Australians--wake up.

I moved to Perth from New Zealand and I knew Aussie Rules would saturate tv and the press. Great athletes, I watched a game at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds a few years ago, and Friday evening I watched the West Coast Eagles (even though there has never been an eagle in Western Australia) lose to Collingswood.

I was keen on my rugby and there is the Western Force, coached by New Zealander John Mitchell (why you took him is beyond me). And I'm keen on cricket and enjoy it regardless of who wins and loses. What I want to know is why do you like Aussie Rules and should I pay attention? I'll never get enough rugby here and I can't get myself beyond all the frenetic AFL stuff going on, still recognising these are possibly the best athletes of the world.

So, tell me the three things to watch for in Aussie Rules; don't just say the bodies. Tell me the important rules, the big names to watch--not sure what I'm asking other than give me about three reasons that keeps you turning it on week after week.

Related to this, they mentioned a wicket keeper. What is a wicket keeper in AFL. Is this, like in cricket, the groundsman who grooms the paddock (or whatever you call the oval) or is it something like the night watchman of cricket that bats without losing his wicket before stumps? Or maybe they said something about the pitch, which has a cricket meaning. Anyway, pitch, wicket, how is the term used in Aussie Rules?