Happy Team At Hawthorn Go Back To Back - Premiers 2014

Amazingly, we got tickets in the Members' ballot for the fourth time and made our way very early last Saturday to the MCG for the big game.

This was after the week build up, which included the final training session out at Waverley, and then the GF Parade through the city, and many drinks afterwards to prepare for the big day ahead.

In the Standing Room bay as early as the gates opened, to ensure a spot at the front, we were in for a long, nervous wait.

As the times before, these hours did while away pretty fast, and before we knew it Sir Tom Jones was singing, then the teams ran out, and then the Australian anthem was sung. And then game on!

Hawthorn verses Sydney again, but this time with Buddy having switched teams. Bad luck for him, as it would be. Poetic justice, really!

The Hawks shot out of the blocks right from the first quarter, and played the game of their lives! A 63 point win in the end, and so many great individual stories! Hodge, and his second Norm Smith Medal. Clarko's illness during the year, and Bolton's caretaker role with a perfect record for the 5 games coached. The journeys of Langford and Spangher. The joy goes on!

Once the siren sounded we celebrated in our section, singing the song, and then cheered each of the Hawks as they went up to collect their medal from the day. We then joined the boundary line for the lap of honour.

Incredibly, we were at the very spot where Gibbo and Spangher jumped up over the fence with the cup for this exciting moment:

The night at the 'G continued as the entertainment was featured again, before the team was presented to the adoring crowd of Happy Hawthorn supporters. Another amazing premiership. Awesome to achieve the back to back streak.

Greatest AFL Footy Game Ever

Being away at work for tonight's Qualifying Final at the MCG is heart-breaking. I have asked around to find the best place to watch it here after work, and Jane and I will draw battle lines and struggle to get through the game after a touch week and rotation retrospectively. There is also a possibility that the island will still be out of beer!

These games, between Hawthorn and Geelong are just so good! Being there 2 weeks ago for the Hawthorn win in season was pretty amazing - just wish I could be there and see the same tonight. Alas!

In our preparation for the Preliminary Final last year, to slay the titan that is Geelong - the team that had at that point beaten us in every match since our amazing 2008 Grand Final win (that’s 11 cracking, but heart-wrenching games!) - the sisters and I had watched the two GFs that we beat Geelong, including the epic and brutal 1989 win. And watching it again left us with no doubt that it is the greatest game of AFL we will ever see.

They just don't play football like that anymore!

The brutality is actually shocking, after being so sensitised to such play seeing the modern game. The hits, the tackles, and of course, those opening moments where Brereton went down. And then amazingly got up, heaving for air...moving back to the forward pocket, and somehow taking that mark and kicking a goal.

Incredible!

The emotion of this 1989 game is so intense. Watching it brought back memories about where we were for it - with Mum being there.

In the Finals month last year there was also a documentary about this match, having many players from both sides interviewed and recalling specific memories of their own. The vivid image of the story of Dipper and Dermie sitting up in hospital together the night of the epic win, will be one that stays with me.

Such an amazing victory, which could have gone either way. Such amazing footy memories, and legend that makes Hawthorn the club it is today.

Here's hoping for a similar victory tonight - but hopefully far less brutal! Go Hawks!

Couple Of Interstate Matches

Thwarted at last minute attempts to go to this weekend's match in Adelaide, given that I have been unexpectedly grounded from work, - the match was sold out over a week ago! - I have managed to see the Hawks play at a few more interstate matches this season. More interstate than home at the MCG, in fact.

The first of these latest ones was a much anticipated match up against trade traitor Buddy Franklin - the Hawks played the Swans at ANZ Stadium on a Friday night before I was due to go back to work, and fit in perfectly.

A gathering came together in outer Sydney, before we all made our way to the match. B and her parents, Cass and Flash, Melissa and LB and myself found ourselves our seats right in the middle of the Hawthorn supporters section - a delight for the home supporters in our group!

Nervous about the match ups, as this game was and is always a real test for the two sides, we were most impressed with our Hawks for much of the game. Buddy seemed to have a usual match for him - inaccuracy after frustrating inaccuracy, and his deflection did not seem to bother us at all. But then he had a third quarter burst of brilliance, as he is want to do, and blew the game apart. Bloody Buddy!

