After one of the closest and most exciting AFL seasons in recent memory, the Grand Final is finally here.
Richmond, into their first Grand Final since 1982, will do battle with the Adelaide Crows, who are playing in their first big dance since 1998.
Letโs hope we see some huge torps from both teams and plenty of screamers, hard-ball gets and banana kicks from Dusty.
If you didnโt understand that, donโt worry; come Grand Final day, you wonโt be alone.
To help you better understand the unique Aussie slang youโll hear on Grand Final day, weโve teamed up with Aussie bookie, Palmerbet, to produce a glossary of all the best AFL sayings.
By the time youโre done reading, youโll be ready and raring to have your two cents on every big play as the game unfolds.
Advantage: When a player is awarded a free-kick, but the umpire allows the play to continue if the team that was awarded the free-kick has the ball and is not disadvantaged.
All-Australian: A player selected in the All-Australian merit team, which rewards players for their outstanding performances throughout the AFL regular season. There will be several All-Australian players competing in the Grand Final this Saturday.
Assist: When a player hand-passes or kicks the ball to a teammate resulting in a goal.
Bag: Refers to when a player kicks several goals in a game. E.g. โRiewoldt kicked another bag todayโ.
Ball: Youโll hear this countless times during a game from fans. If an attacking player is caught holding the ball and fails to release it by handpassing or kicking to a teammate, then the defender may be awarded a free kick. The player in possession must have had the opportunity to release the ball prior to being tackled. If they are tackled in possession, youโll likely hear opposing fans scream โBALLLL!!!!!โ
Ball on a string: When a player is in good form, kicking accurately and creating attacking opportunities, they are said to have the โball on a stringโ.
Banana: A kick that bends around the body. Also known as a โchecksideโ.
Baulk: When a player fakes to kick one way, sending his defender in the wrong direction, and plays to his other side. Also referred to as โselling candyโ.
Barrell: Slang for a torpedo-kick, where the ball is punted to spiral a long distance.
Big Dance: Grand Final.
Blinder: When a player is playing an exceptional game. E.g. โDustin Martin had an absolute blinder!โ
Blue: A fight or melee.
Boil-over: When a team expected to lose easily wins the match.
Breadbasket: Refers to the stomach of a player. Often commentators will say, โCotchin kicks straight into the breadbasket of Riewoldtโ.
Claret: Blood on a player.
Corkie: Refers to when a player has a corked muscle/deep bruise.
Don't argue: When an attacking player aggressively fends off a defender.
Down the guts: The centre corridor of the ground.
Dragged: When a player is taken off the field and placed on the bench by the coach, usually following a mistake or series of poor plays.
Dukes: Refers to a playerโs hands. Often used when a player takes a strong mark amidst a ruck of opposing players. E.g. โRiewoldtโs got great dukesโ.
Falcon: When the ball hits a player in the face or the head.
Flag: The premiership. E.g. โThe Crows have won their third AFL flagโ.
Granny: Grand Final.
Hard-ball: Refers to a contested possession. When the ball is up for grabs, in the air or on the ground, and two players are both going hard towards it, the one who gains possession is said to have won the โhard-ballโ.
Hit the woodwork: Hitting the goalposts. Generally used to describe when a player hits the post while having a shot at goal. E.g. โWalkerโs shot hits the woodworkโ.
Hospital handpass: when a player handpasses the ball to a teammate who is under pressure with an opponent closing in on him.
Leather poisoning: When a player has a good game with a high possession count, touching the ball repeatedly to create multiple opportunities for his team.
Mark: When a player catches the ball from a kick.
Minor premiers: The team that finishes on top of the ladder at the end of the regular season. This yearโs minor premiers were Adelaide.
Mongrel punt: A miskick that spins awkwardly but travels in the correct direction.
Muscle-up: To apply physical body pressure on an opponent.
Norm Smith Medal: The medal awarded to the player judged best on ground in the Grand Final.
On the pine: Refers to when a player is sitting on the bench during a game. E.g. โSloane has been sitting on the pine for the past five minutesโ.
Pill: The ball.
Rainmaker: An extremely high kick of the ball which does not travel far in distance.
Runner: A member of a teamโs coaching staff who runs onto the ground to give his players a message from the coach.
Screamer: A great mark.
Shank: When a player miskicks the ball.
Shepherd: When a player lays a block on an opponent, usually in the form of a bump, in order to protect a teammate who has possession of the ball.
Speccie: When a player takes a great mark. Also known as a screamer or a hanger.
Spoil: When a player punches the ball away from an opponent who is attempting to mark the ball.
Spray: Being shouted at, usually from the coach to a player or the team.
Tall timber: Refers to a tall player.
Torpedo: Spiral kick that travels a long distance. Often just referred to as a โtorpโ.
Wingman: A player who plays on the wings or periphery of the ground. Often a player who possesses a lot of speed.
You should now be all set to show up all your friends and know what the commentators and fans are on about come Saturday afternoon.
For the record the Crows are favourites to win the flag and claim their third AFL premiership, paying $1.73 with Palmerbet, while the Tigers are $2.16.
Adelaideโs last flag was in 1998, the second of their back-to-back premierships. While Richmond has 10 premierships but has not tasted success since 1980, with their long suffering fans waiting 37 years to celebrate a Grand Final win.
