Episode 25 - The Australian Football League

Episode 25: The Australian Football League - Making Its Mark Since 1858

Aussie Rules football is old. In fact, it could stake a claim to being the oldest continually existing code of football in the world, and in the Melbourne Football Club boasts the oldest professional football team of any code of football on the planet, predating association football's oldest pro club Notts County by four years.

But the history of similar ball games on the continent go back even further than that, to the indigenous people of Australia who were leaping to catch high balls long before any code of football was dreamt of, and whose impact continues to be felt for the better on the game today. As rich a history as any sport we know.

And now, Ben and Jack want in. Ben is backing Hawthorn, but Jack is being indecisive. Does he go for Richmond, with their 140 year history and exceptional theme song? Or Fremantle, a newer team who have yet to taste success, and have an extremely catchy earworm of a song? Or does he follow his usual habit of choosing the most adorably awful team in the league - and lets face it, that's probably going to be St Kilda, with their one title in over 150 years competing to go with 27 wooden spoons?

This sport goes deep in Australia, and the State of Victoria more so. It is a feast of athleticism, power, fitness and skill, played at full speed where matches - and even championships, just ask St Kilda - can come down to a single bounce of the ball. Whether your new to this one or know far more than we do, there's something for everyone as always on the Sporting Almanac.