The game is also distinguished from other games by the fast, relatively free, movement of the ball (partly due to the absence of an offside rule) and the awarding of a free kick for any mark (clean catch) of a ball that has been kicked more than 15 metres. Spectacular high marks or "speccies", tackles, bumps and fast fluid play are the game's main attributes as a spectator sport.

Although it is a winter sport, pre-season competitions usually begin in late February (late summer in the southern hemisphere). The football season, proper, is from March (early autumn) to August (late winter) with finals being held in September (early spring).