The next match, many weeks later, was down in Tasmania. An annual trip for me, I got down to Launceston bemused after reading a ridiculous article about how the footy experiment in Tassie wasn't working out.

Laura, and her mates joined me from across the country and from down in Hobart, for the match, between Hawthorn and West Coast.

The Hawks had a great day out, as this Tassie jaunt often gives us a happy hunting ground, and the lads were cheered off with enthusiastic cheers and singing.

All throughout the weekend - spying Hawks and Eagles colours of people in the streets on the Saturday morning before the match, seeing a pretty decent crowd at Aurora Stadium, and then spotting Hawks fans all over the town that night, and still more brown and yellow to be seen on the roads leading south, all the way to Hobart - I couldn't help be reminded of that spiteful article. Yeah, footy down in Tassie is not working at all!

Our group alone enjoyed the little city for a night, sampled the ciders, the beers and the wines. I vaguely remember some local food being consumed also. Then we took in some local sights before roadtripping to Hobart. The trip to Tassie for the footy is such a great Winter getaway.

Haven't been to a live match since, stuck with waking in the early hours over my recent travels and streaming the radio coverage. Still, the Hawks are looking good to me this year, again!

A Couple Of Footy Games

I just know already that I am not going to get along to many AFL games this year, because of my FIFO work schedule and loads of travel planned, so in the last respite break at home I have absorbed as many games on TV as I could and also went along to two of the Hawks' games.

The first game of the season I found out the result from another worker in the centre, as a result of wearing my Hawks hat as part of my everyday outfit. The next game I stayed back at the internet room again at work and nervously watched the score tick over, with a close win at the end.

For Round 3, I was home, and at the MCG, rugged up against the cold. The match was the 2013 Grand Final rematch, and the occasion when Hawthorn got to unfurl the Premiership Flag from the previous year.

Disappointingly, the match did not live up to the hype of the rematch, and the Hawks' might blew Freo away this time.

To get to work for each rotation, I am flown from Melbourne to Brisbane before the early morning flight the next day. As chance would have it, the Hawks played the Gold Coast on the Saturday night before my last rotation, Round 4, and I requested an earlier flight to get me there in time for the match.

A train over to the Gold Coast from my airport hotel in Brisbane was pretty easy, albiet and hour long, to get me to Metricon Stadium. The Suns have lots of activities going on around the ground before the match, and I was impressed at the swarm of followers this start-up club has attracted.

Again the Hawks proved too good, blowing the Suns out to a 99 point thrashing. I have seen the Hawks in some incredible form!

In the middle of my work shift was the timing for the Round 5 match, and I stayed back writing reports to watch the heart-hurting end to that match. The Geelong rivalry continues!

The next match I was in flight, getting back to Australia, and learned the score when I landed back in Brisbane. For yesterday’s match I was away at a tropical island getaway for a much needed rest, with limited internet – but got an update at regular intervals, and also a photo of the conditions from the MCG from one of my sisters, and I was more than happy to be where I was!

The Hawks are doing very well so far! Looking forward to scheduling in a few more matches for the season, around my crazy travels.

Project 52: Saturday Evening

The Peter Crimmins Medal, which we all still accidentally call the Brownlow - it's the Hawthorn best and fairest - and was a great, glam night out. A wonderful way to finish off an amazing football season, for fans like us, and the club as a whole.

We have talked about going annually as a new tradition. I don't know really, why we haven't been doing so!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Project 52: Saturday Afternoon

It's been a month now, since that incredible One Day in September. This Saturday afternoon I was standing in our bay at the MCG, singing the national anthem just before the AFL Grand Final. And what a day it was!

Topped off such a great year. 2013 goes down as a good one, because the Hawks won the premiership!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

The 2013 Peter Crimmins Medal

On Saturday night the girls and I, and Shane, dressed up for Hawthorn’s “night of nights” as a wonderful way to cap of a brilliant AFL footy season. The Peter Crimmins Medal is the award for the Best and Fairest for the club across the year, and always a much envied night to not go to. A drunken celebratory discussion on the Sunday after the Grand Final win had us booking a table, and going along.

