Friday, August 26, 2005
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Saturday Spectacular
Ever had one of those days where you just wake up and you know it’s going to be great? Not a good day, not just a good morning or looking forward to a good night but a whole day of greatness. Maybe it was the week long excitement of waiting for this day, maybe it was the recovery of the flu but whatever it as I woke up yesterday morning and felt great. And the feeling didn’t disappear. It started with a truly wonderful sleep, the only real sleep I had for over a week, what with the flu, work and uni. What was to follow may seem insignificant to those unfortunate enough to have the disability of not liking/caring about football and to those I pity.
Breakfast was as per usual for a Saturday – Weet-Bix (slightly warmed), a banana and a glass of orange juice. Then off to football for the last match of the season. Now I haven’t mentioned my footballing exploits much on here and that’s because there hasn’t been much to talk about. Up till Saturday, my team (C grade) had only won one game previous, the game I missed attending Andymanx’s engagement party. So I didn’t partake in that win. And when I recently got the call up to B grade, a team that hadn’t lost a game all season, they lost so I didn’t get a win there (and was dropped back to C grade the following week). Add missed weeks for some injuries and a couple of holidays (one to the Murray as previously mentioned and one just recently to the Gold Coast which I haven’t mentioned but will now – awesome, Dreamworld = have to go there) and my season hadn’t really been a good one. But for this game I was feeling great and nothing was going to stop me winning my first game of the season, even if it was the last. And we won. I even kicked a goal just seconds before the final siren (after taking a courageous mark) to top off my best game for the season. The highlight, though, was being told by the boundary umpire – a kid who plays in the under 11’s for the club – “when I grow up I want to play like you”. That was about halfway through the last quarter and it almost brought a tear to my eye. I have tried for so long to inspire and received nothing back but laughs but here is a young lad with dreams of playing like me. I couldn’t stay long after the game unfortunately so just a few quick beers, some thankyous and goodbyes and I was off home knowing people were waiting on me. For Showdown XVIII was to start in 2 hours. And somehow front row tickets had fallen my way, right where the action is. A quick shower and soon myself, my mum and sister, an uncle and aunty and 2 cousins were on our way to Football Park for what was to be a great game.
Early on it looked daunting with only me and my cousin sitting up the front (the others were a couple rows back) surrounded by Port supporters, especially when Port kicked the first goal of the match. But the Crows soon hit their straps and the second quarter involved a lot of leaning over the fence and banging on the signs as the Crows outscored their less skillful opponents 5 goals to 2 for a 4 goal lead at half time. The third quarter wasn’t as pleasant, Port bringing it back to 2 goals at three-quarter time and then kicking a goal within a minute of play beginning in the last. Oh the tension, the excitement, the buzz. The Crows ended up coming out triumphant, the perfect finish to a great game. And then spectators were allowed onto the field. As I stepped onto the sacred ground that is Football Park a sense of pride washed over me. All the young kids were running around emulating what their heroes had just done and I just thought of the young lad who wanted to play like me. And then I realised I didn’t have a footy, I have about 20 in the boot of my car but none with me right when I need one. Oh well, it was still a great finish to a great day.
And just this morning I noticed one of Wirruna’s (the yellow female) eggs had hatched into a baby budgie! Little Chief is a dad! Just got to wait and see if the other 2 eggs hatch as well. Here’s hoping.
Breakfast was as per usual for a Saturday – Weet-Bix (slightly warmed), a banana and a glass of orange juice. Then off to football for the last match of the season. Now I haven’t mentioned my footballing exploits much on here and that’s because there hasn’t been much to talk about. Up till Saturday, my team (C grade) had only won one game previous, the game I missed attending Andymanx’s engagement party. So I didn’t partake in that win. And when I recently got the call up to B grade, a team that hadn’t lost a game all season, they lost so I didn’t get a win there (and was dropped back to C grade the following week). Add missed weeks for some injuries and a couple of holidays (one to the Murray as previously mentioned and one just recently to the Gold Coast which I haven’t mentioned but will now – awesome, Dreamworld = have to go there) and my season hadn’t really been a good one. But for this game I was feeling great and nothing was going to stop me winning my first game of the season, even if it was the last. And we won. I even kicked a goal just seconds before the final siren (after taking a courageous mark) to top off my best game for the season. The highlight, though, was being told by the boundary umpire – a kid who plays in the under 11’s for the club – “when I grow up I want to play like you”. That was about halfway through the last quarter and it almost brought a tear to my eye. I have tried for so long to inspire and received nothing back but laughs but here is a young lad with dreams of playing like me. I couldn’t stay long after the game unfortunately so just a few quick beers, some thankyous and goodbyes and I was off home knowing people were waiting on me. For Showdown XVIII was to start in 2 hours. And somehow front row tickets had fallen my way, right where the action is. A quick shower and soon myself, my mum and sister, an uncle and aunty and 2 cousins were on our way to Football Park for what was to be a great game.
Early on it looked daunting with only me and my cousin sitting up the front (the others were a couple rows back) surrounded by Port supporters, especially when Port kicked the first goal of the match. But the Crows soon hit their straps and the second quarter involved a lot of leaning over the fence and banging on the signs as the Crows outscored their less skillful opponents 5 goals to 2 for a 4 goal lead at half time. The third quarter wasn’t as pleasant, Port bringing it back to 2 goals at three-quarter time and then kicking a goal within a minute of play beginning in the last. Oh the tension, the excitement, the buzz. The Crows ended up coming out triumphant, the perfect finish to a great game. And then spectators were allowed onto the field. As I stepped onto the sacred ground that is Football Park a sense of pride washed over me. All the young kids were running around emulating what their heroes had just done and I just thought of the young lad who wanted to play like me. And then I realised I didn’t have a footy, I have about 20 in the boot of my car but none with me right when I need one. Oh well, it was still a great finish to a great day.
And just this morning I noticed one of Wirruna’s (the yellow female) eggs had hatched into a baby budgie! Little Chief is a dad! Just got to wait and see if the other 2 eggs hatch as well. Here’s hoping.
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