I wrote a piece last week that asked for the AFL to delve deeper into matters that I thought (with tongue firmly planted in cheek) had bought the game into disrepute.
What followed was a huge amount of comment, mostly people wishing to add to the things that they were uncomfortable about in modern football, as well as some pearlers about things we probably wish to forget the game has inflicted upon us.
In the midst of what was a fantastic discussion, and another example of why the Almanac is such as great location for these views and a font of incredible football wit and knowledge, it made me ponder what we did like about football.
Many comments craved the past and a return to old fashioned footy, a lack of corporate influence and terminology and removing inane commentators. Logic would tell you that the things we like about football were the opposite of what we were pointing out had bought the game down.
So with that, in contrast to what may have bought the game into disrepute, here’s my starting list of what in the modern game is great, should be treasured and has bought the game into…repute (?)
Nathan Grima’s goal and celebration
Reclink’s matches for people down on their luck and the annual Community Cup game
Auskick
Jeremy Cameron
The walk to the G through Yarra Park
The Tigers playing finals
Jaegar O’Meara
Emma Quayle
Seeing couples and groups walking to the game together wearing opposing scarves
Collingwood and Essendon on Anzac Day
Simon Black
The statues outside the MCG
People defying ground catering prices and bringing in hot dog frankfurts in a thermos
Cyril
Bob Murphy’s columns in The Age
A Saturday afternoon game at the G between two Melbourne based sides on a clear yet cold August day
Tiwi Island and top-end football
Orren Stephenson’s path to the AFL
Hearing a country footy side sing their song after a win, normally substituting their town for the AFL club they have borrowed the song from
Channel 10’s Before the Game
Michael Barlow’s comeback (hope Gary Rohan does as well)
Stevie J
Bachar Houli and his community work outside football
The Couldabeens
That there’s still a role for angry little villans like King and Ballantyne
The smell of the dressing room at a suburban footy ground
Jeremy Howe and the return of the speccy
About Sean Curtain
"He was born with a gift of laughter, and a sense that the world was mad". First line of 'Scaramouche' by Sabatini, always liked that.
The toe poke
Stevie J
Chapppyyyyy!!!!!!
running into open space
Gary Malarkey V Michael Roach in 1980
Phil Manassa’s 1977 GF sprint up the wing (and goal)
the football itself
Jack Dyer
Great stuff Sean
agree with Dips re: Manassa and Stevie J
Andrew Krakouer’s 2011 season
Greater focus on multicultural players and encouraging young girls to play the game.
Adam Goodes
Litza’s rants.
Amen to all the above. I’d like to add;
Honking the car horn for a goal
Goal umpies in long coats
Players called Shane and Wayne
Getting sconned by someone else’s ball in the halftime kick-to-kick
Stan Alves
Full strength beer in the members
Free bus from the All Nations (unless it is booked out like last Friday)
Speccies
Going to the football with my kids
Going to Geelong Hawthorn games with my wife and her family
Preliminary Finals
Martin Flanagan
Going to watch The Cats play football made in heaven over the last 7 years.Eternal!
I like ranting about the things I don’t like about football. Other than that (and its a huge drop off here), I enjoy standing in the rain on the Doug Hawkins wing watching my Bulldogs not win premierships … infinitum
The Ablett/Salmon goalfest in ’93
Bob Davis
Bruce Doull’s headband
Home games
The bloke playing Classical Gas on the Docklands bridge
Hot pie in one hand, cold beer in the other on the terrace
Kicks after the siren to win the game
VFL back at Victoria Park
Watching G.Ablett no matter what Guernsey he’s wearing
Nige from North Fitzroy
Brodie Grundy
Port Adelaide’s turnaround
Sydney becoming a power
Gerard Whateley
Pendles and Swanny
The tiger army back out in force
Bucks coaching Collingwood instead of grumpy Mick
Fremantle Football Club
The transformation of long-suffering Freo fans from doubters to believers
Freo’s best four of 2013: Michael Johnson, Chris Mayne, Ryan Crowley, Nat Fyfe.
Hard-working fellas off the rookie list at Freo and Swans
The Hawks
The Cats
Port Adelaide
Western Bullies last month
Jaeger O’Meara
Chad Wingard
Dylan Roberton
Tom Mitchell
Dane Rampe
Bradley Hill
Marngrook Footy Show
The Footy Almanac
Big Carl Ditterich’s headband and white handky in the back of his shorts…why didnt anyone take it off him and complain? Loved your work Carlos.
September (finals, better weather and racing too)
the MCG
Glenelg oval
Darren Jarman
Patrick Dangerfield
Talking Footy
Tim Lane’s sense of theatre
the torp, well-executed
Tony’s Talkback on the Coodabeens
Roy and HG’s Festival of the Boot (Part 1)
the AFL grand final when a brief grab of AC DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top was accidentally played instead of Advance Australia Fair
1896
1902
1903
1910
1917
1919
1927
1928
1929
1930
1935
1936
1953
1958
1979*
1990
2002*
2010
Okay, I will bite.
1979* Forget the Harmes incident, Carlton were goalless at the 20 minute mark of the second quarter, yet had five by half-time.
2002* A goal is when you kick the ball between the posts, not above them.
1896* If we are going back to VFA times, then Geelong has 20 flags.
Hopefully, AFL taking the Anzac Day game off Essendon, given what the spirit of that day is claimed to represent, and how dubious their (shared) monopoly of it always was anyway …
Into repute. Hm….
The rise of female footy teams and competitions
The tap (it’s not a handball but it can be more effective and damaging)
Buddy
Glenelg Oval.
The 1973 SANFL Grand Final, at Adelaide Oval (the last one held there).
Skoda Stadium, and especially the fact that you can buy falafel there!
Going to Kardinia Park the first time and being advised that Geelong isn’t a footy club, but a community.
All spectators at any given game showing respect by applauding any player being carried off.
Dreamtime at the G.
Marngrook.
Multi-Cultural Round.
Adam Goodes.
Geelong, and so many local comp & VFL teams making a serious effort for Casey Tutungi
Cameron Ling – who is what my dad would have called “a capitalist in short pants”
The women’s game before the Melbourne – Footscray game, but make the next one a fully timed game, please.
‘Bundy’ Christensen’s priorities: “It’s only an award. I get to play for Geelong.”
Jack Riewoldt taking less money in order to stay a Tiger.
Frank Costa.
Mrs Scott’s twin boys, now in differing hues of white and blue (and the fact that their wives sit together when their teams play each other).
Taking two 13yo Japanese kids to the Swans – Tigers game & seeing their eyes light up every time the ball was kicked high and the packs soared.
Seeing AFL become the great love of said Japanese exchange students over the course of 9 days with us (replacing soccer and basketball).
Hearing said Japanese exchange students singing “We Are Geelong” together at 11:30pm on their last night before going home to Tokyo.
Getting a thank you card from one of said Japanese exchange students a month later, which included a postscript that simply said, “Go Cats!”.
Motlop!!!!!!!
Bob Neil
Bob Neil ovals 1 and 2
Adelaide University FC
SANFL current and SAAFL Real Football
Footy Almanac
Norwood FC