On the night I met up with Jenny, and Annie and Josie at a bar along Southbank, before we made our way to the Crown complex, and up the escalator to the Palladium Room. I have never been up here before, but it's here that the Brownlow Medal is also held.

We were served champagne as we waited to go in, found Amy and Shane, and when it was time we entered the main room and found our table.

Once seated it wasn't long before things got started. The Premiership win was clearly the toast of the night. The players on the list who were not part of the GF team were each introduced to the room, before the 2013 Premiership team was introduced, one by one.

Captain Hodge, with a voice as shaky as mine still is, spoke to the room, and talked about the process of reviewing the great game, and the win. We then got a screening of many of the amazing highlights across the screens in the room, and we got to cheer and enjoy the highlights again. Then the room erupted into the team song.

The President, and then our coach, Clarkson spoke, as entree was delivered to the table. Clarko was, as always, humble and life-affirming in his speech to the room, reminding us that life and those we love should always come first. The footy is important to the team, but that there are more important things.

Clarko then paid tribute to the great Lance Franklin, who's intention to move to another club had been made clear during the week. A highlights package of his incredible 9 years as a Hawk was played, to Green Day's Time Of Your Lives. Moments like that late kick in the 2007 Elimination Final against Adelaide. His 100 goals in 2008, those goals against Essendon in 2012, his hurdle goal against Collingwood this year....so many special moments we have all enjoyed, and loved having his part of it. A Buddy fitting goodbye.

There was the full year in review as mains were served, and the vote count commenced. Then the three retirees, two who announced on the night, were given tributes and then spoke to the room. An emotional Hodge talked about Brent Guerra's career spanning three clubs and 251 games, and his two Premierships with the Hawks. Mitchell talked about the amazing journey of Bailey, and those three knee reconstructions and rehab processes, before Bailey spoke to the room. Sewell paid tribute to our hard man in Osbourne, before Ozzie also said farewell to the room and the Hawthorn faithful.

The count got interesting as several players were polling well toward the end, before Gibson powered on with such an impressive year. Roughead a worthy second, with Mitchell a consistent performance with third.

Gibbo's speech was worth going along to the dinner alone. Such a much loved Hawk!

Once the formalities were over, the band kicked in and the dance floor filled.

Such a great night, and an amazing way to top off a great footy year. We talked around our table about doing this event annually, and frankly I am surprised we haven't done it sooner!

Project 52: Friday Evening

This was the Friday night of the First Qualifying Final, between Hawthorn and Sydney, at the MCG. The nerves were very high at this point, the moment when both teams line up for the National Anthem. Go Hawks!

We won this game by a whopping 52 points....needn't have been nervous at all! Ha!

(And I cannot believe the matching photo is the TV in Sydney. What AFL Footy Finals!?!?)

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

The 2013 AFL Grand Final Premiership Win

A day to remember forever on Saturday, as Hawthorn became the 2013 AFL Premiers. What a day!

Our day started just as it did the year before, and also in the winning 2008 year, with a breakfast gathering at The Mess Hall in the city. Jenny and I joined Mum, Melissa, Jessica and Heath, and Jordon, before Flash and Cass, Gluv, and Axe filled the table. Those of us with standing room ate fairly quickly, before making the dash across Fitzroy Gardens to the gates of the MCG.

Joining the forming queue, we had learnt from the last couple of times, and had a strategy. The moment they let us in, at 11am, we made a run for our allocated section, and were rewarded with the front row of our standing bay.

The sprint happened on the ground, and then Birds Of Tokyo played as the pre-match band (not that we could really hear them in our bay under the stand), and then Mike Brady let a stadium-sing-a-long for his iconic footy songs of Up There Cazaly and One Day In September.

After both teams come out onto the ground for their final warm up, the Great Southern Stand displayed the names of both teams, Hawthorn and Fremantle, which was pretty impressive!

All too quickly, the teams both ran out properly through their banners, and the roar and colour of each team become apparent. A sea of yellow and purple!

The nerves and excitement heightened as the teams lined up for the National Anthem, and that all mighty roar of the crowd at the end of it - and then it was game on!

