My grand final week diary

by LES EVERETT

THE people at australianrules.com.au asked some celebrities to keep a diary around AFL grand final week. Probably to help ordinary people understand what the buzz is like.

Here's mine. Sorry it's a bit late but as you'll learn there's been a bit going on.

Saturday 23 September.

Listen to the last quarter of the preliminary final from Football Park in a taxi from the airport to home. The driver is tuned to 6PR. Karl Langdon makes a mistake and says the Eagles lead by 13 points when really they lead by 11. Soon they lead by four. There's a bounce. Goodwin breaks away. But there's a free kick to the Eagles. They kick a goal after the siren. I get home put down my bag, pick up the phone and cancel my flights to and from Melbourne for grand final week.

Sunday 24 September.

Go to the WAFL grand final. Subiaco thrashes South Fremantle.

Monday 25 September.

Once or twice I think, 'I coulda been in Melbourne right now.'

Tuesday 26 September.

Nothing.

Wednesday 27 September.

Nothing.

Thursday 28 September.

Nothing.

Friday 29 September.

Nothing.

Saturday 30 September.

Got out to lunch at the in-laws' place. I get a text message. Sounds bad. I turn on the TV, it's half time and the Eagles lead by 25 points. After lunch I turn on the TV again, it's three quarter time and the lead is 11 points. Drive home. Turn on the TV, it's 30 minutes into the last quarter. The lead is one point. There's a bit of play, a boundary throw-in. The siren goes. I turn off the TV, go out the back and pull up some weeds.

Sunday 1 October.

Nothing.

Monday 2 October.

Nothing.

Tuesday 3 October.

Nothing.

Wednesday 4 October.

Nothing.

Thursday 5 October.

Read my first newspaper since last Saturday. It's Wednesday's West Australian. I learn that a West Coast player ate a goldfish.

5 October 2006

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