Round 19: St Kilda v Fremantle.
By Jennifer Muirden
Sunday August 9
Etihad Stadium, Docklands
I dared to follow a dream and now I am a week into my trip of a lifetime. My first week was spent in San Francisco where I definitely left my heart and wore flowers in my hair in true hippie style. One of the major highlights of going to San Francisco was driving up the US 101 Freeway to Santa Rosa where I spent the day at the Charles M. Schulz Museum. I was overjoyed when one of the first things I saw was a whole wall devoted to my favourite Peanuts comic strip of all time – the football gag.
It’s where Lucy van Pelt tells Charlie Brown that she will hold a football while he kicks it. Charlie Brown usually refuses to kick it at first as he does not trust Lucy. Lucy then usually says something to persuade Charlie Brown to trust her. Charlie Brown then runs up to kick the ball, but at the very last second before he can kick it, Lucy removes the ball and Charlie Brown flies into the air, before falling down and hurting himself. The gag usually ends with Lucy pointing out to Charlie Brown that he should not have trusted her.My brother and I continue to discuss this Peanuts classic whenever the Saints have ‘a game in the bag’ and then throw it away just at the end. The 2009 St Kilda v Geelong Grand Final was a perfect case in point. Oh Milney, you missed by that much!
Now I find myself in Europe and the pace has yet again changed. I’m in inspiring and magical Istanbul (Not Constantinople), as They Could Be Giants sang in 1990, referring to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul. My body clock is all over the place now given the amount of long distance flying I have done, but there is definitely no need for a watch or to set an alarm in Istanbul. Like clock work the Ezan (call to prayer) is chanted five times a day summoning the Turkish Muslims to the mosque to perform the prayer ritual (namaz) according to the tenets of Islam. What a shame it’s not the Saints theme song played out throughout the town instead of the Ezan chanting. Now that really would be music to my ears! Once landed in Istanbul I hurriedly logged into the free wifi at the airport only to discover St Kilda was soundly thrashed by Fremantle. Ouch! Definitely a match I’m glad I did not attend. But even in a different time zone and totally different culture I find myself still very much connected to the mighty Saints. Naturally, I am disappointed to hear about the annihilation and all the injuries sustained including ‘my little matchbox boy dynamo’, Jack Lonie. So this week I feel the need to wax lyrical with two songs which encapsulate my thoughts. When the Saints next play against the Kangaroos I’ll be in Santorini in the Greek Islands and no doubt the tunes will continue to play on in my mind but once again the tone and lyrics will have changed.
Saints Got Burned
Sung to the tune of ‘I Got Burned’ by The Bamboos (Tim Rogers)
You’re in the wars now
While trying to save the match
I’m gonna cry now
Oh yes, still hard to detach
Now Round 19 is over
Probably a game better forgot
Now I’m so worn-out baby
In Istanbul running hot yeah
‘Cause I feel like I’m walking on fire
When you were playing there was smoke coming out of my head
And I’m broken down like a woman burning, over you!
Yeah Saints got burned (I got burned) x 4
It’s in your hands now
You’ve got to light the fuse
You’ve got to start thinking
You just can’t lose, no
I’ll take your poison
I’ll even take the blame (sometimes)
Well our finals chances
Have truly gone up in flames now
‘Cause I feel like I’m walking on fire
When you were playing there was smoke coming out of my head
And I’m broken down like a woman burning, over you!
Yeah Saints got burned (I got burned) continues and fades out
Saints to Fly ( Lonie’s in the A Team) Sung to the tune of “The A Team” by Ed Sheeran
Short stature, baby-faced
Makes few mistakes
Strong lungs, fast paced
Game over, day’s end
Never appears spent
He’s a giant among the men
And I say
He’s in the Saints A Team
Living his life dream
Been this way since eighteen
But always it seems
When he’s not ball chasing
He’s not feasting on pastries
And we scream
The second Premiership Cup can come to us
‘Cause he has everything in hand
And does everything the coach demands
And we want him to continue to ignite
And very soon help the Saints fly to the Wonderland
Sounds like quite the plan
It’s never too cold outside
For Saints to fly
Saints to fly
Torn guernsey, worthy of note
Other tacklers in the same boat
Clean cut, smart clothes
Modest when he gets votes
Doesn’t seem like one to gloat
Great lad, will never be alone
And I say
He’s in the Saints A Team
Living his life dream
Been this way since eighteen
But always it seems
When he’s not ball chasing
He’s not feasting on pastries
And we scream
The second Premiership Cup can come to us
‘Cause he has everything in hand
And does everything the coach demands
And we want him to continue to ignite
And very soon help the Saints fly to the Wonderland
Sounds like quite the plan
It’s never too cold outside
For Saints to fly
Saints to fly
Red, black and white
No doubt
He’s as good as Fyfe
It is definitely our time alright
This challenge Jack wont decline
And I say
He’s in the Saints A Team
Living his life dream
Been this way since eighteen
But always it seems
When he’s not ball chasing
He’s not feasting on pastries
And we scream
The second Premiership Cup can come to us
‘Cause he has everything in hand
And does everything the coach demands
And we want him to continue to ignite
And very soon help the Saints fly to the Wonderland
Sounds like quite the plan
It’s never too cold outside
For Saints to fly
Saints to fly
To fly, fly
For Saints to fly, to soar so very high
Reach for the sky
St Kilda 2.4 2.8 3.9 8.11 (59)
Fremantle 7.1 12.2 14.5 15.6 (96)
Goals
St Kilda Steven 2, Bruce, Lonie, McCartin, Montagna, Riewoldt, Sinclair
Fremantle Crozier 2, Hill 2, Griffin 2, Mayne 2, Pavlich 2, Sandilands 2, Mzungu, Pearce, Suban
My Best
St Kilda 3 – Jack Steven 2 – Leigh Montagna 1 – Dylan Roberton
Fremantle 3 – Aaron Sandilands 2 – Stephen Hill 1 – David Mundy
Injuries
St Kilda Lonie (left knee), McKenzie (concussion), Sinclair (concussion), Savage (hip)
Fremantle McPharlin (calf)
Umpires R.O’Gorman, B.Ryan, C.Kamolins
Official crowd 16,419 at Etihad Stadium
About Jennifer Muirden
Jennifer Muirden has been a keen St Kilda supporter since 1978 and fondly remembers her childhood Saturdays spent at Linton Street, Moorabbin. In her lifetime she hopes to experience the Saints second Premiership.
Another great article Jen and what’s more written from afar. Looking forward to seeing how the Saints go this afternoon in Hobart. A real tough one against the Kangaroos
The “joys” of following our beloved Saints from afar! Loved the article with links to Saints from the places you’ve visited.