While quidditch may be more than 850 years older than Australian rules football, the team at AFL Canada has studied the two sports to discover Aussie rules may just be the inspiration behind the wizarding world's most popular sport.
We've read every book and watched every movie (many, many times). Then we delved through the pages of Quidditch Through the Ages to reveal these startling similarities.
The quidditch pitch was clearly based on the Australian football field. At 150 metres long, the quidditch pitch is only just shorter than the average Australian football oval, and both are far longer than the average American/Canadian/association/rugby football fields. Excluding cricket, the two sports are the only kinds to be played on ovals, and the two even have similar scoring methods (see below). Played on large grass ovals, with large arcs around the goal scoring areas, there are definitely some suspicious similarities between the playing pitches. Both matches even start with the ball being tossed up above the centre circle!
At either end of the pitch, there are three opportunities for a team to score. No other sports in the world offer three side-by-side scoring options.
In quidditch, ten points in scored for shooting the quaffle through the hoops, while in Australian football, six points is scored for kicking the ball through the middle posts, while one point is recorded for a kick between the inner and outer posts.
While catching the golden snitch guarantees you 150 points in quidditch, scoring in Australian football can be just as high, with totals regularly over 100, and the highest ever professional score reaching 239.
We don't need to show you wizards flying on a broom, you know what that looks like, but we think Australian football is the closest you would see muggles flying while chasing a ball.
While footy players may not reach the same altitude as their magical counterparts, they do it all without a broom – just their own leg muscles and usually their opponents' shoulders/back/head.
Both sports are incredibly fast. With the constant evolution of broomsticks in recent years, and the Firebolt's acceleration to 240km/h in 10 seconds making the the Nimbus 2000 look like a Comet Two Ninety, Australian football isn't quite as fast, but they do reach speeds of more than 30km/h, while also managing to cover more than 20km over the full match.
Quidditch can be brutal. While nobody has died in years, half of the balls are designed to hurt the players. Not to mention the fact that one slip will have you falling from many storeys high. When asked what she liked most about the sport she said "that would probably be the violence".
Australian football may not be as brutal as quidditch, but it is still tough. Between the hard bumps and tackles, footy is still one of the toughest sports in the (muggle) world. Harry chasing the golden snitch in the above gif is even executing a textbook "hip and shoulder".
Sure, there are few differences. Daniel Radcliffe never made it to the big screen in a skintight singlet and short shorts. And there may only be one ball. But we think JK Rowling may just have been watching a game of footy when the inspiration for quidditch struck.
Her favourite team? Clearly that would be the Port Adelaide (magical) Power(s). Her favourite player? Obviously Chad Wingard(ium Leviosa).
If you want to try Australian football – the original quidditch – in Canada, please email p@aflcanada.com
We've read every book and watched every movie (many, many times). Then we delved through the pages of Quidditch Through the Ages to reveal these startling similarities.
Pitches
The quidditch pitch was clearly based on the Australian football field. At 150 metres long, the quidditch pitch is only just shorter than the average Australian football oval, and both are far longer than the average American/Canadian/association/rugby football fields. Excluding cricket, the two sports are the only kinds to be played on ovals, and the two even have similar scoring methods (see below). Played on large grass ovals, with large arcs around the goal scoring areas, there are definitely some suspicious similarities between the playing pitches. Both matches even start with the ball being tossed up above the centre circle!
Scoring
At either end of the pitch, there are three opportunities for a team to score. No other sports in the world offer three side-by-side scoring options.
In quidditch, ten points in scored for shooting the quaffle through the hoops, while in Australian football, six points is scored for kicking the ball through the middle posts, while one point is recorded for a kick between the inner and outer posts.
While catching the golden snitch guarantees you 150 points in quidditch, scoring in Australian football can be just as high, with totals regularly over 100, and the highest ever professional score reaching 239.
Flying
We don't need to show you wizards flying on a broom, you know what that looks like, but we think Australian football is the closest you would see muggles flying while chasing a ball.
While footy players may not reach the same altitude as their magical counterparts, they do it all without a broom – just their own leg muscles and usually their opponents' shoulders/back/head.
The pace
Both sports are incredibly fast. With the constant evolution of broomsticks in recent years, and the Firebolt's acceleration to 240km/h in 10 seconds making the the Nimbus 2000 look like a Comet Two Ninety, Australian football isn't quite as fast, but they do reach speeds of more than 30km/h, while also managing to cover more than 20km over the full match.
The physicality
Australian football may not be as brutal as quidditch, but it is still tough. Between the hard bumps and tackles, footy is still one of the toughest sports in the (muggle) world. Harry chasing the golden snitch in the above gif is even executing a textbook "hip and shoulder".
Sure, there are few differences. Daniel Radcliffe never made it to the big screen in a skintight singlet and short shorts. And there may only be one ball. But we think JK Rowling may just have been watching a game of footy when the inspiration for quidditch struck.
Her favourite team? Clearly that would be the Port Adelaide (magical) Power(s). Her favourite player? Obviously Chad Wingard(ium Leviosa).
If you want to try Australian football – the original quidditch – in Canada, please email p@aflcanada.com
Well done Canadians. As an Australian the first time I saw a Quidditch game I saw the the similarities in the fields and goals. I don't know if JKR has ever been down under but I am sure she drew inspiration for the sport from Australian football.
ReplyDeleteFondly known as Aussie Rules or Footy, Australian Rules football is a contact sport played between two teams consisting of 18 players each side on an oval-shaped ground.
ReplyDeleteThis has to be one of the best weblinks i've come across in a while.
ReplyDeleteThe delivery is almost similar to the skittles moonrock prices
we offer our clients. I gotta bookmark this link to come back for more amazing content. Keep up the good work y'all.
cheers