The build up for the start of the AFL season in any year gets pretty big, but it was a promoters dream to have late draft pick, recovering self confessed drug addict Ben Cousins' Richmond line up against his former teammate in Chris Judd's Carlton. Usually a clash that would bearly raise a headline, given recent years performance by both teams, but this proved to be a winner for the League.
After 18 months injury and suspension from the game, with all the arrests, near naked pictures slashed over every newspaper, and the details of his drug rehabilitation fodder for coverage, Cousins had declared himself ready to return. The comeback everyone had anticipated since he was banned, and then picked up by lowly Richmond.
Having snapped up tickets earlier in the month, Dan and I had a few pre-match beers at ...if before making our way to the MCG, along with 87,000 other people! Massive crowd for these two sides in recent years!
We found our seats behind the goals, and settled in for the match. Which soon become an anti-climatic start to the season, with a blow out on the scoreboard t the Blues favour. Cousins featured here and there in the first three quarters....but then tragically limped off with a hamstring injury in the last quarter, and hung his head when he got to the bench in disappointment. Devastating.
This game was a bit of a warm up for me, in terms of concentration and depth perception return after the off season, for our big game tonight. Like the reserves grade last night, and now for the Grand Final replay tonight...bring it on! Great to have footy back!
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