Round 6 – Carlton v Brisbane: A successful Mother’s Day
A succesful Mother’s Day
Carlton vs Brisbane
10th May
Etihad Stadium
This week has been a busy week not only for my team the Brisbane Lions but also for myself. The Lions have had an interesting week with the media pouncing upon an altercation that occurred between coach Leppitsch and Lions player O’Brien during the Lions NEAFL game last Saturday. Whether Leppitsch grabbed O’Briens jumper or throat and what type of verbal abuse actually occurred will be totally up to who was there or what people heard. Then there was the so-called meeting of Carlton officials with talented young Lions player James Aish which some people said definitely happened, whilst others deny it even occurred. For me the week was all about getting Mother’s Day organised. This included hiding all the things my two young boys had made for my wife as well as getting cards, wrapping presents and finalising the booking of the restaurant for lunch.
For me Sunday was all about making sure my wife, Tori had a great Mother’s Day. It looked like it was the same for a vast majority of Lions and Carlton supporters in Melbourne with Etihad stadium not even half full at the commencement of the game. I guess when your teams sit 17th and 18th on the table, celebrating Mother’s Day probably takes precedence over watching your team play. It would be the same for me. Being a Lions supporter in South Australia meant that the match would not be on free to air TV so there would be no chance of seeing any of the game at the restaurant. I would just have to rely of updates via the AFL app on the mobile phone to find out what was going on.
The morning was a success with breakfast in bed for my wife and her liking all the presents. It was now off to lunch at the Currency Creek winery, a nice little spot in the Fleurieu Peninsula. With the in-laws Anne and Lyle also present, a great lunch and a couple bottles of wine were enjoyed by all. It looked like Mother’s Day was going to be a success, but was any success occurring for the Lions at Etihad stadium?
Next on the agenda was afternoon tea at my in-laws new house down at Port Elliot. As I drove down there I flicked through the radio stations trying to find some commentary of the game. Instead it was just pre-match talk for the Power and Eagles game happening at the Adelaide Oval later on that afternoon. I guess I will just have to wait to check the phone when we get to Port Elliot.
Finally at Port Elliott and with the family in the house I check my phone. It is quarter time and Carlton are only up by a point. It seems according to the stats that I can find Carlton have had most of the play but young Lions forward Daniel McStay has kept the Lions in it with 2 goals. The other interesting thing is that Daniel Rich has not had a touch. What does this mean? Is he being tagged or worse still; has he done his knee again on that dodgy Etihad surface?
After coffee, chocolate and conversation I get another quick look on the phone to see that Carlton are up by six points at half time. Looks like the Lions are only just hanging in, with both the Beams boys racking up possessions and Stefan Martin doing his usual thing in the ruck. McStay had kicked another goal for the quarter and maybe showing some glimpses of the key forward he could become. Interestingly, Casboult for the Blues has had a good half kicking three goals himself.
It is an hour’s drive before I get home with no way of checking the score. As soon as I get home I switch on the TV and check the score on Fox. The Lions are up by 15 points half way through the last quarter. They must have played well in the third quarter to be in the position they are in. My son William cheekily says to Tori “You had better let Dad watch the rest of the game as it might be the only time he sees his team win this year!”. Karma will strike William later on in the night for that comment when his team the Power lose to the Eagles. The last 10-15 minutes are excruciating to watch. It looks like neither team wants to win with Carlton’s new recruits Boekhurst and Jones missing chances to score goals and the Lions not really looking like they will score again. It is riddled with mistakes and both teams are not moving the football with any real conviction. No wonder hardly anyone has turned up. It definitely looks like the two bottom teams are playing.
When the final siren goes relief is the only way to explain my emotions. It looks like it is the same feeling shown by many of the Lions players on the field, as well as some excitement after winning their first game of the year. For each Carlton player they know that it was an opportunity lost. Who knows what the headlines will be tomorrow – hopefully more favourable for the Lions and I am sure plenty will be said about how much longer Malthouse will be coaching the Blues.
Later on Sunday night once the kids are in bed and my wife starts doing some work and finishes reading her book I watch a replay of the game on Fox. As I thought, the game was a really scrappy affair and reflective of where the two teams are on the ladder. There are glimpses of the future for the Lions with the way McStay and young Harris Andrews played. Christensen showed some brilliance in the third quarter and Dayne Beams was workman like as usual. However there are many players that are still well below their best including Leuenberger, Rockliff, Adcock, Rich and Zorko just to name a few. It will be a long season if these players do not step up and play to their full potential.
As I finish my glass of red and finish watching the replay I reflect on what a success the day has been. It has been a success not only on the Mother’s Day front, but also as a Lions supporter watching their team win for the first time this season. Lets hope there are a few more successful days ahead.
Carlton 3.2 6.4 9.7 11.9 (75)
Brisbane 3.1 5.4 10.9 12.12 (84)
BEST
Carlton: Bell, Curnow, Judd, Gibbs
Brisbane: D Beams, Martin, McStay, Andrews
About Andrew Weiss
Andrew is one of the few Brisbane Lions supporters that lives in the Adelaide Hills. He still has bragging rights over any Crows or Port supporter by mentioning the back to back to back premierships the Lions achieved in 2001-2003. After playing for over a decade for the mighty Adelaide Lutheran Football Club better known as 'The Doggies' he now spends his Saturdays running around footy ovals as an umpire, getting abuse no matter what decision is made. Coaching is probably next on the agenda as his two sons have started to play the great game of AFL. Andrew is a sports fanatic who when not watching or reading about sport is teaching secondary students about Biology, Nutrition and Psychology.
Hear Hear!