After watching Sunday night’s tragic loss at the hands of Geelong, I have to apologise to the Richmond fans as I commit the ultimate act of bastardry and switch sides from the exectued to the executioners. This week i am off to Kardinia Park in Geelong to see the devasting Cats take on the unbeaten West Coast Eagles and i’m genuinely hyped for this game. I think it will be a cracker – the team that racked up a cricket score last week take on the team that is generally considered to be the benchmark for this year’s competition.
I must confess that i go to this game with a bit of a prejudice towards Geelong:
- The first reason is that i’m excited to get away from the MCG and the Phone Dome for a change and seeing a game at a ground that feels like the club actually lives there – there something a bit farcical about going to 6 “home” games in a row at two venues and sitting in the same seats while the props change.
- The second thing is that in this era of drafted ring ins from all over the place, i am excited that Geelong has so many young players with genuine traditions with the club – the young Ablett kiddies and young Tom “Tomahawk” Hawkins are all top players, drafted under the father-son rule who grew up wanting to play for Geelong rather than woke up playing for Geelong around their 18th birthdays.
- The third reason is that i am from Newcastle, and i had always fancied that there was a bit of a Geelong is to Melbourne as Newcastle is to Sydney kind of comparison – until i actually went to Geelong and realised that Geelong is a hole and Newcastle is heaps better (SORRY Geelong only kidding, i can’t do ALL compliments before the game, that just wouldn’t be fair on the other teams).
The other upside is that i am proving to be a bit of a kiss of death so far, so the best i can do to avenge my long suffereing friends from Richmond last week is to get behind the Cats and wipe that smile off their faces.
May 10, 2007 at 11:24 am |
Well said Marcus!
Agree entirely with your stance on The multi-clubural MCG and Phone Dome. There is indeed something special about being at a ground at a team truly calls home… a ground where there really is a home advantage. Is the exact reason I enjoy getting along to as many Essendon VFL games as possible.
Good luck this weekend, it’s going to be a rip-snorter (and I don’t use that term often!) of a game!
Andrew.
May 10, 2007 at 2:51 pm |
Yeah, i’m looking forward to this week’s game – i picked it for that reason, but Geelong fans everywhere are telling me that this is the disapointment week that follows the elation week. So we will see i guess.
May 10, 2007 at 9:37 pm |
Your story makes me wish I was going to the game this week. I would love to take you along with me and my family. unfortunately I live in Seymour and dont get to too many games during the year. when I do get to a game I normally go to Telstra Dome as it is only a train ride away.
I think it’s a great idea to pick your team after assessing all the teams first, but i have to warn you that no matter which team you pick there is going to be heartache. You get so built up when your team is playing great and then all of a sudden your out of the finals and have nothing to live for (joke)
Anyway, I wish you luck with your search and hope you have a great time at the cattery this week.
May 11, 2007 at 3:29 am |
From one Marcus to another, look no further, The Cats are the team to be on. Not because they are that good, but because no other team will take you on such a roller coaster of emotion. Being a Geelong fan is a special burden that only the hardiest footy fan can endure.
I have the misfortune to live surrounded by West Coast fans so this weekend’s game is especially important to me. If the Cats win I’ll have some major bragging rights.
I don’t expect them to, WC are too good, but as always as a Cats fan, I live in hope, with a glimmer of possibility luring me on.
One more thing, while I’d recommend the Cats as the team to follow, whatever you do, if it’s not Geelong, don’t barrack for Collingwood!!
Seriously, don’t do it!