Are you ready for some (Aussie) football?

After a long winter, April has finally arrived. And that means it’s the start of football season! Well, not in Boston, but in Australia where the seasons are reversed. April is the beginning of autumn down under, and the Australian Rules Football season kicked off at the end of March.

Anyone traveling to Australia between now and the Grand Final (Australia’s answer to the Super Bowl) in September should try to take in a game. (Think bar fight over a funny colored-football. Check out the video.) While Vegemite is a bit of an acquired taste, taking in the sights and sounds of a “footy” match while surrounded by tens of thousands of passionate fans is instantly addictive and the best way to feel Australia's heartbeat.
While the ball looks similar, Aussie Rules football is nothing like the American version. There are 18 players on each team, and the field is much larger than an American gridiron. Players score by kicking the ball between the posts on either end of the field. There's constant action, high scoring, and full contact. Despite the extremely physical nature of the game, the players don't wear any pads or helmets, which may have you rethinking just how tough NFL players are.
Melbourne is the birthplace of Aussie Rules, and the best place to catch a game. Nine of the country's 16 professional teams are based in Melbourne, which is just as sports-crazy as Boston, and up to five footy matches are played in the city each weekend. Games are played at 60,000-seat Etihad Stadium, whose retractable roof can provide welcome protection from the elements, and at the hallowed ground of the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which seats more than 100,000 people.
Perth and Adelaide are both home to two Aussie Rules teams, so travelers are ensured of a home game in those cities each week. Brisbane, Sydney, and Geelong—about an hour from Melbourne—are each home to one Aussie Rules team a piece. (While Sydney is Australia’s largest city, rugby, rather than the country’s indigenous sport, is the game of choice.) For tickets and schedules, check the website of the Australian Football League. 

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Globe travel correspondent Christopher Klein writes his own blog, HubTrotter, and is the author of the forthcoming book, "The Die-Hard Sports Fan's Guide to Boston."