I feel like the first half went by in a blur - a complete arm wrestle, very low scoring, and the Hawks managed to stay on top, and maintain serious pressure. We were up by 4 goals at the big break. Hunters + Collectors played at halftime, and whilst we again couldn't really hear them well, there was a huge crowd sing for Holy Grail. Such an unofficial footy anthem!

The third quarter was what all the nerves were for, as the Dockers piled on goals, and behinds, to come within 3 points of the Hawks at one stage. Fierce stuff! Heroic four goals from Gunston for the match and a brilliant defensive game from the eventual Norm Smith medalist Lake, and the Hawks sealed the win and the premiership at the final siren by 15 points.

Midway through the last quarter the attendance figure was flashed onto the screens, at 100,007 people. Wow! There was a collective noise of awe at that. The bay sitting in front of our section were Freo fans who had travelled across from Perth and had told us that this was their first time at the 'G were stunned.

The song was sung, over and over. The four of us together hugged, and soaked it in, before working our way to the boundary fence. We watched as the medal presentation happened, cheering each and every player. And then the cup was raised, in victory!

A great spot for the players' victory lap, we high-5ed and hugged and cheered with them as they came past and shared it with the fans that were there. They were very happy, and excited boys!


After the lap, and the players singing the song together in the rooms broadcast across the stadium, all the Hawks we knew gathered at a spot to enjoy the Premiership Party, with Birds Of Tokyo and then Hunters + Collectors playing. But really, we were waiting the presentation of the Premiership team again.

Once all this was done, many of us wandered up to Richmond for drinks and the replay at the London Tavern. Later on in the evening, you may have seen us dancing up a storm in a little bar on Church Street. Good times.

Made even more special this time with the three of us sisters together for it, after Jessie being on the other side of the world for 2008. It was also one I could fully celebrate too, given the sober experience of 2008! All is right in the world again!

We're a very happy team at Hawthorn!

GF Training and Parade

As our voices returned from the celebrations on the weekend prior, and we exhaled a grateful and lucky sigh of relief at the news of our successful Members ballot ticket allocation for the third time since 2008, Grand Final week began. Fremantle were confirmed as our opponents for the biggest game of the year, and the throng of Purple clad supporters made their presence felt in Melbourne across the week.

Thursday saw a roadtrip our to Hawthorn's training ground, and former home ground, Waverley Park. A windy and wet and cold day, we battled the elements to get to the portion of the old stands that now sits in the middle of a housing development - the old VFL mosaic still looks impressive!

Huddling into a spot semi-sheltered from the elements, we awaited the arrival of the team onto the ground to go through their paces, and watched as many people gathered, all adorned in their brown and yellow colours.

Former players and club legends were interviewed and talked they about the big game and occasion ahead, to keep the crowd warmed and pumped, as we waited for signs of the team.

The team came out in groups, before coming together for the full ground training drills and mock play.

I haven't been to a training session for the Hawks since the same time last year, but it was pretty exciting to be part of it.

The event that makes the Grand Final feel very real is the ceremony of the Parade through the city on the Friday. Blocking off traffic and trams from the Arts Centre and all the way along Collins Street, both teams get to soak in the atmosphere of the hype in Melbourne city.

I met Melissa and Mum, Adam and Courtney at a good position along the path, after spotting Jessie up on the balcony of the Old Treasury Building again this year. Lucky girl, with an amazing view!

One of the first things to reach our position was the Premiership Cup, being looked after by our own Hawk hero Shane Crawford.

A brass marching band with Freo scarves on, playing the Freo song, got the West Australian fans in Melbourne into voice - and wow, there was a lot of them!

The Hawks were the second team along, riding past, taking it all in, and sharing it with their own kids.

Here we have the boys in the cars as they travelled along past us at the top of Collins Street - Gibbo and Buddy, Rough and Taz, Lake and Stratts, Gunstall and Sheils, Hill on babysitting duties with a baby Mitch, and the Cyril and Spangher (clockwise from the top left).

Once all the cars made it to the top of Collins Street, both teams are presented to the loud and massive crowd. Both coaches too, and then the Cup is held up by the opposing Captains. The crowd cheers, and sings their respective song....and then disperses back to work or off to the pub, like a bizarre flash mob!

There really is nothing quite like Melbourne during Grand Final week!

