Round 8 – West Coast vs St Kilda: What I had not expected in the west

Sunday, 15 May 2016
2:40 pm (Saints’ West, 3:40 pm My West)
Subiaco Oval, Perth

Before heading to the west

At work last week, I had dealt with a cancellation in the wrong way and misunderstood the message primary. I seemed to need a great on field runner who delivers messages to players.

Before the game in the west

Arriving at Osaka, my west, I was at a local telco shop to pay a phone bill. A young lady seems inexperienced, so it took long to answer my enquiry of the bill. The bill was more expensive than I had expected. And cancelling my unused pocket wifi was done longer than I had expected. While she was dealing with enquirers and the bill, I tuned in the AFL Global Pass to watch the Carlton vs Port Adelaide game, but the live coverage was slow because of their wifi signal was weak.

Then I was in a discounted store to buy a backpack. The prices were more expensive than I had expected, but I got a quite cheap one eventually!

Finally getting to the home of footy in the west (Coolabah), it was closed. I got there around 1:30 pm, so the pub was supposed to be open. I messaged a Kangaroo owner. As I was hungry, I had a small lunch at a cafe bar next door.

A barman was asleep and came to the pub around 2:20 pm when the Melbourne vs Bulldogs game started. Indeed, I asked him the pink ribbon charity match. Doggies led that I had expected. It was good to see the hot dogs.

Meanwhile, I heard the result of the first game on the day. Carlton won four in a row. But I tipped Carlton, so it was within my expectation.

Saints and Yoshi in the west

After Dees and Bulldogs took the main break, the screen was, of course, changed to my game.

I was ready to cheer up my boys.

The ball was bounced, but it didn’t bounce straight. It went towards tall Natanui. Our good ruckman Hickey was not able to get a hit out.

Our great ball works were not done in the oval. Instead, we allowed their gun, Josh Kennedy, to score goals within around a minute. Even it would be unlike wise, our Josh (Bruce) should do instead!!

In my perceptions, more free kicks were awarded to Eagles. WTF??

At the time Kennedy kicked his second, the clearances were five to zero. Unexpected!!

Up in the box, Richo was not grumpy but his expression was read as ‘Oh no!’

Membrey’s good mark, nice tackles done by Bruce and Hickey and Lonie’s great tackle and touching footy didn’t bring us any goal.

At 14:27 reminding at the first quarter, the score board was seen at 4.1 to 0.1. What a terrible unexpected score for me! Fox Footy showed us hit outs at 10 to one.

I saw Richo disappointed and frustrated that was reasonable.

We were unable to stop Kennedy. He took a mark at 13 minutes reminding and the score was 37 to one.

Later in the first quarter, Roberton took  a mark in the opposition’s 50. Then Savage kicked a ball towards Kennedy!! It was extremely disappointing. F word was written in my notebook.

Finally at 3:59 reminding, Steven kicked our first goal. St Kilda supporters’ cheering voices calling ‘St Kilda, St Kilda…’ were heard. Nice stuff!!

Then Armitage showed great efforts keeping the ball. Our shows seemed to be back.

And and, our superstar Rooey took a mark just before the siren. His show seemed back. But he scored only a behind. No-oh!!

At the second quarter, our great ball works (passing, kicking and handballs done in the midfield) were back. But they didn’t last so long.

My game records ended abruptly with
1. Billings couldn’t kick a straight goal;
2. Dempster did some nice ball work;
3. 11:10 Nick (Riewoldt) missed!

After having watched close games against Hawthorn and North Melbourne, I had thought Saints would play well against West Coast. But the game went very wrong.

I could choose to stop watching, but kept being patient to do to show my loyalty to the Saints. Last year I decided to keep following games even if we are behind.

Discussions and talks through text message with Yvette took over watching the game after the last part of the third quarter.

Someone on the social media said Eagles were strong in the west while struggled with winning interstate.

Then I remembered that Mark Finey talked about records of Western Bulldogs in Perth on his Final Siren show last year. I had a research both Saints and Doggies in Perth between 2012 and 2016. Neither club won during the last five years (please note that Bulldogs have not played at Subiaco this year yet).

My enthusiasm for supporting the Saints with my club member exclusive polo and club member cap didn’t help my boys to win. Instead we lost by terrible 103 points.

Yoshi at Coolabah

Yoshi at Coolabah with footy

Post match

I have decided not to listen to Final Siren on that night or any SEN program on Monday or Tuesday to avoid listening to St Kilda issues.

The story had planned to be written on Monday, but I was asked (forced) to provide to a new employee at the lunch break on Monday, so I HAD to postpone. I was extremely frustrated like Richo.

Due to my poor work performances, and relevant arguments and communication issues at work, I was handed over one match ban on Monday night.

I got an unexpected day off on Tuesday when I was so tired mentally. However, it is okay now.

Then great news arrived. It is Alan Richardson’s 51st birthday. Happy Birthday, Richo!!

WEST COAST 9.3 12.5 15.8 20.12 (132)
ST KILDA 1.3 1.9 2.10 3.11 (29)

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About Yoshihiro Imagawa

Love, passion and pride are seen on the footy that is the biggest part of my life. 1. St Kilda Club member: I am a passionate and crazy Sainter. Just hope we will win the second flag soon, especially after Dogs and Tigers having ended long premiership draughts. 2. The Osaka Dingoes Player and Public Relations Officer: Player number 44 that I chose to honour Stephen Milne with my wish being like a small forward like him. Lenny Hayes' hardworking attitudes are adopted on my trainings and practices. Nick Riewoldt's great plays are in my player audiobook too. 3. Writing: Here on the Almanac and also on the World Footy News. My skills utilise on great footy websites.

Comments

  1. Neil Anderson says

    Even before I read Mark Finey’s remarks Yoshi, I thought of all the heavy losses and apparently no wins for quite a while for the Bulldogs versus Eagles at Subiaco.
    So I know how you feel after that bad loss. Kennedy and the tall forwards/ rucks used to destroy us over there.
    We play the Eagles at Etihad on June 5th and I will be going to that match. Not just hoping for a win but there is a double-header with the Victorian Women’s team playing the Western Australian team before the main match.
    I hope the Saints do well against Essendon on Sunday.

  2. Dylan Roberton??? Don’t buy used footballers from Ross Lyon. He’s already run them into the ground.
    I expected a tight game on Sunday Yoshi as your Saints have been very competitive this season. More time in the gym I think. Got outmuscled more than outplayed.
    Do you have a local baseball team that you follow in Japan?

  3. Nic McGay says

    Keep the faith, Yoshi. They’re a young side with plenty of improvement to come.

  4. G’day gentlemen,

    Thank you for all your comments!

    Neil – Lucky you are playing Eagles at Etihad Stadium! It would be better if we play Freo in Perth this year. Even Carlton won over Fremantle in Subiaco, so your Dogs will and my Saints would. We play Freo in 10 days in Docklands so I expect the massive win. Watching women’s footy would be interesting. Did you watch women match of Dees vs Doggies last week? I was unable. Your Doggie boys played well on Sunday.

    Peter – Roberton played well a several weeks ago. As Ross Lyon didn’t blood kids, he needed afresh. I don’t think Roberton got enough training under Lyon. Probably you will know about Lyon from Robert Eddy. The game was like your training. I can’t believe my Saints were far from being competitive in the game. As for baseball, I used to watch but don’t follow any more because it’s boring and I don’t like their organisation or TV coverage. Footy is much better!

    Nic – Our young players are going force and back. The game was a lesson for blokes. Then we are rising up. Indeed I keep positive on my Saints!

    Cheers,

    Yoshi

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