Senator Andrew Bartlett
Friday, September 23, 2005
 
Grand Final Day - Carn the Swans
For the first time in three years, I’ll be able to spend AFL Grand Final day free of any other engagements. For the last two years, I’ve attended the Kangaroo’s Grand Final breakfast in Melbourne on the morning of the game, but then had to leave town later that day for activities in other cities. Last year in particular brings up memories that are less than uplifting – stuck in the middle of a hugely frustrating election campaign, having to go from the breakfast to fly to Sydney for media commitments, and then watching the game in a hotel room where the Brisbane Lions had a final quarter fade out to lose to Port Adelaide.

I’ve never seen a Grand Final game live at the ground – something I’m really keen to do one day. I haven’t been a member of the Lions for a few years because I just can’t get to enough games to justify the cost, which makes it a lot harder to get Grand Final tickets. I suspect it might be at least a couple of years before the Brisbane Lions are there again on Grand Final day in any case. The fact that last year’s premiers Port Adelaide fell so far in this year’s competition, (as did the Lions), shows just how amazing a feat it was for the Lions to win three years in a row and come so close to getting a fourth.

In the meantime, I’ll settle for just enjoying having the day free to watch the game. Like most people, I’ll be barracking for the Sydney Swans to win. Even though my former Chief of Staff (from when I was party leader) is a big Swans fan who will probably gloat insufferably if they win, and Sydney could do without any more encouragement in believing it's the centre of the universe, I still figure seventy-two years between flags is a long enough wait for any club. You can’t really begrudge them a win (and a gloat or two) after all that time.

If the Swans do get up, I think the Bullldogs will then be the ones with the longest drought - going back to 1954. Geelong, Melbourne and St Kilda also haven't won since the mid-1960s, which all goes to show just how long some fans have to wait between drinks, and just how fortunate Brisbane fans have been. Of course I have to say it does also emphasise how magnificent the Brisbane Lions' achievement was in winning three flags in as many years - especially in the modern era with the draft and the salary cap.

P.S. Other reasons why a Swans win would be OK:
- It would be the best result for strengthening the national competition of our national game;
- I reckon that on average the Swans (along with the Lions as the other northern team) do get a raw deal from the umpires, (and I reckon people should be able to say so without getting fined $10 000), so it would be good if they could triumph over adversity;
- I quite like Andrew Demetriou, but you have to enjoy the notion of the head of the AFL bagging a team for ‘playing ugly’ and saying they will “lose more games than they win”, and that team then going on to win the competition. (although I should also note that later on he did say that he wanted the Swans to win the flag);
- A key sponsor of the Eagles is a hamburger chain directly responsible for the slaughter of millions of animals each year, so no self-respecting vegetarian could support them;
- They have a better team song and better colours that the Eagles – these things are important;
- I think the SCG is a crap venue to watch footy (I’m not sure what that has to do with it being OK for the Swans to win, but I just wanted to say that while I had the chance).

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Friday, September 23, 2005 Permalink
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