July 16, 2009

Melbourne vs Port Adelaide...

IT would be different today. I wouldn’t be going to the game, to see the Dees play.
I had been sick yesterday, but I still managed to be shipped over to Grandma’s house in South Morang for the afternoon, so reporting on this game would be a difficult task. It would be even more difficult because my brother’s radio wasn’t working, so it was like being stuck in a hole not knowing how the Dees were going. It was something I had not experienced before this season. On the way there, we passed the MCG, which I thought was ironic. I had bought my scarf and then I decided to stick it out the car window, the thing most supporters do when the game is won. We arrived at Grandma’s, all nine of us (there are 10 in my family) and it was around 1:30.
After a nice lunch of curry and chicken wings, I check the score on the radio, which is in the kitchen. It is a 1970’s style radio, which has probably been in the same spot in the house since the 1970s. The quarter time siren has just sounded, and Melbourne are winning 4.2 (26) to 3.3 (21). Robert Walls tells me that Jurrah has kicked 3 goals, which is great to hear from the Yuendumu legend. I come back to the radio in about 10 minutes and find out that Melbourne have kicked the first two of the quarter. Dean Brogan replies for Port Adelaide and pegs the margin back to 11 points. Liam Jurrah takes a huge hanger from what I hear but misses the shot at goal. Robbo kicks one for the Dees and then Jurrah misses again. Danyle Pearce kicks a goal from outside 50 to the city end to bring the power within 13 points. Gray misses for Port and then Petterd kicks truly for some breathing space. I am quite happy with the performance so far but I hope that the Dees don’t fade away and Port doesn’t take control. Salopek kicks a goal for Port and I leave for dessert.
I eagerly wait until I can find out what the score is. I return to the radio and discover that it is half time, the Dees still leading 9.6 (60) to 7.6 (48). I turn the TV on to watch the game on Channel 7, at 3:45. I didn’t know why it was on 45-minutes later than usual. I watch the first few minutes and see Port get the first behind. But watching footy is a crime in my family sometimes and I get out voted one to six in a battle between footy and a British sitcom called Fooling Around With Horses or something like that. I don’t exactly come from a footy loving family, but that used to be different in the late nineties, when we went together as a family, to see players like Seecamp, Wowoedin, Farmer and Viney.  I remember missing the 1998 qualifying final against Adelaide because I had chicken pox. My parents lost passion for the game after that, along with most of my siblings. I battle to get the footy back on the TV but fail, and a certain amount of violence influenced that decision.
I grab the radio from the kitchen and bring it into the lounge room. My Grandpa, who died earlier this year, used to call the footy on 3GL, a Geelong radio station in the late 50s and early 60s. The Dees are up by 26 points, 12.8 (80) to 8.6 (54). Chad Cornes hits the post to my relief. I turn it back on a bit later and it’s early on in the last quarter, the Dees still winning comfortably by 19 points, but it sounds like Port are getting some momentum. The two teams trade behinds before Port kick two goals in quick succession, and now I’m getting worried. Moloney misses and it’s eight points. Ricky Petterd kicks his fourth goal and the Dees might have enough breathing space to win them the game. Petterd has now played a couple of good games since I spoke to him at Chadstone a couple of weeks ago. But there’s still quite a few minutes to go. I was too focused on the game to look at Grandma’s photos from her holiday to England. Tredrea misses from a tight angle, but I feel that a two goal margin could see Port snatch the game. But I’m wrong, the Dees apply relentless pressure and win the game by 11 points, 15.11 (101) to 13.12 (90). I’m over the moon about consecutive wins, but there are a few Melbourne supporters who aren’t too happy about the result, and think that we should “make sure” we get the “PP”. Just go on Demonland forums to see what I mean. But I strongly believe that nothing is better than winning, because winning is the ultimate prize in footy. Whether it’s home and away games or premierships. I finally get my wish, and I get to watch another minute of the footy on the TV at the start of the second half. But it’s time to go home.
On the way home I hang my scarf out of the window, now with a purpose. The Dees are off the bottom of the ladder, and could be off their form slump. Who knows? With their youngsters winning games of their own boot it could be the end of a bad era. Next week, the Dees are playing a weakened Geelong side at Skilled Stadium. I rate their chances highly.
But one thing’s for sure, I’ll be going next week.

Melbourne 4.2  9.6  13.9  15.11 (101)
Port Adelaide 3.3 7.6  10.8  13.12 (90)
GOALS Melbourne: Jurrah 4, Petterd 4, Bate 2, Robertson 2, Moloney, Dunn, McLean. Port Adelaide: Lade 2, K Cornes 2, J.Westhoff 2, Davenport, Brogan, Gray, Tredrea, Rodan, Salopek, Pearce.
BEST Melbourne: Bruce, Petterd, Jurrah, Moloney, Green, McLean.
Port Adelaide: Cassisi, K Cornes, Salopek, Thurstans.
My Votes: 3. Cameron Bruce (Melb), 2. Ricky Petterd (Melb), 1. Liam Jurrah (Melb).
Umpires: James, Sully, Wenn.                     
Crowd: 15,888 at the MCG.

• Neville Jetta from Melbourne in action during the AFL Round 15 match between Melbourne and Port Adelaide Power at the MCG. Photo by Greg Ford. The Slattery Media Group

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