Stuff about football & community & belonging
Last Saturday at 3.18pm I was looking at Dusty. His left armed fend-off, tattooed limbs, ball tucked under his right arm. None could get close to him. Play on! gestured the umpire. The game was about to go our way. Dustin Martin was in the middle of the MCG running amok, mesmerising everyone – one man in the eye of a storm, time stopped, like a puppeteer pulling all the strings. Last … –>
I am on foot weaving my way through the back streets of Richmond. The car park is officially full so in order to make it for the first bounce we had little choice but to dump the car in a two hour space and take our chances. I am returning to the ‘G’ for the first time since that wonderful drought breaking day, part of me doesn’t want to go back. Like a holiday destination where the memories are … –>
I was at a Japanese restaurant in North Hobart with the largest sake range in Australia – a four page menu. But I could not get a footy score. I texted my wife, Dugald, Joe. Nothing. So I just ate my eel and hoped for the best. ▰▰▰▰▰▰▰ By the time I got home we were down 77 - 66. And playing pretty badly. I had to wait ages to see us get an uncontested possession. No-one had any run. Our … –>
Chris turns a few minutes before the game, asks if I can write a match report. Borrow pen and paper, a season’s notetaking begins. Q1. Third goal to them. Is this what they call a ‘premiership hangover’. “Have we hit a target with a foot pass yet,” asks one in the crowd. Jarrod Garlett on debut kicks a fourth for them and our party, if not postponed, is delayed. Wasn’t in the script, … –>
I’m feeling shaky. No – not about the Tiges, I have tipped us objectively to win the 2018 flag. No reason to think we can’t get over Carlton on Thursday night. But I think I’ve got First Round Fever - is that a known diagnosed condition? I have been starving for a feed of Richmond. I have had simultaneously too much and not enough footy. The AFL’s attempt to fill the depth and width of the … –>
