The Footy (Aussie Rules Football)

Went to my first Australian Football game. Also known as Aussie rules, football, or my personal favorite...Footy. It really is nothing like American football, and dare I say, it might be better. There is a possibility that by the end of this trip I might converted. To be honest, when I first saw the setup of the field I thought of Harry Potter and Quidditch came to mind. If any of my new Aussie friends read this...the thought was fleeting and it only took a few seconds of watching a game to realize this was so much more!

Don, one of my hosts offered to take me to a game and of course I took him up on it. He is a member of the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Apparently, to become a member you have to go onto a waiting list for 20+ years. He has been a member for several years now; however, he is not a full member so he does not get to enjoy all of the benefits. Nonetheless, he was able to get us tickets to the Carlton vs.  Richmond game. This was both a blessing and a disadvantage since he is not a fan of either team. It would be like my dad taking me to a Redskins vs. Giants NFL game. We hate both teams so the only reason to watch is watch the two teams beat the pulp out of one another. The benefit though was that I did have an expert sitting next to me willing to teach me all about the game since he was not too busy cheering for one team or the other. Feeling the need to pick a side to cheer for I patiently watched the game, judged the players, tried to determine the better team, and finally chose my team to be the one with the least obnoxious fans. The winner on all fronts: Carlton! (Don't tell anyone, but I did not get my full cheer on because the Richmond fans were intimidating. I now know that it is really just because they are not as classy as Carlton fans [wink wink] which just reinforces that I made the correct decision.)

So, the game, is possibly better than the NFL…possibly. The game is played on a cricket field, which apparently can vary in size depending on the field it is being played on. The players do not suit up in any sort of pads, but the play is just as physical, if not more. It amazed me how players would take a hit and then bounce right back up and keep going. They have to since there are no time outs. The clock continues to run nonstop for 25 minutes for each quarter. I was confused because each quarter ran for more than 25 minutes, but it wasn’t consistent (e.g. Qtr 1 – 28.24 minutes, Qtr 2 – 29.37 minutes, etc.). Apparently, the time it takes between scoring and returning to the center of the field to put the ball into play again is added on to the 25 minutes in the quarter. The players don’t have a way to know how much time that is so they play full force until they are told to stop. It is intensely physical and the players never stop moving. As a result, they are all in amazing shape! There are no NFL lineman physiques in this game.

To score they have to kick the ball between either two tall pillars (6 points) or the outside shorter pillars (1 point).  Players cannot run the length of the field with the ball so every 5 meters they have to bounce the ball on the ground. This is actually a real skill to be able to maintain control of the ball. Players cannot throw the ball, but rather must bunt it to other players, which looks a lot like volleyball. There is nonstop action and you are on the edge of your seat the entire time. Since the clock does not stop just because the ball hits the ground there are times when it seems to bounce around with a bunch of guys stumbling over one another trying to get their hands on it.

NFL fans have some competition when it comes to Footy fans. I had the pleasure of hearing some very colorful language at the game that might have made a sailor blush. Fans might wear jumpers (something slightly similar to an NFL jersey), but are more likely to be wearing their teams colors in a hat and scarf. Feeling the pressure of our host families it seems that different teams have won the support of our team members. Ann is a Richmond fan. Matt is a Melbourne. I am Carlton. Wes and Marci are still up for grabs so the best offer may win them over.

The only regret I have about my first trip to the MCG and first Footy game is that I did not try a meat pie at the MCG. Apparently, this is the quintessential experience and I missed out. Kind of like not eating a hot dog at a Texas Rangers game. Yes, they are expensive and you could probably get one cheaper and better tasting somewhere else, but I am told you cannot really experience football without trying one. I guess I will just have to go to another game.