Community football weekend on the terraces in northern Tasmania

by SHANE GOSS

NTFL season round eight - Penguin v East Devonport, 10 May 2008
tas crowd

A section of the crowd at Penguin's Pirtek Oval during their clash with East Devonport in the NTFL. Photo by Shane Goss.

STANDING on the terraces at the Penguin football ground whilst savouring a late afternoon pastie from the canteen, I couldn't help but think about the comparisons to doing the same among the outer at the MCG.

There is of-course the usual abuse hurled at the men in white (or any other colour it would seem now-days); the smell of hot pies and chips emanating from the nearest food-outlet; the cries of 'BAWL' from fans when an opposition player is wrapped-up; or the sound of leather on leather after a mad dash down the grandstand wing.

I glanced at a nearby rubbish bin, overflowing with empty VB and Boags Draught cans, and realised that this was one comparison that I couldn't make. Sure the bins would still be overflowing at the 'G' or at the Telstra Dome, but with plastic cups and pizza boxes.

The deafening roar from the crowd when a goal is scored is replaced by the sound of car-horns from around the boundary line. The interchange benches or dug-outs of today's AFL venues have more seating than a small school-bus, at Penguin there is barley enough room for interchange players and an assistant coach.

A couple of club trainers share a smoke and chat about their Sunday plans; kids of all ages mingle behind the northern goals in anticipation of retrieving the match footy after a stray shot at the big sticks.

It's community footy Tassie style and there is plenty of passion on both sides of the fence.

The shadows were creeping across this picturesque ground, the size of a postage stamp, on Tasmania's north-west coast. It was late into the third term and Penguin (nicknamed the Two-Blues) was dismantling a shabby East Devonport by more than 100 points.

The East Devonport Swans had recorded their first win in two years last week against, some would say, an unlucky Wynyard. The club song had been sung with more gusto than an end of season footy trip's rendition of Cold Chisel's Khe-Sahn!

Another improved showing by the boys from Girdlestone Park was expected.

Penguin, were equal on points with East Devonport with one win apiece, and were finding it difficult to put together four quarters of football. However, against a team with the majority of its players barely old enough to drive, let alone spear a pass lace-out from 50 metres, the Two-Blues scored at will and won convincingly by 102 points: 23.20 (158) to 8.8 (56).

The Swans fought the game out and had 11 scoring shots to five in the final quarter. Their coach Scott Matheson, injured and on crutches, assembled his young charges in the middle of the ground after the game.

The sun sank slowly behind the grandstand, volunteers who would later share beers with the club president, finished their game-day duties. The Penguin players filed off their home dung-hill and into the sheds. Players threw down tape that had patched sore thumbs and dodgy knees, and a few turned and gave a curious glance over the shoulder to see the huddle of Swans on the cricket pitch.

A few hours later the victors would celebrate a home win with a mock beach-party in their clubrooms. The lads from East Devonport returned to the other side of the Mersey River, boots in hand and optimism dented. There would be no club-song in the change-rooms that night.

They could take something out of the last quarter however, and next weekend continue their role in community footy and bring hope to their supporters in the terraces once more.

13 May 2008

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