Round 21: St Kilda v Geelong : the Cats of boom, bust and half-thrust and the delicious debut of J-Ho!

 

St Kilda v Geelong Cats,
Saturday August 22, 7:20pm
Etihad Stadium, Docklands

By Jennifer Muirden

 

 

Given the experiences I’d had in the week leading up to the St Kilda v Geelong game I had a strong feeling it would be a particularly close contest but I certainly never contemplated, or indeed wanted, the nebulous and somewhat unsatisfying outcome of a draw… once again!

 

So, to rewind, the day after the Saints 37 point loss to the Roos I flew out of Athens to the spectacular Greek Island of Santorini where I spent five delightful days. Santorini literally translates as Saint Irene or Santa Ireni meaning “the circular one” which makes perfect sense, given it is based on an extinct volcano. The night I arrived in Santorini I was greeted by a veritable symphony of cats. It was almost as if I was listening to the Greek Chorus in a Classical Greek drama. The most common pet in Santorini is the cat. I had already noticed a lot of cats in Istanbul and Athens, but there is no doubt that the cats of Santorini were a lot healthier than those in Istanbul and Athens and they are literally everywhere. Within ten minutes of arriving at my accommodation at Ari’s Caves, Oia I met Grizoulis (little grey in greek) who was the blueish-grey colour cat with whom I fell in love. All these constant strong cat themes gave me a sign that the Cats would put up a seriously good fight against the Saints.

 

 

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Grizoulis the cat and me connected instantly at Ari’s Caves in Oia, Santorini.

 

 

While travelling around the world over the last few weeks, the music goes around my head which seems most apt given this song was made famous by The Saints in 1988 on their Prodigal Son album. In fact the song that seems to be stuck on repeat in my head is the 1980’s Talking Heads song ‘Once in a Lifetime’ where David Byrne sings, “And you may find yourself in another part of the world … and you may ask yourself, ‘well, how did I get here?’” That’s somewhat how I have felt living a surreal existence in the Greek Islands for the last two weeks. Questions have emerged about who I am, my purpose in life and what truly brings me joy. Enthusiasm and excitement has been bubbling inside of me and I am feeling anything is possible looking ahead to 2016. It’s like a bright halo of protection has surrounded my aura and is removing any form of negativity.

 

The ancient Greek philosopher Paremenides viewed weight as being negative and lightness as living for momentary beauty. The way I like to view it is that I am now choosing to consciously attach a meaning and weight to what I consider important in life. I want to focus my energies on those areas of my life where I am most likely to achieve my goals. My soul yearns for beauty, balance and a stable, warm home. This has been a good time for me take time out, learn the value of compromise and foster harmony in my life as a whole. I now plan to further explore my inner-self and share my wisdom with others. For me a positive attitude is infectious and I think one should spread it around which is exactly what Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision espouses!

 

 

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My profound new-found sense of a lightness of being, along with inspiration and hope, is depicted in this photo of me wearing my #Fight Like Maddie t-shirt at Ari’s Caves in Oia, Santorini in Greece.

 

 

Given I did not listen or watch the game, as I was swimming in the Aegean Sea at Agia Anna (Saint Anna), Naxos at the time, I will express myself through my usual rewriting of familiar songs. The first song expresses my euphoric love of Santorini, Grizoulis the grey cat and the Saints. It demarks a new chapter for me in spiritual exploration and refinement of understanding of my life.


SANTORINI AND SAINTS KEEP ME FEELING ON TOP OF THE WORLD
Sung to the tune of “Top Of The World” by Karen Carpenter (1973)

 

Such emotions are coming over me
There is both beauty and victory in everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got promise and hope in my eyes
And I feel sure that it is surely not a dream

 

Everything I want my life to be
Is capable of now coming true for me
And the reason is clear, it’s because a Premiership is near
It feels like the closest to Mecca that we’ve been

 

I’m on the top of the world looking down on a volcanic formation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your allure has put me at the top of the world

 

Something has improved with the Saints game
It’s proving to me that things are not the same
No longer down on our knees, chances we now seize
There’s a strong sense of optimism growing inside me

 

There is only one wish on my mind
When this trip is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just as hopeful for you and me
All I need is to watch you play and heartily cheer

 

I’m on the top of the world looking down on a volcanic formation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since you’ve been around
Your allure’s put me at the top of the world

 

After five days in Santorini I took a ferry across the Aegean Sea to the Island of Naxos where I was determined to get my nails painted subtly with some cat icons as a reminder of my special time in stunning Santorini, and more importantly to capture my love for Grizoulis. (I really hope my cat Marvin back in Melbourne has not developed the ability to log in to Footy Almanac to read this!!!)

 

 

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In Naxos I got some cat nail art done in sensational Santorini blue as a reminder of the special grey cat named Grizoulis with whom I fell in love.

 

 

Even half way across the world I always felt the result of this match was well and truly left in the hands of the Gods or, in this case, Naxos’ patron saint, Agios Nikodemos Agioritis, who was recently honoured in the main town Chora in July. During this time celebrations proliferated and attracted many visitors from neighbouring islands, many places on the Greek mainland and high-ranking clergy from dioceses across the country. Saint Nikodemos Agioritis was also celebrated with a traditional folk fete on the same day in the village of Glinado where there is an attractive church featured at the entrance to the village. As I swam in the refreshing turquoise water of the Aegean I was saying to myself AGIOS!!!! SAINTS!!!! and willing the boys on as I felt the focus over my time in Santorini was too heavily skewed in the Cats favour!