The Qualifying and Preliminary Finals 2013

Hawthorn finished on top of the AFL Ladder again this year, and September looked exciting. Nerves and jitters of excitement mixed, as all other plan making ability for the month was on hold, total focus was on the Finals Football schedule!

Our first match was a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, and of the final match of the AFL season for 2013. Playing on the Friday night, at the MCG, the Hawks set about to play Sydney . Tickets purchased, and pre-match plans set, we gathered at Riverland for some settling ciders, before making the walk along the Yarra to the biggest stage in Australia.

Such a blockbuster lived up to the hype and anticipation for the first half, with the Hawks up by just one point at the first change, and then scores were level at the Halftime break. But the second half saw Hawthorn in full flight, and blow the team from Sydney away – ending up with a crushing win of 54 points. Wow!

Drinks and some replay watching at the Duke followed, with much footy talk, and a lot of contented smiles!

This massive win afforded us the following weekend off. A treat – a rest for our bank accounts and nerves, and for the team to be fresh and ready for the next hurdle. Watching both games was a must, in anticipation of the competition and our next opponent.

Arch rivals Geelong won their way to meet the Hawks in the Preliminary Final. The siblings and I set out on our preparation for the week by watching the past two mammoth Grand Finals wins against our most feared and respected football opponent, the 1989 and the 2008 wins against them. This made for such an intense and footy-filled week, with much discussions, banter and reminiscing. Watching that fierce 1989 clash had our blood pumping, and boiling, and then there was a screening of a documentary of the same match, from players' perspectives, which only solidified that game as the greatest ever in our view!

Again, sticking to our successful routine to date, we gathered at Riverland for a few drinks, and then made the walk to the MCG. Taking our seats along from the goals, the nerves were high, anticipation at fever pitch!

This game lived up to our fears and anticipation and excitement - an epic battle. Heart-stopping stuff. Such a rollercoaster of emotions.

And when the siren sounded (not that we could hear it over the roar of the crowd!), the Hawks were 5 points in front. WE WERE INTO THE 2013 GRAND FINAL!!! The stronghold that the Cats have had on our team since that 2008 GF was broken. At last.

Drinks and some serious debriefing was done at the Duke once we left the stands of the MCG, before we allowed ourselves to start thinking ahead. Plus, having played on the Friday, we needed to await for our opponent on the biggest footy weekend of the year to be decided.

These games were all the more amazing by being there and experiencing it with two of my sisters, Heath and Mum. Such a family affair, our football passion!

Monet’s Garden and Footy

When I was standing in line for a MIFF movie earlier this month, I had just managed to wade my way in the rain after an AFL football match at the MCG. Upon seeing the beloved ‘G from Flinders Street, and the stream of footy fans straggling back to the city, the woman in front of me in the line commented that I was certainly making a “change of pace” in my day from one to the other.

I guess that all depended on the pace of the game I had just seen, and the pace of the movie about to be watched, but I just kinda laughed at her incredulous comment that someone who was into film could be into footy as well. I mean, that is the essence of being a Melbournian, and surely a citizen of the world! Follow what you are passionate about, whatever the form!

Nicole and I paired a similar contrast a couple of weekends ago, after our feast at the Melbourne Trailer Park. First up, just up the way on St Kilda Road, we entered the ever amazing National Gallery of Victoria for the Monet’s Garden exhibition.

I am always in awe of the curation at the NGV, they always do things so well! As we weaved through the line to the ticket box we took in the themed décor of the café, which we were to later learn within the exhibit is the kitchen style at Giverny.

After marveling at the abstract version of Monet's waterlillies in the foyer, we moved into the gallery space, and took in the journey of Monet's from his early works and inspiration, to his Waterlilly masterpieces. The acquisition of Giverny, and the development of the garden and lilypond, in addition to the Japanese inspired bridge.

Seeing the garden evolve on his canvases as time moved along, the exhibit also paired his life timelines of love and loss, a fascinating personal history, and the shocking journey of his cataracts, colour vision loss, and repair.

The highlight of the exhibit was Giverny on show - a final room set out as a surround cinema, which takes you through the garden. Having the screens fill your periphery vision, it really felt like you were walking through it - and made me want to add a visit to the real garden to my wanderlust list!

