Playing Field

The playing surface

There are no set dimensions for the playing surface, although the recommended size is 150 to 185 metres (164 to 202 yards) in length and 130 to 150 metres (142 to 164 yards) in width. The ideal playing surface is 165 metres (180 yards) long by 150 metres (164 yards) wide.

The boundary line drawn around the edge of the oval-shaped ground defines the playing area. A circle three metres (10ft) in diameter drawn in the centre of the ground indicates where the ball must be bounced by the umpire to start play at the beginning of each quarter and after a goal has been scored.

A 45 metre (49 yard) square surrounds the bounce circle. Only four players from each side may be inside the square before the ball is bounced. A free kick is awarded against a side that infringes this rule.

If a behind is scored, the ball is put back into play by a defender who must kick from within the nine-metre goal square at each end of the ground.

The playing surface dimensions (goal to goal, boundary to boundary) of AFL venues, as confirmed by ground managers, are as follows:

Stadium	Goal	Boundary	Capacity
Subiaco	175m	122m	43,500
Shell Stadium	169m	115m	28,000
Football Park	165m	133m	47,000
Gabba	160m	139m	37,600
WACA	163m	127m	32,200
Waverley Park	165m	142m	not many
Telstra Dome	159m	130m	52,660
MCG	159m	138m	99,000
Optus Oval	160m	139m	32,000
SCG	147m	136m	46,200