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football


In Queensland, 'football' (or 'footy') formerly meant Rugby League football. The expansion of the Australian Football code ('Aussie Rules') north of the Murray has now made the term somewhat ambiguous: 'It's 4BH for football!' (Brisbane radio station's advertising slogan, circa 1960s.)

Contributor's comments: In my original comment, I gave an example of the use of the term 'football' in Brisbane to mean 'rugby league' ('It's 4BH for football!'). Here is a counter-example of the use of the term in Melbourne to mean 'Australian Football'. In a feature on Mark Latham (then newly-appointed as Federal Leader of the Opposition), the Herald-Sun (3 December 2003, page 5) offers the following: "Football team: Collingwood / Rugby League team: St George - Illawarra".

Contributor's comments: The Sydney Football Stadium hosts rugby league, rugby union and soccer -- but not the code that Australians south of the Murray call "football". Quote: "We are close to all the action only minutes away from the Sydney Football Stadium, or the SCG if Australian Rules is your game. " -- Hotel UniLodge, Sydney.

Contributor's comments: Football is used in much of Australia but it means different things in different places. In Victoria, Tasmania, Adelaide and Perth (not sure about the rest of South & West Australia) it means Australian Rules Football. Probably the same in the Northern Territory. In Sydney and parts of NSW it means Rugby League. Not sure about Brisbane & Queensland & Canberra.