BurbleChaz

We've been planning to go to an AFL game since we got here. We arrived just as the finals series was ramping up, and by the time we'd caught our breath you couldn't get a ticket. The new season is just kicking off with a knock-out competition, the NAB cup. This afternoon, Melbourne played Hawthorn. We ponied up $18 each and strolled the 200m to the Telstra Dome for the match.

The playing area for Aussie Rules is about the size of Europe. 18 players a side and about ten officials are lost on the pitch. The game is physical to the point of violence. That's not true, actually. The violence well exceeds what is necessary. It's fast, confusing and spectacular. A new rule for this season has introduced a 'Super Goal', worth 9 points. This requires a player to kick a goal from 50m out during the open warfare that constitutes run of play. These are kicks that a Rugby Union player would line up for minutes, then miss 2/3 of the time. We saw three.

Owing to a pressing need for decent beer, we left after the third quarter. Melbourne had the game well in hand, and there was little chance of a Hawthorn comeback.

Ten minutes later, we were in the pub. Hawthorn had slammed in two supergoals and a normal one, and proceeded to run away to a 110-86 victory. This always happens when I leave a sports event early. Our equilibrium was restored by a few decent beers.