Rob's Blog

Every year a representative side from the Australian Football League play a series of games against an Irish Gaelic Football rep team, in what is called International Rules. The two games, AFL and Gaelic Football, are somewhat alike, so they have made up some rules that are a hybrid of the two games. Every year the series is full of controversy, and this year was not an exception. The problem is usually a result of the interpretation of the rules, and that the Aussies are used to a more physical game and find it hard to hold back during the heat of a competitive game. After Australia won the series this year, and after the Irish took some very hard knocks, they have come out crying for an end to the series. Of course we will see games again next year, as both games do not have any other international scope and it makes good money for the amateur Irish players.

Related Pages: AFL

My wife is expecting a baby in April next year, and one thought in my mind is whether to get he or she onto the waiting list for the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is an exclusive club - the waiting list is so long that it may take 20 years before you are offered a place. To get onto the waiting list, it currently costs a non-refundable $55. A lot can happen in 20 years. Once they offer you membership, if you don’t take it up you may forfeit your place. By then you may not even be interested in sport. If you do take up the offer of membership, it is going to cost you a small fortune to join and stay a member. The current entrance fee is $660.00 (which you pay in installments as you move through the various membership and age categories), and being a full member also cost $504 annually. If you are not at a stage to regularly go to matches or events at the ground, it is quite a bit to pay. In twenty years time, MCC membership will probably be very well sought after. My child can always so no, I see the $55 fee as a good price to pay to just give them the chance of membership.

Related Pages: Cricket, Aussie Rules, MCG

It is interesting to compare the popularity of the different football codes between the Australian states - historically SA, VIC and WA are AFL states, NSW and QLD rugby states. AFL appears to be recently making headway into the northern states, and starting with the kids is the way to go. One thing I believe that makes Aussie Rules a popular sport with kids, and gives it an advantage, is the ability to have a social kick to kick. In comparison, throwing a rugby ball to each other does not have the same excitement. The highly physical nature of the rugby codes also does not lead themselves to school yard play. With the issues of liability and the concern about injuries, we may see a gradual change to AFL. Soccer may beat them all, but that is another story.

Related Pages: AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer

I have just finished reading a book, ‘Beyond the Wave’ by Trisha Broadbridge. It was one of those books that when you start you just can’t put it down. It wasn’t because it was well written or anything – I was just curious to read a first hand account about a major disaster. The sporting link made it more interesting. The book is about the events leading up to and following the Tsunami disaster on Boxing Day 2004, in which Trisha’s husband Troy, and AFL player, was killed. The message I got from this story is that cannot take anything for granted. No matter how big and strong you are, the human body is still pretty fragile. We have to make the most of every day. In the words of one sporting company, “Just do it!”

Related Pages: AFL

I felt pretty special on the walk from Melbourne city centre to the MCG for the AFL grand final. We passed at least 10 people with signs begging for tickets to the game, and I had mine and I was not going to sell it. Well, if the price was right, I could be tempted. I wonder if any of them got a last minute ticket, though I doubt it. If someone offered me over $1000 I would have sold them mine, but that was unlikely. AFL authorities were out to stop any scalpers, so I would not be risking it close to the ground. If I was going to try and pick up any tickets before the game, I would try the pubs or at least be further away. Actually, if I did not have tickets, which was nearly the case, I would have forgotten all about trying to get hold of any at the last minute and organised to watch the game at a friend’s place or at a pub nearby. That way you can avoid any disappointment, relax with a few drinks, hear the commentary, yell and scream whatever you want, then come out later and celebrate into the night with the crowd if your team wins.

Related Pages: AFL, MCG

This year the Grand Final Sprint was won by the Carlton player Brendan Fevola (the ‘Fev’). I don’t understand why, but this year it was a handicap event, meaning the players started from different marks. In the old days (as far as I can remember) all the players would run off scratch, which then means that the winner is really the fastest AFL player around (unless the fastest player is in one of the Grand Final Teams), which I thought was the purpose of the while thing. A bit of searching found out that the contestants’ times over 20 metres were sourced from their clubs and sent to Athletics Australia, which then devised the handicap marks for each player. The result of the final sprint did not mean much at all, except that maybe Fev was foxing when the club did their sprint tests, enabling him to have a 8m head start. Let’s hope they revert back to the straight sprint for next year.

Related Pages: AFL, Carlton Blues