Almanac Life: An eventful few weeks

 

The fantasy that Carlton might somehow find form and revive their season was extinguished during an hour of playing time on Saturday afternoon. The Blues’ capitulation during the middle two quarters was as poor an effort as the team has managed in years.

 

The team is bereft of confidence – individual and collective – reflected in hesitant ball movement, switches of play without purpose, tackles which don’t stick and poor decision-making and execution. The most galling aspect is that whatever the players’ limitations, there remains at least the bare bones of a talented list.

 

My emotional investment in the fortunes of the church of the Navy Blue continues to cause me distress. Happily, other aspects of my life are progressing satisfactorily. The beloved and I embarked on a satisfying trip to northern Europe immediately following the Blues victory over St. Kilda. During my absence, the team predictably lowered their colours to Sydney and the Giants and fell over the line against a depleted Essendon.

 

Our return to Australia was marked by an expected win against the Eagles in Perth. Last Saturday was the first time I’d seen them in action (including on television) since the St. Kilda game, although I was able to keep track of progress (regress?) during our travels via the AFL app scores update. The North Melbourne game represented a non-negotiable opportunity for the Blues to establish some foundation for a revival and to create some (unwarranted) hope for the remainder of the season. That this was squandered in the face of a determined and unquestionably improved North Melbourne leaves the season in tatters with the non-consolation of mathematical possibility all that is left. I’m happy to ignore the media pile-on.

 

I have found considerable consolation in the fortunes of my English soccer team, Sunderland. Playing in the Championship (or what old folks like me consider the 2nd Division), Sunderland exceeded expectations throughout 2024-25. Contending for much of the season for a top two finish (automatic promotion to the Premier League), the team had confirmed by March that they would finish between 3rd and 6th. This involves a Hunger Games scenario of matches ( 3rd v 6th, 4th v 5th over two legs, away then home, with the winners of those contests proceeding to a final for the 3rd promotion spot). Sunderland 4th won away against 5th placed Coventry, but in the return match gave up the opening goal to level the contest, which then went to extra time. Sunderland scored the equaliser (the winner of the 2-game contest) in the 122nd minute – i.e. the final minute before a penalty shoot out.

 

In the meantime, Sheffield United had won both matches against Bristol City by the identical score 3-0 (6-0 aggregate). They went to the final as decided favourites, better performed over the season and in hot form. The early stages of the match seemed to justify expectations. Sheffield went ahead mid-way through the first half and seemed to be cruising. A few minutes later they appeared to have scored a 2nd goal, but it was ruled offside after VAR consideration. It should be noted that VAR is not used in Championship matches during the season, but was employed for the finals. After half-time, with that reprieve, Sunderland gradually worked their way into the game and equalised midway through the 2nd half. At 90 minutes the game remained tied at 1-1. Seven minutes of stoppage time were indicated (which became 11!!) and that would have been followed by 30 minutes extra time, and penalties if required. It wasn’t necessary as Sunderland conjured a winner, scored by a player already signed for a transfer to Brighton for next season.

 

Thus Sunderland, notorious for their misfortune, managed a last minute winner of their semi-final and an eleventh-hour winner in the Final. Was an amazing outcome. Anyone who has seen the Netflix series Sunderland Till I Die would be familiar with the sense of doom and gallows humour which pervades the club and the town. The cynical motto drawn from John Cleese ‘It’s the hope I can’t stand’, usually abbreviated to ITHICS with which all supporters are familiar.

 

However, even Sunderland’s triumph as an antidote to the struggles of the Blues pales into insignificance in comparison to the euphoria I felt in the aftermath of the biggest match of this year Labor v Coalition on 3rd May. I had been concerned that we might be overseas for the big day when there was speculation about 17th May as the likely date for the election. The unprecedented and entirely improbable scale of the outcome defied even this incurable optimist’s expectations. The aftermath has suggested a footballing analogy to me (as most events do!!). It’s as if Carlton defeat Collingwood in the Grand Final (stay with me as I wander in the realms of fantasyland). In the weeks following this event, a despairing Collingwood administration recognising the hopelessness of their situation decides to disband the organisation.

 

There is much troubling about the world of contemporary politics and this causes me concern, even as it is marked contrast to my comfortable personal circumstances. My hypothetical therapist would no doubt urge me to accept the reality that I can’t affect the dire circumstances of the people of Sudan, Ukraine or Gaza, and that I should resign myself to this fact and tune out. Alas, as a political junkie, that option isn’t available, so I have to accept that I will be plagued by guilt as the world goes to hell in a handcart. So, my world turns, Carlton, Sunderland, Australian and world politics and always running, fortunately still going.

 

 

You can read more from Peter Fuller  Here.

 

 

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