I attended my second AFL footy game Friday night at Etihad Stadium (formerly Telstra Dome - the name changes every year with advertising dollars), along with over 50,000 other people. It was a big game between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Essendon Bombers. I lucked into awesome seats in the corporate section just behind the goal.
After nearly two years in Australia, I finally picked a team to barrack - Hawthorn! My selection was based on none other than social reasons. Shocking I know. I met Simon Taylor at Alex and Hughie's wedding. Simon is Hughie's cousin and was his best man at the wedding. We partied together at the wedding and after party and at the bbq the next day so clearly, I now go way back with Simon! He's the tall one (#13) with his socks pulled up to his knees near the middle of the above picture. He plays in the ruck position, so he's always tipping the ball at the toss up, right in the midst of all the action.
Here's a slightly closer look at Simon (in the middle of the pic).
Ah yeah! Hawthorn just scored a goal. See those giant gold and brown pom poms at the far end of the field? They are my favorite part of the game! The die-hard super-fans wave these pom poms at either end of the field when goals are made or to distract the other team.
Ah yeah! Hawthorn just scored a goal. See those giant gold and brown pom poms at the far end of the field? They are my favorite part of the game! The die-hard super-fans wave these pom poms at either end of the field when goals are made or to distract the other team.
Unfortunately we saw way too much of this!!!! The bombers kicked our butt in a major kind of way especially at the end. The game was within one point at half time, then the Bombers kicked it up a knotch and the Hawks got sloppy. A little 9 year old girl behind us was their biggest supporter and cheerer and started crying in their demise. Good thing I'm no fair weather fan or I may have been swayed.
