Wipe off 73
The Ashes started well enough, Australia all out for 190. Thanks to a combined English feed to the SBS TV channel in Australia and continued Test Match Special on the ABC radio. I had watched and listened to most of the day’s play before drifting off to sleep.
Still, Friday was going to be a good one. More wonderful footy at Slippery Stadium. St Kilda v Collingwood.
So, I’m still learning about this game. Sure, I’ve been to a few games, watched a few more on the TV and generally tried to learn about the sport, its present and its past, and the lovely nuances that make Aussie Rules so damn good. I know the Magpies are somewhat hated by those who don’t support them. We all know that Eddie “Everywhere” McGuire can be biased as owner of the Collingwood Football Club and presenter of the Footy Show and commentator for Channel 9.
By and large it seems a friendly enough game. Fans mix in the grounds, there’s banter but nothing unpleasant. Fans tend to harangue their own players rather than the English mentality of hurling abuse at anyone in the wrong shirt.
Then there’s Collingwood. Is it because it’s Friday night? Everyone had a few? The Pies fans were somewhat louder and the swearing! Children present. Family atmosphere – Gone. Now I understand what I was told, “Pie fans, yeah, bunch of bogans. Port fans too.”
Still, for a Friday night in the Telstra Dome it was a good game. Easy win for St Kilda. Rattling up a 73 point win and finishing 21.17 (143) 10.10 (70).
So, to all those who left during the final break – See you, thanks for coming and enjoy your weekend!
