Footy Fever in Oz

On Saturday September 29, 2007 the AFL grand final is on. It is the equivalent to the Stanley Cup in Canada and the Super Bowl in America. It features a Victoria team Geelong (Cats) and a South Australia team Port Adelaide (Power).

Even though Footy is now a nationwide sport in Australia, it first originated with Victorian teams – called the VFL (1897 – 1989). In 1990 it was changed to AFL to encompass teams that had moved to other states and future teams that would be in states other than Victoria.

Many people in Melbourne have this love-hate relationship with the other states. They believe it’s their game, similar to hockey in Canada vs. the US teams. A lot of Victorian people will be supporting Geelong, unless they barrack for Port Adelaide.

It takes place in the afternoon at about 2:20pm at Melbourne’s MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground). Close to 100,000 people will be in attendance with many more thousands wanting to attend but having to settle with watching it on TV.

If you are out of luck to attend then the next best thing is a BBQ. On grand final day one of the customs is to have a BBQ to celebrate the occasion. Then sit back and watch the game with friends and family.

Although part of a cultural and sporting experience in Australia; I will not be watching as it does not interest me. If at home I may tune in to see the opening or end of the game.

I will be supporting/hoping that Geelong wins. One because they are a Victorian team, two my friend Liz barracks for them and finally like the Toronto Maple Leafs they have not won a Grand Final in a very long time. 44 years to be exact, just 4 more years than the Maple Leafs drought of 40 years without a Stanley cup. So I hope they win and make it possible to believe in a future of a Stanley cup for Toronto.