Then we made it across town to Etihad Stadium, to watch the Bombers play the Roos, and my cousin play for the second time this year in the Seniors.

I have discovered that it's so very hard to keep track of just one player during a game. But so very refreshing to watch a game without the emotional investment of having your team in it!

Monet's Garden is on till the 8th of September, and I totally urge you to get along and experience it. The Bombers however, have finally met with the end of a season long saga, and taken their punishment. This coming weekend will be their last for the year.

Laurnie Footy Weekends

For two weeks this month I have travelled across Bass Straight to Launceston to attend the footy - Hawthorn plays four games per year down there, and it's always such a fun weekend!

The first of the two was against the Brisbane Lions, and I went with the family, and also had Carl and a group of his mates come down.

A huge weekend to include checking out many of the pubs of Laurnie like the Boag's Brewery Centre for Beer Lovers, Dickens Cider, and Sporties.  For that weekend the weather was initially wintry at the start of the match as we took our seats at Aurora Stadium, but improved as the Hawks kicked on to a comfortable win.

The second weekend was last weekend, and I joined Jenny, Amy and Shane in a little cottage in town for the two nights. More wine and drinks out, a winery tour on the Sunday for me, and dinner with the 4 of us plus Cass and Flash down on the waterfront after the match. So much fun!

This game was against the Western Bulldogs, and more rainy on and off. The Hawks got over the line by 20 points, just doing enough for the win on the day.

The Friday night of this weekend we walked into the CBD to find somewhere for a late dinner, and spotted our Captain sitting in the window of the bar downstairs at the players' hotel. Revved up for a big weekend, we decided to pop in there for a drink and managed to get a photo with Hodgey as he was meeting people down there at the time. This started a bit of a run of fun encounters for the weekend.

The first weekend we were present for Isacc Smith's 50th game, one of my favourite players in our current team.  The next weekend was Shane Savage's 50th, and the debut of son of a gun, Will Langford.

We spotted Will's dad at halftime at the back of our stand as we were gettng drinks, and Jenny and I grabbed the chance of a pic with him - back to our old days of these kind of player moments!

Jen told him how stoked we are to be calling out Langers during a match again, and he said he agreed! So cool to have been there for the debut, and to see big Langers, champion and proud father too!

Go Hawks! On track for finals again this year, very exciting!

Project 52: Monday Evening

I originally had plans for this Monday night, but they didn't eventuate, so a night in watching the rare Monday Night Footy it was. I was at my housesitting gig which just finished this weekend, actually, so I was lucky that the one tv channel that was tuned in showed the match! You get what you pay for, right! Ha!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Project 52: Sunday Evening

Two Sundays ago, I was at another footy match! A North Melbourne v Brisbane Lions game this time. I had won tickets on a Twitter competition and Carl and I went along for the match. He come along to see his team play in Melbourne - I was there to see Majak Daw play his first match for the AFL. So exciting!

North Melbourne won the match in the end, after a little bit of a fight back from the Lions...but not enough. The debut of Majak Daw was so exciting, while it lasted....and then the match was kinda flat for a non-supporter of both teams like me. Still, it was great to be there for such a monumental 15 minutes of footy! And it's always nice to watch a match without an emotional attachment either way!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Project 52: Sunday Afternoon

A fortnight ago Sunday afternoon saw me heading to the MCG for the Hawthorn verses Collingwood match. Not a home game for the Hawks, we had to get reserved seats, and so we were not located in our usual seats or stand. A big game really even though it was just Round 3, I was a little nervous about the outcome walking in.

But no need, the boys in Brown and Yellow had a great game, with a ridiculous hurdle and goal from Buddy from the centre square, that had us all jumping to our feet with glee! Ha!

A win always makes a great afternoon!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Footy And Social Change

It's been twenty years last week since this image of Nicky Winmar lifting his guernsey and showing the colour of his skin in response to supporters over the fence vilifying him due to his race happened on a footy field in Victoria. This show of pride in who he is, and where he comes from is an iconic vision of our game today, and was immortalized in this piece of street art in an alley off Franklin Street in Melbourne’s CDB, spotted in Grand Final week last year.

