AFL Grand Final Day - 27th Sept 2014

By any measure today is a H U G E day in Australian sport. It's Grand Final Day!! Well, for the AFL (Australian Football League) anyway. Other football codes such as Soccer and Rugby League (NRL) do their 'thing' on another day. AFL Grand Final Day sucks the oxygen out of the social and sporting scene in the southern States, hands down. Even shops close knowing that there will be few left out of a spectator party somewhere. The frenzy is mostly centred on Melbourne where the final is played at the MCG. It's a world class arena and the atmosphere with 120,000-plus spectators is colossal. The game is broadcast worldwide to 249 territories for adoring enthusiasts - not all of them Aussies!

The 'Orgy' commences on Friday with a parade through Melbourne of the two teams and significant 'footie' identities. There are breakfasts in function centres throughout Melbourne as a prelude to attending the game at 'The G'. One TV station will have been broadcasting re-runs of past grand-finals end on end overnight. Radio stations are in a frenzy of commentary. People lucky enough to have secured tickets to the event will arrive early and be entertained by top class entertainers for hours ahead of the game.

We've never been to a GF and the Bloke is not really a fan of AFL. I had been a staunch West Coast Eagles supporter when the Bloke's dad was still alive. I used to attend home games with my footie-buddy brother Roger as well as the General and sister-in-law. One year Roger and I even flew to Melbourne for a match against arch-rivals Essendon, in a Finals series. Walking around Melbourne wearing your tribal scarf is barely 'adult' behaviour but quite normal for Melbourne. Everyone goes nuts. Melbourne is consumed with it all.

Last year, Brendan the father of our daughter-in-law Emma, turned 60 on Grand Final Day. He has been a lifelong Hawkes (Hawthorn) supporter. He had tickets to the match by way of a birthday present and witnessed HIS team win against the Fremantle Dockers on his 60th birthday. You couldn't script it could you? Once again Brendan and his son Jack are off to the GF to cheer their team in the hope of back-to-back premierships. The excitement is palpable!

Viv modelling a Hawkes scarf, shows solidarity with his in-laws in Melbourne on Friday.

Work colleagues modelling Sydney Swans jerseys for balance.

At our Port Fairy coffee shop this morning.

Win or loose, fan or not a fan - AFL Grand Final Day is a huge buzz!