Footy is a long standing tradition in our family. The passion for it courses through the veins of my husband and his four brothers, and has been passed on to everyone of their children – twenty five in all. Knowing  how to kick with both feet and take an overhead  mark are essential skills, almost as important as reading, in our family.

I’ve taken all this for granted for many years but I still remember when footy was a complete mystery to me. Coming from a rugby league background I found all the leaping and catching a bit confusing. But the thing that puzzled me the most was footy terminology. What were marks, hangers and screamers? What were sausage rolls and behinds, apart from the obvious?

 Like all sports footy has a language all its own, and it took me years of hanging out with the game-day pundits and boundary line experts at our local club to fully appreciate it. It’s changed over time. While you probably won’t hear a great performance described as “a bottler” anymore, at grass roots level it’s still possible to hear some oldies but goodies that are a throwback to a simpler time, rather than the new footy-speak you’ll hear from TV commentators (“in terms of the leadership group, they’re just not presenting themselves going forward or being accountable today”).

I love the language of football and the passion, dedication and love of the game that it expresses. It may not always be eloquent but the message usually gets through. My very favourite football quote comes from a reserve grade coach from our own suburban club. His team were undefeated  and on top of the ladder but had put in a lacklustre performance in the first half of the game. Urging them on to greater efforts he said “Come on Guys. You’re fair dinkum just not fair dinkum!” Of course the players  were inspired by this call to arms and the team had an impressive victory.

For those of you new to the joys of footy here is a selection of footy language with definitions so you can keep up with the game.

Mark                                                                       

Catching the ball on the full from a kick by another player.

Screamer / Specky / Hanger                  

Interchangeable terms for a mark taken high in the air and usually accompanied by an awkward landing and “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd.

Sausage Roll (often shortened to Sausage)

A goal. Scored  when the ball is kicked through the two middle goal posts (the tall ones). Awarded 6 points.

Behind                 

Scored  when the ball is kicked through the outer  goal posts. Awarded 1 point. Why it should be a behind rather than a “beside” or a “next to” remains a mystery

Holding the ball

An infringement. Not disposing of the ball correctly.

“Ball!”

A cry from the crowd when they think a holding the ball infringement has occurred.

Free

A free kick awarded to the opposition for a rule infringement.

Fifty

A fifty metre penalty awarded to the opposition for a rule infringement.

FIFTY!                

A cry from the crowd when they think the umpire should award a fifty metre penalty.

Gone missing

No. A player hasn’t actually left the field, he just hasn’t been involved in the play for a while.

Mongrel

A punt kick that has gone awry.

Cherry                 

The football.

Torp

A kick that makes the ball spiral through the air like a torpedo

Bath

An ignominious defeat.

Well, that's my take - what's your favourite shout from the outer?!