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In the sport of
Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...
, the half-back line refers to the positions of the 3 players on the field that occupy the centre half-back and left and right half-back flank positions.


Centre half-back

The role of the centre half-back is similar to that of a defensive midfielder in association football. As the first line of defence, the centre half-back must aim to break down opposition attacks before they can get into a scoring position.Pascoe, 1995, p. 28 Given that a centre half-back's opponent is usually the centre half-forward, the role is regarded as a ''key position'' in the team, and is usually reserved for tall and well-built players. As one of the team's leaders, centre half-backs must be able to read the play and have good communication skills. Although their first responsibility is to defend, the great centre half-backs have proven to be equally creative in attack as well as reliable in defence. Notable centre half-backs from over the years include: *
Albert Chadwick Sir Albert Edward Chadwick, CMG, MSM (15 November 1897 – 27 October 1983) was an Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League (VFL). Early life The son of Andrew Chadwick (1854-1906), and Georgina Ann Chadwick (186 ...
( and , 1920–1929) * Walter "Wacka" Scott (, 1920–1932), Magarey Medallist 1921, 1924, 1930 * Albert "Leeter" Collier ( and , 1925–1941),Pascoe, 1995, p. 29 Brownlow Medallist 1929 *
Reg Hickey Reginald Joseph Hickey (27 March 1906 – 13 December 1973) was an Australian rules footballer who was a player, the captain, the captain-coach, and the non-playing coach for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) ...
(, 1926–1940) *
Denis Cordner George Denis Pruen Cordner (28 June 1924 – 17 October 1990) was an Australian rules footballer, industrial chemist and diplomat. Early years Cordner was the third of four sons to Edward "Ted" Cordner and Margaret Constance née Pruen. Like ...
(Melbourne, 1943–1956) *
Ron Clegg Ron "Smokey" Clegg (17 November 192723 August 1990) was an Australian rules footballer in the (then) Victorian Football League. Clegg was recruited from the South Melbourne Under 19's after winning the 1944 Melbourne Boys Football League's be ...
(, 1949–1960), Brownlow medallist 1949 * Ian "Bluey" Shelton (, 1959–1965) *
Peter Knights Peter Knights (born 30 March 1952) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach who represented in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Widely regarded as one of Australian football's finest centre half-backs, despite suffering numerous in ...
(Hawthorn, 1969–1985) *
Bill Picken William Andrew Picken (born 5 May 1950) is an Australian horse racing executive. He served as chairman of the Sydney Turf Club (STC) from 2008 until its merger in 2010 with the Australian Jockey Club (AJC). Education Picken attended Newington ...
(Collingwood and , 1974–1986) *
Jim Jess Jim Jess (born 25 January 1955) is a retired Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1976 and 1988 for the Richmond Football Club The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed the Tigers, is an Australian rules football t ...
(, 1976–1988) *
Ross Glendinning Ross William Glendinning (born 17 September 1956) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the East Perth Football Club in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL) and for the North Melbourne Football Club and the West ...
( and , 1978–1988), Brownlow medallist 1983 * Paul Roos (Fitzroy and Sydney, 1982–1998) *
Glen Jakovich Glen Darren Jakovich (born 24 March 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Jakovich was recruited from South Fremantle in the West Australian Football Leag ...
(West Coast, 1991–2004)


Half-back flank

The half-back flank was traditionally a defensive position, where reliability and toughness were more important than attacking flair. In the modern game, reliability and toughness must now be combined with the ability to run and carry the ball as well as take on the opposition in a counter-attacking style. Notable half-back flankers over the years in Australian football include: * Alec Epis (, 1958–1968) * Barry Davis (Essendon and , 1961–1975) *
John Rantall John "Mopsy" Rantall (born 9 December 1943) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club, North Melbourne Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). A lightly- ...
(, North Melbourne and , 1963–1980) * Ian Bremner ( and , 1966–1976) * Bruce Doull (, 1969–1986), Norm Smith Medallist 1981; Named Half-back flank in AFL Team of the Century (1996) *
Stephen Wallis Stephen "Wally" Wallis (born 27 October 1964) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He currently holds the club record for most consecutive games from debut ...
(, 1983–1996) *
Ken Hinkley Ken Hinkley (born 30 September 1966) is the senior coach of the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and a former player with the Geelong Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club. Early life Hinkley was born in ...
( and , 1987–1995) *
Guy McKenna Guy Lindsay McKenna (born 11 May 1969) is a retired Australian rules football player and the former senior coach of the Gold Coast Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). McKenna played 267 games for the West Coast Eagles, inclu ...
(, 1988–2000) *
Andrew McKay Andrew Ian McKay (born 14 July 1970) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL) and Glenelg Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). Pla ...
*
Rohan Smith Rohan H. Smith (born 31 May 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Debuting in 1992 after being recruited around 1990, Smith has long been one of the Bulldogs' favourite sons, with his reputation r ...
*
Andrew McLeod Andrew Luke McLeod (born 4 August 1976) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is the games record holder for Adelaide, having played 340 games. ...
*
Nigel Smart Nigel James Smart (born 21 May 1969) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Smart played most of his career in defence and became a crowd favourite, easily ide ...
*
Luke Hodge Luke Hodge (born 15 June 1984) is a former Australian rules football player who played with the Hawthorn Football Club and the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the Hawthorn Football Club from 2002 to 2017, c ...
*
Brendon Goddard Brendon Goddard (born 20 May 1985) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda and Essendon in the Australian Football League (AFL). He played for the St Kilda Football Club from 2003 to 2012, then with Essendo ...
*
Corey Enright Corey Enright (born 14 September 1981) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has played the second-most games for . Enright is currently defenc ...
*
Shannon Hurn Shannon William Hurn (born 4 September 1987) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). From South Australia, he excelled at both cricket and football at junior level, and at one ...
*
Beau Waters Beau Waters (born 30 March 1986) is a former professional Australian rules footballer and vice-captain of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). Originally from the Happy Valley Football Club, South Australia, he playe ...
*
Adam Saad Adam Saad (born 23 July 1994) is an Australian rules footballer currently playing for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League. He previously played for the Gold Coast Suns and the Essendon Football Club. Early career As a ...
*
Bachar Houli Bachar Houli ( ar, بشار حولي, born 12 May 1988) is a former Australian rules footballer who played 232 games over a 15-year career with and in the Australian Football League (AFL). He is a three-time premiership player with Richmond ...
*
Christian Salem Christian Salem (born 15 July 1995) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A defender, tall and weighing , Salem plays primarily as a half-back flanker ...


References


Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Half-Back Line Australian rules football terminology