 

My next song explains how my positivity and rechanneling of my focus on Saint Nikos themes seemed to get the Saints almost across the line and how I continue to look forward to fruitful times ahead for St Kilda Football Club.


CATS OF BOOM OR BUST, SAINTS TO ADJUST AND TRUST
Sung to the tune of ‘Dogs of Lust’ by The The

 

Here they come, the Cats of thrust
At Etihad Stadium, to cause strife
A voice inside my head told me
Some patron Saint was there to guide me
Something was there to sustain me, show me
When you’re hopeful, when you’re saintly
And the momentum is rising slowly

 

I used to get blue, I used to get sad
I now have the best belief I’ve ever had
As the quarters pass before my eyes
As the hours pass before me

 

Here they come, the Cats of thrust
At Etihad Stadium, to cause strife
A voice inside my head told me
Some patron Saint was there to guide me
Something was there to sustain me, show me
When you’re hopeful, when you’re saintly
And the momentum is rising slowly

 

I used to get blue, I used to get sad
I now have the best belief I’ve ever had
As the quarters pass before my eyes
As the hours pass before me

 

When you’re faithful, when you’re saintly
And the momentum is rising slowly

 

Things keep looking up
I won’t let anything get me down
Saints simply cannot hide
My loyalty will always abound

 

When you’re faithful, when you’re saintly
And the momentum is rising slowly
Rising, rising, rising, slowly
Rising, rising, rising
Rising, rising slowly

 

My final song is a tribute to former US college basketballer, Jason Holmes who debuted for the Saints in this incredible drawn affair. I recall attending the intra-club match at Seaford on a very hot day in February this year and seeing Jase play and was not only mesmerised with his impressive physique, but also by his obvious athletic skills. Given I started my five-week trip in San Francisco, California in the United States it seems almost poetic that an American should feature in this match and imprint his stamp on the game – not to mention also potentially becoming a serious future star in Australian Rules Football for many years to come.


DETERMINED DEBUT, JAY- HO !!!
Sung to the tune of Harry Bellafonte’s Banana Boat (Day-O) song

 

JAY HO, JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!
JAY, we say JAY, she say JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, we say JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!

 

Not generally found in the thick of a scrum
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
You will play in the ruck as a rule of thumb
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

Come, Mr. OHIO MAN, can you do a banana?
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
Come, Mr. OHIO MAN, devour opposition like a piranha!
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

He’s six-foot, six-foot, eight inch, SLAM DUNK!
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
Six foot, six-foot, eight inch, NOW RUCK !
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

JAY HO, JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!
JAY, we say JAY, she say JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, we say JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!

 

A real ability to kick a banana
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
You have bought a taste of Americana
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

He’s six-foot, six-foot, eight inch, RUSH!
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
He’s six-foot, six-foot, eight inch, CRUSH!
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

JAY HO, JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!
JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, we say JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!

 

(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

Come, Mr. OHIO MAN, can you do a banana?
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)
Come, Mr. OHIO MAN, devour opposition like a piranha!
(Debut come and Saints march halfway home!)

 

JAY HO, JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!
JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, he say JAY, she say JAY, we say JAY-AY-AY-HO!
Debut come and Saints march halfway home!

 

 

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Jason Holmes towers over me at the Saints Player Sponsorship Amazing Race function in St Kilda in May this year.

 

 

ST KILDA   5.4   8.7   11.9   14.13 (97)
GEELONG   5.1   9.2   13.4    15.7 (97)

 

 

BEST
St Kilda: Steven, Riewoldt, Gilbert, Newnes, Ross, Bruce, Minchington, Fisher
Geelong: Motlop, Johnson, Guthrie, Hawkins, Enright, Taylor

 

Goals
St Kilda Bruce 3, Minchington 3, Hickey 2, Gilbert 2, Membrey, Savage, Riewoldt, Newnes
Geelong Johnson 4, Hawkins 3, Vardy 2, Mackie, Taylor, Gregson, Guthrie, Motlop

 

My Best
St Kilda 3 – Nick Riewoldt  2 – Jack Steven 1– Jason Holmes
Geelong 3 – Steven Motlop  Steve Johnson 1– Nathan Vardy

 

Umpires Farmer, Mollison, Wallace

 

Official crowd 25,245 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.

Comments

  1. Love your work, Jen, particularly your Saintly adaptations of “Top of the World”, “Dogs of Lust” and “Banana Boat (Day-O)”.
    Hopefully the Saints can upset the Eagles in Round 23 for you.
    How is Grizoulis coping with the Cats’ nine lives ending (well, their first finals miss for nine years)?
    Here’s to the good health of the Cats of Santorini (and Athens and Istanbul) and safe travelling to you, Jen.

  2. Came to edit this and saw ‘Top of the World’ and hoped you’d adapted some Van Halen. Alas, ’twas The Carpenters/Karen C.

    Those pics of Greece? Not jealous. Not jealous at all.. *sigh*

  3. Robyn Wootton says

    WOW Jen. Your travels & descriptions of them sound amazing as do the reality links with life at home, particularly with our beloved Saints. And those songs! Marvin will be happy to have you home soon but Grizoulis is beautiful. I also love the Santorini blue cats on your nails – memories of our purple nails for Maddie’s Match. Safe travels home, Jen.

  4. Your travels are so amazing! You have some great pics there!! You know that I just love the J-ho song. Yes it’s cuz I’m a bias American! Lol

    It probably was for the best that it was a draw. With the Cats in your hands and the Saints in your heart. ?

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