Question for the Aussies

Now I realize some of you think I've been knocking your great game of Aussie Rules, which I haven't been, but I've got a question for the other folks coming here looking for news about Sav Rocca (who's quickly developing a major following in Philadelphia, I might add). 

Last weekend I watched the Swans play at Telstra Stadium, and I could swear I saw the faded outline of an American football field underneath the AFL markings.  There were yard lines and even what looked like numbers, all where they should have been for our game. 

So what gives?  Are there people playing American football down there or was this some kind of traveling exhibition?  I'm really curious.  If you know anything about it, please pop it into the comments.

Update: This turns out to have been a rather dumb question, since solved.

UPDATE Update: My brother suggested there's a difference in the way Union and League line their fields and that's what threw me.  Let's just assume that's correct and I'm not an idiot who forgot about Rugby.

Comments

[Downunder]

If it was the Swans at Telstra Stadium it would have been for Rugby. What did you think of the Aussie Rules game?

[Me]

Ah, I didn't realize rugby fields had the lines numbered as well. Now that's a sport I can't get all that excited about watching.

I'm a big fan of Aussie rules. I first started watching it when I visited Australia last year. It took me a long time to understand what was actually happening on the field, but now I'm hooked on the games, even though they come on really late here.

I've found Collingwood to be the most entertaining team I've seen more than a couple of times, in terms of free-flowing action rather than all the marking and backing up.

[Ian Whitchurch]

Yep, your brother has it right.

Rugby Union and Rugby League are two different games (*), and they mark the field differently.

Ian

(*) Short version. League has 13 players and uses downs like NFL does, union has 15 players and doesnt.

[Me]

Thanks for the info, Ian.