I asked all of the Australians that I knew on campus what their favourite sport was. The answer was unanimous: AFL. My friends were fast to state their allegiances to their favourite team; whether it was Carlton, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, or Collingwood (whom I quickly learned was the most-hated team in the country), I learned that the pride taken in these teams is heaps beyond the dedication we have in the States. I knew that I had to pick a team and see a game; thanks to my Australian Studies class at Monash University, I was able to do both on one fateful night.
Rob, our lecturer and tutor, is an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club, supporting them since he was a little boy. With that fact established, he made it a point for all of the students in class to see his team in action during the semester. The game that was chosen was Carlton vs Richmond at the MCG on Saturday, 28 July.
The first thing I noticed when I stepped inside the gates of the MGC was the size of both the field and the ground. Without hesitation, I can say that this ground is the largest I’ve EVER been on. Gridiron football is the national sport back in the States, but there are only a few instances where over a hundred thousand people come to a game. While there were “only” forty-six thousand people were at the game that night, I had no problem believing that a hundred thousand people would show up to any particular match.
As for the field, it was very strange to see both a field of that size (A gridiron field is two-thirds the size of an AFL field) and of that shape. The fifty-metre line was interesting to see, considering it was a curved line rather than a straight line. The goalposts were also very confusing to me at first; since gridiron only has two posts, it was disorienting to see an extra set of goalposts on each side. As I would later learn, the second set can make a difference, with a matter of a few points in the result!
After observing the field, I was prepared for insanity to begin. I knew that this game would be crazy once I heard the first sirens to signal the start of the game. Everything about the atmosphere was magic. The heart-pounding sirens, the giant supporter banners, the traditional team songs for Carlton and Richmond… I loved every single part of it all. With each minute, I grew more and more excited for the game. I wanted to see every hit, every mark, every goal!
Monash Students enjoy Saturday night's game against the Tigers at the MCG.
Once the ball was bounced to begin the game, I was immediately hooked. The energy on the field far surpassed anything I have ever seen or will see back in the States. The skill it takes to pass the ball using only handballs and kicks was something I admired as well; in gridiron, it is essential to throw the ball, so it was definitely interesting to see what football is like using… you know, FEET. Either way, this game is so intense yet precise that it is hard for me to see any American sport the same way again. Even though it was Carlton that came out behind after the first quarter, the closeness of the game kept me excited throughout.
Much like American sports, each quarter became more exciting than the last. In fact, I will go on record and say that the fourth quarter was the best quarter I’ve seen in any sport. Ever. The final five minutes was filled with so much anticipation and nervous energy from Carlton and Richmond supporters alike that an angry Richmond supporter ripped out a chair when Carlton scored a crucial goal. However, it was when Richmond pulled ahead with only a goal separating Carlton from a win and a loss, that the game became legendary. Every fan was on the edge of their seat, waiting to see if Carlton could get a mark or a goal. The Blues supporters were waiting for that moment of pure relief and excitement, when out of nowhere, it happened. A kick from the boundary towards the forward line had the fans on their feet, and as the ball sailed through the centre posts to put Carlton up 95-91, the crowd of Blues fans erupted in what I can only describe as an explosion of joy. Once the final siren sounded a minute later and Carlton’s song came blaring through the speakers, there was an aura of excitement that I had never felt before. Carlton had won, and I knew I had found a new favourite sport.
What did I learn Saturday night? First, Eddie Betts is a great player. Second, Aussie Rules football is the most frantic sport I’ve ever seen in my life. To me, AFL is the combination of about six different sports with the good parts of all of them and about ten times more aggression. Lastly, I’ve finally found a team to barrack for. Consider me a Carlton supporter for life!.
Taj Simmons, DePaul University, Chicago, USA
