Stuff about football & community & belonging
For a regular night game, half time is a bit of toast, maybe bring in a couple of logs for the fire, and possibly switch from beer to coffee. We did the kick-to-kick in the early evening pre-game, so instead we had the saveloys that we didn't really want, because dinner was only an hour ago. The TV tells us that Danger's gone to full forward and Dusty to half forward. We resume down 20-35, having … –>
As the broadcast resumes, we are looking at the end Geelong was attacking in the previous quarter. "That's the Geelong forward end… … … in fact the Richmond forward end". Thanks BT. We'd seen Richmond running towards it so probably no need to say anything eh? Dave Astbury flaps at the ball like an outwitted goalkeeper and Ablett gets away, only to be run down by Pickett. Marlion Pickett is in … –>
It's a different game with different rules. After the first bounce the ball is hoofed off the ground, out of the air, it's like the players are big birds with no hands. Cotch soccers it, Shai soccers it. Selwood picks it up with his human hands and kicks it OOF. Kamdyn gives it a huge whack along the ground and Sheds soccers it. As it goes out again Baker delivers a big bump to Dangerfield, and … –>
For a Grand Final I like to keep things simple. I listen to the build-up on the radio and I sit down to watch when they get to the anthem. I go out for a kick at half time but I try to catch the footballers sprint. When the game is over I go away and think about it for a while. Unlike most Richmond people I have no attachment to Mr Brightside because after the siren in 2017 I was up at the school … –>
On Friday evening before the game I sent a text to Joe in Launceston, a lifelong Tiger. "I say. You there, are the Richmond Football Tigers playing this weekend?" At 7.22pm he called. He was not in Launceston. He was not near a TV. He was walking the Overland Track, and had just arrived at Narcissus Hut after a big day walking 28km, with a 20kg pack. He had one bar on his phone, battery nearly … –>
