27 September, 2003 12:01 PM
If you live in Melbourne and you want to do a day trip to the beach or the wine region - today is the day. If you want to go to the museum or aquarium or art gallery, go this afternoon. In fact if you want to go anywhere that there are normally long lines of people - today is your safest bet for having the place to yourself.
Its grandfinal day in the AFL. (Australian Rules Football...or 'Footy' as we call it). Its a wonderful occassion to celebrate the best code of football in the world!
This afternoon the teams from Collingwood (the Pies...as in Magpies - they are from Melbourne) and Brisbane (the Lions...as in...ROAR!) will run out onto the MCG (Melbourne CRICKET Ground - ironically referred to as the home of FOOTBALL). 72,814 people will be there (normally we get closer to 90,000 people, but there are some 'renovations' going on in one of the stands) despite the expected rain to participate in an event that many see as one of Australia's most spiritual gatherings.
This is one of the few occasions when Aussies sing together. They also drink a lot of beer (which might explain the singing), eat a lot of meat pies (not mag-pies) and do a lot of screaming and dancing around together. Its quite a tribal gathering and something to be experienced.
Those of us Aussies too unconnected and poor to get tickets will gather around TV sets throughout the country (and around the globe) - beer and meat pies in hand - cheering our teams on. It is quite the event.
We're having a couple of friends over to watch the game with and tonight some more will come for a BBQ on the balcony to debrief after the game.
I'm still in two minds as to which team to support - Collingwood is a Melbourne team, but they are my team's (Carlton) arch rival - I don't think I can bring myself to go for them. Brisbane are from interstate - but they sort of originated from the suburb I live in before moving to Brisbane. So I guess Brisbane it is.
GO LIONS!!!
update: as you can no doubt tell by the comments - the Lions won convincingly - it was quite a comprehensive win. That is three years in a row they've come away with the premiership.
I went to the morning after Melbourne celebrations which were held at the end of our street this morning which was fun. Pity the game wasn't a little closer...
Comments
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Go the Warriors on Sunday in Sydney, and the All Blacks to win the World Cup...two teams, two of the greatest sporting codes in the world....:-)
Paul » 27 September, 2003 6:07 PM
Darn it Paul.. you beat me to it.. oh well... GO THE WARRIORS!!
Regan » 27 September, 2003 6:24 PM
As a former Victorian who now lives in Brisbane (the relocated home of football??!), yesterday's grand final win was fantastic (and as a Carlton supporter, that win over Collingwood was such a beautiful thing!). I've been up here in Brisbane for over 5 years, and in that time support for the AFL has grown considerably. We're still a minor parish when compared with the Vatican City of AFL that is Melbourne, but we're getting there :-)
Darryl » 28 September, 2003 8:22 AM
I love my footy , you could say it's my guarding in life. im a born and bred south aussie who like his pies hot and his iced coffee cold. I supported Brisbane grand final day ( i hate port) im a crows man all the way. I worship footy like a religion but i just couldn't barrack for the enemy. I'm counting the days till next season....Carn You Crows!
matt howard » 10 November, 2004 9:07 PM
For Victorians, if you barrack for a team (for me South Melb/Sydney) this also implies that you barrack against Collingwood. ;)
Sorry Mr. Bracks - no smidge of Vic loyalty is enough to swing it.
The first glimpse of that barmy black-and-white army is enough! Go Lions!
boynton » 27 September, 2003 1:09 PM