What Role Do You Play?
Ever wondered what each player on a football field is doing? Each player on the field has a specific role. Whether it be kicking goals, defending or simply running the ball down the field, some one on the ground is there to perform that task. Below is a brief outline of the positions on the football field.
Full Forward
The main focus of the attacking team. Positioned in the goal square, a full forward must be able to take all types of marks (including overhead and on the lead) and have great goal scoring abilities. They must be able to play and kick well under pressure as their success depends on their capacity to kick goals. They are under constant attention from the full back, their defensive counterpart.
Well known full forwards of the 2001 season are Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), Tony Modra (Fremantle) and Scott Cummings (West Coast Eagles).
Full Back
A full back plays directly against the full forward and is generally considered to be the last line of defence. They will stand beside the full forward and attempt to stop him from getting the ball. They will harass, bump, spoil and do any thing else it takes to deny the full forward any goal scoring opportunities.
Full backs are generally strong players with pace. They run straight at the ball and are deemed fearless. Occasionally, albeit rarely, fans have been witness to a full back running from his end of the ground to the opposite end and kick a goal for his team.
Exceptional full backs in the 2001 season are Mick Martyn from the Kangaroos, Ashley McIntosh, West Coast Eagles and Carlton's Stephen Silvagni.
Ruck
When the ball is bounced at the start of the game, and/or after a goal is scored, the two players seen trying to hit the ball are the Rucks. Each team will have at least two rucks, with (usually) one on the field at any one time. They interchange off the bench as they are generally required to contest all centre bouncedowns, ball ups and boundary line throw ins. They will either tap the ball to a passing teammate or hit the ball as far down field as possible.
The ruck is usually the tallest player on the team, however, a lot of teams now have what is known as a mobile ruck man. These are players that are not overly tall, but are blessed with a good leap, great stamina and the ability to run forward of the play to create scoring opportunities. Mobile ruckman such as John Barnes (Essendon) and Jeff White (Melbourne) have the capacity to kick up to 40 goals a season.
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