Aussie Rules Footy and footy fans have come a long way since that day. There are more and more initiatives recognising and respecting our Indigenous players, and there are more Indigenous players given the opportunity to follow their dream of playing on the big stage. Events like the Indigenous Round, and the Dreamtime game would have been unthinkable back when Winmar was the target of such revolting abuse.

Footy, like mainstream culture, is by no means at a point of perfect acceptance for people of different cultures, nor towards our Indigenous brothers and sisters. But the leveling experience of sport has helped the ongoing struggle to get us closer.

On the weekend just gone, the first player from a refugee background played his first game in the AFL. Majak Daw is also the first Sudanese player in the AFL, and his addition to the North Melbourne team on Sunday created such a buzz in the media and at Etihad Stadium. The optimist in me hopes that this match, all 15 minutes that Daw managed before he was knocked out (after an amazing mark and a goal with his first kick, all in the opening minute), will be the start of a significant journey for Australia and it's acceptance of people from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds.

From little things, big things grow...

Project 52: Sunday Lunchtime

Two Sundays ago I was in Perth for the footy. At lunchtime I was actually sitting at the pub with Jess and Laura, but I totally forgot to take a photo. I didn't have lunch but rather a few ciders, to nurse the hangover from the night before, so I grabbed a photo instead once we got to the ground to watch Hawthorn beat the West Coast Eagles at Patterson Stadium. We baked in the sun, with it screaming into our eyes, as the Hawk lads ran the show on the ground. What a great win, and a great weekend!

This post is part of Project 52 with Jess from FuShMuSh.

Grand Final Entertainment

After the debacle of last year's entertainment, the AFL promoted a completely new format this year Grand Final, and returned to showcasing local Australian musical acts on the biggest day of the year

Tim Rogers and his band were the first musical act of the day, and his set of three songs started just half hour after we had taken our places in our standing bay.

Being behind the band, however, and under the stand at the back of the Bay, we had no clear sound of the tunes being played.

I was at the bar when the next act played his first two songs - To Her Door and How To Make Gravy.  Whilst in the line getting my shout though, I could lip read and figure out what Paul Kelly, and backing vocals Vika and Linda Bull, were singing first up.  But again, given our position in standing room the sound was amiss.

The two teams of the day ran out onto the ground, and then Paul Kelly did the song that I was most looking forward to - Leaps And Bounds.  With the opening chords, the direction of the acoustics no longer mattered as much of the crowd sang along to this iconic Melbourne football song.

The day rushes by all so fast, and before we really knew it, it was half time.  The stage was rolled out into the middle of the MCG and Melbourne's own The Temper Trap endured the rain to give us three songs.

Trembling Hands from their new self titled album was first, and sounded amazing.  No issues for us with the sound once it was coming from the ground, but also with the benefit of all the speakers just above our heads.

The Drum Song, with additional marching drumming band around the stage to add to the energy and effect, was next followed by their biggest song Sweet Disposition, where a large portion of the 99,683 people at the ground sang along with them.

After the match was won and lost, and the victory lap was complete, the crowd gathered to one side of the MCG for the Premiership Party.  The gates had been thrown open for full access to anyone, and contrary to rumours during the day, the bars on the bottom level were still serving.

The Temper Trap returned to the 'G, as darkness descended over the ground, and played a much fuller set.  A mixture of the new album, and the massive debut release Need Your Love and Science Of Fear were stand outs for me as I drowned my sorrows at the day's result.  The young Aussie act performed a rocking set to the elated crowd, and were a perfect choice to get the crowd back up to the fever pitch of the significant day in our sporting calender.

Next, Paul Kelly and his band returned to the stage for another, longer set, also.  One of the greatest songwriters our land has, he gave us classics like Love Never Runs On Time and Deeper Water.

This complete package of entertainment throughout the day added to the big event feel of the Grand Final, and showcased some of the wealth of musical talent we have in Australia on the biggest of stages.  Well done, AFL, you served us the perfect kangaroo steak after the meatloaf last year!

Grand Final '12

That one day in September goes by so very fast once it gets started! From breakfast to the bounce, to the halftime entertainment and the final siren, it feels like the fastest day ever! And just like that, the AFL footy season is over.