How old is Australian Rules Football?

Answer 1

Australian rules football is officially 150 years old this year in 2008. Initially drafted in 1858 in Melbourne, the game drew on various drafts that existed in the british (empire) school system at the time (many of which included rules on carrying the ball, pushing/hacking or tackling and the number of players on field) and possibly was influenced by Indigenous/Aboriginal football documented in early lithographs of Victoria. This earliest documented draft pre-dates the formation of Associated Football (soccer) by five years.