So who is the April Fool?

By Graham de Casale and Stan Giamalis

Well, “here we go again”, I know they are the words of a song, but have no idea who sings it.  As is the modern way, I “Google” it, find an answer but am none the wiser.  Modern songs, who born in the 50’s, remembers any of the current songs for more than 2 minutes, but I digress.

 

“Here we go again”, the footy is back and what more inspired date to start the 2012 footy season for Port and St Kilda supporters than APRIL FOOLS DAY and at the much loved footy time of 4.10pm on a Sunday afternoon at the second coldest place on earth, AAMI Stadium. We all remember that Waverley Park was the coldest.  How appropriate for the supporters of these two team, one coming off a great season that brought 3 very ordinary wins for the season and the other, well what has not been said about St Kilda: 1966 “what a wonderful year”.

 

Well, “here we go again”, Stan and Delc to commence their 42nd year of going to the footy together barracking for opposite sides, Delc the Port Adelaide Magpies/Power One club faithful, Stan the unfortunate one to be a combined Norwood/St Kilda supporter, how many tales of woe can be written in 500 words.

 

Here we sit again at AAMI Stadium, a place of some fond and not so fond memories.  1977, Alice Cooper concert, Port premiership, Norwood so close, Alice finishing his gig wearing a Port “prison bar” Guernsey (do they still call them Guernseys?).  “Oh what a night”

 

2004 Preliminary final, Fraser kicks his 100th goal for the year, St Kilda are on fire, (possessions something like 50 to 10 for the first 6 minutes of the game), the crowd goes wild (yes, the good old days when there was a crowd at a Port game), also ending the St Kilda run fortunately Port wake up, get over the top of St Kilda by 6 points, Port into the GF, St Kilda left to ponder.  Stan left with fond memories of “Gavvy” kicking two magnificent goals that sailed directly over our heads.  But again I digress, what does 2012 have in store for us, a new beginning hopefully.

 

St Kilda with a new coach, Port with a coach with the worst Port Adelaide coaching record ever!

 

The game finally commences, Port has a magnificent 15 minutes kick 5 goals, everything looks great (well a lot better than 2011) annoyingly St Kilda peg us back, goal for goal until half time.

 

We reflect about the game over an expensive beer at half time, both of us reasonably happy with the performance of our respective teams.  Both teams showing some spirit; we like that, also the introduction of an indigenous player on each side was exciting, both Wingard and Milera showed some dash (wouldn’t it be nice to see another Cyril Rioli running around).

 

Too expensive to stay in the bar, so back for the second half we go.

 

The second half is a tight arm wrestle with fortunately the good guys getting home by 4 points with the ball deep in the St. Kilda forward line as the siren goes.  Delc pleased, Stan not so pleased.  “Oh what a night”

 

We will continue our tradition in two weeks’ time, Port V Norwood at the mighty Alberton Oval.

 

Stan says “we will get you back at Etihad….BUT there will be no rematch in 2012…we have to wait until 2013!

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