The legal distance between the two goalposts in Australian rules football is 6.4 metres.
The goalposts stand at the centre of each scoring line and are separated by 6.4 metres, measured between their inside edges. A kick passing completely between them without being touched scores a goal, worth six points.
Each goalpost is accompanied by a shorter behind post. The spaces between a goalpost and its adjacent behind post are scoring areas for behinds, worth one point. The posts therefore define the basic scoring structure of the oval-shaped field.
The distance is sometimes confused with the height of the posts. Goalposts must be at least 6 metres high, while behind posts must be at least 3 metres high. The width of the goal square is a separate field measurement.