Seeing it live

by LES EVERETT

NEVER before has it been so difficult to engage with an AFL season.

Once there was a predicability about what we'd see on TV and the chance to see many games live, either on the box or in the flesh.

The new regime has poured plenty of dough into the game but those in charge better be careful - you can't buy passion and if you present the modern man, woman or child with other winter options they might just take them.

In the interests of australianrules.com.au readers and my own edification I headed to sunny Melbourne last weekend to capture some live footy. I saw eight teams - four of them won't be playing the finals, a couple may not or perhaps should not.

At the MCG on Friday night the Kangaroos became my second team. They should be out on their feet but play with a spirit and heart every footy follower would wish their team could emulate.

It was a wonderful, open game of football and Hawthorn played its part in the spectacle but ultimately a greater desire got the Roos over the line. The Hawks have some problems - some key players don't seem fit and others aren't up to it. I don't think Ben Dixon will be a Hawk for much longer.

Sydney played like a team without a care in the world at the Gee on Saturday afternoon. The Swans were two skilful, too hard and had too much run for Melbourne. It was a privilege to see Paul Kelly run around one last time.

The Dees will recover, it's been that kind of season, and could cause some cheek in the finals.

When Carlton extended its lead to almost 10 goals early in the second quarter at Docklands on Saturday night even Blues fans were shaking their heads in amazement. The Bulldogs were always going to come back and in the end should have won. I noted that both teams have some promising skinny youngsters and that Nathan Brown is an extraordinary player.

It was a glorious day on Sunday - not a cloud in the sky. But the poor boys from Fremantle were forced to spend their afternoon in a freezing cold television studio. The surface at Docklands is a disgrace and players from both teams found it hard to keep their feet.

The Dockers could have won the game and made a tactical error by removing Troy Simmonds from the ruck at the start of the last quarter.

And after months of hearing experts tell us that Matthew Pavlich's body language was telling us he'd be swapping ports in 2003 it's nice to report James Hird got sick of chasing the body in the 29 Fremantle jumper.

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