Real footy
April 21st 2008 04:29
JUST the other day I watched a game of bush football and remembered why I love the game.
Loaded up with the paper, the record, a radio to listen to my beloved Demons playing on the big stage at the G, I saw 46 people playing the game as it should be.
46 may seem like an odd number when talking about the game of footy. But it was the umpires who played just as big a part of the spectacle as the players.
Of course, the players themselves played the game the way it should be played. What the players lacked in skills, fitness and flair they made up for in determination and hardness – at the footy of course but also the man. Nothing untoward or unfair, but just good, tough footy like it used to be before the ‘experts’ at AFL headquarters started to tone down our brilliant and unique sport.
It was a far different feeling to that I have become accustomed to watching AFL on TV. Players had to earn free kicks. Backmen could stick tight to their opponents without fear of getting pinged for reasons unknown. There was no sighting of the ludicrous hands in the back rule.
It reminded me of why I love the game.
Of course, I will still watch AFL games as often as I can to admire the players’ skills, stamina and unquestionable ability.
But if I want to see real footy, I’ll just head to the bush.
Loaded up with the paper, the record, a radio to listen to my beloved Demons playing on the big stage at the G, I saw 46 people playing the game as it should be.
46 may seem like an odd number when talking about the game of footy. But it was the umpires who played just as big a part of the spectacle as the players.
Of course, the players themselves played the game the way it should be played. What the players lacked in skills, fitness and flair they made up for in determination and hardness – at the footy of course but also the man. Nothing untoward or unfair, but just good, tough footy like it used to be before the ‘experts’ at AFL headquarters started to tone down our brilliant and unique sport.
It was a far different feeling to that I have become accustomed to watching AFL on TV. Players had to earn free kicks. Backmen could stick tight to their opponents without fear of getting pinged for reasons unknown. There was no sighting of the ludicrous hands in the back rule.
It reminded me of why I love the game.
Of course, I will still watch AFL games as often as I can to admire the players’ skills, stamina and unquestionable ability.
But if I want to see real footy, I’ll just head to the bush.
| 47 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Tyronne
Music Times
Sydney Fun
Vintage Culture
Melbourne DiaryStar