Round 11 – Geelong v GWS: Jill’s spaghetti carbonara after the footy
Dinner is a little later than usual at chez RDL tonight.
We tolerate that dirge of what passes for a GWS club song echoing around Kardinia Park after the game. I mean, what were they thinking? Orange and grey colours with a tuneless ‘song’ and all that starting with a blank slate – Kevin Sheedy notwithstanding?
Anyway, they won. They were better. So we move on.
But there is then the solemnity of the slow thoughtful walk back to the car up the top end of Clarke Street near Pako with good mate Kezza, long time friend Barbie Doll and your author’s constant companion. Slow walks with friends get deep and meaningful sometimes don’t they – especially after an eight point loss.
It’s all a bit sad but suddenly we have the numbers to the solution.
1, 9, 22, 23, 29 and 35 (a prime number – think here, Powerball number). Cats’ fans will know the code. Mind you, if those numbers come up in any Tatts draws soon folks you had all better put me on self harm watch.
The trip home in the warm car is comforting as we drop off our companions around Geelong West. Traffic seems to slow around G Town after the Cats lose so stress levels aren’t too bad.
But the best is yet to come. We’re now home. The heating timer has kicked in.
For something off scratch in a semi-cold but warming kitchen to be eaten within half an hour, we had determined this morning that spaghetti carbonara is hard to beat. Actually, Mrs RDL’s secret recipe has a patent pending so I’ll let you know more on that one later.
And then, serendipity.
A bowl of spag carbonara, a glass of that timeless old stand-by red wine Penfolds Koonunga Hill, a generous sprinkle of grated parmesan, a patient chauffeur & photographer, good friends and, all at once, your sad old author isn’t as grumpy after all.
Notwithstanding the foregoing nonetheless, Go Cats!
GEELONG 2.4 6.5 6.9 10.14 (74)
GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 2.3 3.6 8.9 12.9 (81)
GOALS
Geelong: Cameron 2, O.Henry 2, Stengle 2, Parfitt, Hawkins, Close, J.Henry
Greater Western Sydney: Greene 4, Daniels 3, Riccardi 3, Briggs, Bedford
BEST
Geelong: Stewart, Miers, Smith, Blicavs, Cameron
Greater Western Sydney: Greene, Daniels, Green, Whitfield, Hogan, Coniglio
INJURIES
Geelong: Ratugolea (hamstring)
Greater Western Sydney: TBC
SUBSTITUTES:
Geelong: Mitch Knevitt (replaced Esava Ratugolea in the third quarter)
Greater Western Sydney: Josh Fahey (replaced James Peatling in the fourth quarter)
Crowd: 21,349 at GMHBA Stadium
Read more from Roger Lowrey Here.
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About Roger Lowrey
Roger Lowrey is a Geelong based writer who lists his special interests as reading, writing, horse racing, Roman history and AEC electoral boundaries. Some of his friends think he is a little eccentric.
Well Roger, can Geelong just become the third reigning premiers to miss the next season’s finals since the 8 was introduced? Hawthorn won the 2008 flag, the Western Bulldogs did it in 2016 but neither were there the following season.
There’s a few more historical points I can put up, but I’ll hold them for the interim. The sun has pretty much set on Richmond’s recent great era, I’d not be surprised if Geelong is not far behind.
I’d like to be wrong, but ……………………………………….
Glen!
RDL, in the end it’s all about perspective. From distant London, it sounds like you had a good time with friends, an afternoon at the footy and the multi-faceted comforts of relaxed domesticity. Oh, give thanks to the Lord…
Swan Districts are 1-6; with one flogging by the Peel Dockers; and 5 losses by a combined 18 points. It would be enough to drive a man to drink if that weren’t already a given. Subiaco yesterday with the nephew getting a possibly season ending ankle injury (syndsmss maybe – the injury vowels forgot). 15 more I50’s translating to bugger all thanks to a forward line more profligate than me when I was punting. Perhaps we need a Higher Power more than a forwards coach?
No matter – we’ve similarly planned ahead (at half time a 1-6 lead that should have been 5 goals meant “I’d seen this movie before.”) The Boy Scout motto meant we had ravioli, hollandaise sauce, smoked salmon and asparagus cooking in no time. Add parmesan, cracked pepper and Marg’s chardonnay and the day’s worries melt away.
Post play pasta purgative for premiership purgatory?
RDL, there’s much to like in this post (bowl of pasta the standout image), but I draw the line at Big Big Sound slander – clearly the best song since the VFL went national by a long stretch and puts a few of the old brigade’s ditties to shame!
RDL- is Koonunga Hill the equivalent of the ‘good, average footballer?’ Had a Peter Lehmann over the weekend and it was ‘dashing half-back flanker’ should this position still exist. I need a constantly updating glossary when I listen to footy commentators in season 2023!
Am I missing the point about 35 RDL? He might be past his prime, but a prime number he ain’t?
Life would be intolerable with red wine Roger. Especially after a loss. I was out with some very old friends (Doggie supporters) and was catching the scores over my old mates shoulder on the TV perched on the pub wall. It seemed to me we started 3 goals behind and lost by 3 goals (morally speaking, not actually). The game looked like a classic Geelong v St Kilda shit-fest at Moorabbin in the 70s. We looked lumpy. That’s the only word that comes to mind. My pub pasta was lumpy too. No connection or cohesion in the ingredient mix. About as tasty as a pair of 12 year old Dunlop Volleys. Filling, but a real gut-clogger.
We move on. The upside is we’re getting games into some young blokes. Some can play. Some can’t. But at least we know.
Cheers old mate.
without red wine! Without it!!
My God what have I written!!
Love the look of that carbonara, RDL.
And I must disagree with your thoughts on the GWS theme song – I reckon it’s a ripper.
Thanks everybody. Specific responses as follows:
Glen, many scribes have written our obituary over the past decade or two. Let’s hope the new batch fail too.
Ian, it was indeed a suitably warming experience with nervous friends on the vigil of Pentecost.
Peter, I don’t admire your winning % but I now know what Mrs RDL and I are having for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for the ravioli tip.
Jarrod, I still think that tune is crap but I respectfully acknowledge your contrary view. And yes thanks, the carbonara was lovely just quietly.
Yes Mickey, Penfold’s Koonunga Hill is indeed Jack Dyer’s definition of a good ordinary wine. That said, it is a sensational drop at a very affordable price. More the point, I don’t believe there is any such thing as a bad Coonawarra red, let alone one made by Penfolds.
You’re spot on Swish. Of course 35 is not a prime number. I kinda had Paddy D in mind as a prime mover as I was writing that bit. I think the Koonunga Hill had started to kick in though and I couldn’t be bothered changing my text. Lazy author – mea culpa, mea cupla, mea maxima culpa!
Dips, refer above comment about Coonawarra reds. Like Mrs RDL’s carbonara recipe, there is nothing “lumpy” about them either.
Smokie, refer earlier comment about that hideous club song and respectful hand wringing about being a good boy etc etc etc. BTW when are you and Mrs Smokie going to join us in G Town for din dins?
Hope you are all well folks.
RDL
Great read. Great pic. Great match made in heaven is what’s on that dinner table.