to chris scott directly and tell him the game he plays is for girls...

 

[littleduck]

I don't know about this ... maybe we should ask someone like .... mmm... let me think... Dermott Brereton and Diper. Maybe they might what to impart some knowledge and discuss the 1989 grand final. Maybe they would know if AFL was tough?

Brereton ended up peeing blood and Diper had lung damage.

1992 g/final Ablett cleaned up Don Pyke.

2001-05 - Pickett cleaned up about 5 blokes with hip and shoulders when they weren't expecting it... maybe we should ask all these blokes if they think australian footy is tough enough for them?

I know ... i have an idea... let's go up to chris scott directly and tell him the game he plays is for girls...

Your posting as if the thread is attacking the "toughness" of Aussie Rules. It's not. It's simply about comparing AFL with RL. AFL is "tough", but RL is "tougher".

 

[fishmonger]

I know ... i have an idea... let's go up to chris scott directly and tell him the game he plays is for girls...

Chris Scott's reaction ...

 

[fishmonger]

Heres a story about Rhett Biglands = 198cm, 104kg

One day he met this nice 178cm 84kg man on a big open field for a bit of friendly kick to kick with the Sherrin

Whilst travelling about 100 kilometres an hour Byron introduces Rhett to a new move - one of the fairest bumps I've ever seen ....

After regaining full consciousness in hospital, Rhett was thankful to his new kick to kick buddy for teaching him such a neat trick.

Who would have thought he could learn something like that playing Aussie Rules ?

Is AFL tough Rhett Biglands ?

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. That's what my coach always used to say

 

[Tas]

RL tough that you run fowards and are constantly running into brick walls of people.

AFL you can run with the back into a pack just keeping your eyes on the ball....sure, not everyone does this as lots of AFL players lack courage, but this is very tough stuff.

Overall.....in a two horse race of RL VS AFL of which is tougher, RL would win by five lengths.

Thoughts ?

Biting testicles is more physical that sticking a finger up one's rear end.