Get Your Head in the Game

A game of Aussie Rules Football that is! We were invited to go to an AFL (Aussie Rules Football) game with some friends and we jumped at the chance to be part of this slice of true Aussie culture. The AFL is played nowhere else in the world so this would be our only opportunity to see this high-paced, action packed and at times rough and tumble game.

The game between the Brisbane Lions and Port Adelaide Storm was at the Gabba (appropriately named after the suburb the stadium is located - Woolloongabba). This stadium has the potential to hold 42,000 eager fans of both AFL and Cricket matches. For this season-ender game the stadium was filled near to capacity and the energy was wild. We found our seats, with beer and Go Lions banners in hand, ready to cheer on our local team.

It was not hard to get swept up in the excitement of the game, the energy in the stadium was electric! We were lucky to be with friends who could explain the rules and plays of the game, and to be surrounded by dedicated Lions' fans!

In the first half of the game, the Lions were down by 47 points. But the Lions managed to turn themselves around in the second half, inching their way into the lead. AFL is an incredibly high-paced game which rarely sees a stop in play. The ball is either punched or kicked up the line in an effort to get as close to the goal posts to kick a winning goal. The mission of the other team is to steal the ball and set the play in the opposite direction.Any time the Lions scored, the stadium erupted in cheer and Lions' flag waving, and in our section we had five guys leading the crowd in a cheer that went, How about Bradshaw (or bloke's name who scored the goal)? We would enthusiastically respond, He's alright!

In the end, the Lions took the match with a final score of 107 to 92 in what was considered to be one of the seasons most exciting games! As soon as the final whistle was blown, the crowd in the stadium broke out into the Brisbane Lion's Anthem! These Aussies take the role of fan very seriously!

Until next time,
love H, D, R and G