Paris e les victory

by LES EVERETT

IT wasn't even the main story on the AFL website.

It took a moment for it to sink in. 'Dockers break the ice' it read.

My first urge was to run screaming into the cobbled streets but I needed to be calm, there were considerations.

First I required details: five goals to Justin Longmuir - good news as he has been the best Docker of 2001 and deserves some glory; a starring role at last from Peter Bell; more delivery from Matthew Pavlich; a big Simon Eastaugh game and even a contribution from Robert Haddrill - all hail the rookie list, it keeps them lean and keen.

Next there was the game plan to observe.

Like Ben Allan I hadn't come up with anything fandangled for the task ahead of me as I took to the streets of Paris.

The Parisians are a bit like the AFL. The love their city but they do strange things to it - like letting their dogs poo on the pavements. But, if you've chosen to be there, you've got to play by their rules. My plan was simple and effective - look down and ahead before looking up to admire the scenery.

I left the Internet cafe and hurried, with due caution, to place de la Bastille: "We've done it!" I cried.

And soon I was joined in a massive can-can line of hip skateboarders, roller bladers, ice-cream vendors, aproned waiters-with-attitude, backpackers, fire eaters, super models, chain smokers, baguette carriers, croissant dunkers, beret wearers, illegal traders and smiling gendarmes.

Lance Armstrong and Stuart O'Grady were there; Bridgit Bardot and Henri Laconte were there; Marie-Jo Perec arrived late, threw her arms around me and whispered: "Je t'aime."

We stopped the traffic on the six lane roundabout but nobody cared - horns sounded but only in celebration as the news spread. "Victory for Fremantle!" came the cry as I climbed the 52 metre tall Colonne de Juliette and there placed a Dockers scarf.

Later I organised a special light show from the Eiffel Tower - people were still on the streets all over Paris as I went home to bed, safe in the knowledge the Dockers were back in town.

Last week I was back in town and attended the derby. As I trudged through the streets of Subiaco after the game I had cause to wonder whether all that stuff in Paris had really happened. There was also the feeling I'd just stepped in something nasty.

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