My ‘Love Letter’ to Footy
Anyone who knows me now would be surprised to know that prior to the 25th of April 2015, I actively disliked footy.
Back when Port Adelaide played at Footy Park in West lakes, I would hide under the seats with my iPad asking repeatedly “how much longer until we can go?”.
Port Adelaide’s on field performance during these years certainly didn’t provide anything to change my opinion of footy. The poor performance on field was only echoed by the minimal supporters in the stands.
Both new teams from Queensland, the Gold Coast Suns and New South Wales, the GWS Giants first ever wins against Port Adelaide in these years. The diehard fans were barely keeping the Football Park games alive, with tarps covering a majority of the seats in the stadium.
This was definitely not a time to be converting anyone to Port Adelaide
The change from Footy Park at West lakes to the historic, redeveloped Adelaide Oval in the City, invigorated both the spirits off and on field. Adelaide Oval has always been an indispensable part of South Australia’s sporting culture since the 1870s. The modernisation coupled with the cathedral looming over the hill and the old scoreboard nestled next to the historic Morton bay fig trees created a cauldron of excitement. The redevelopment promised to deliver a world-class sports stadium with a seating capacity of more than 50,000 ready for the start of the 2014 AFL season.
While the already converted were getting excited by the prospect of Adelaide Oval’s first AFL game in decades,
I was still not convinced.
2014 was also the first season were both the state side (SANFL Magpies) and the national side (AFL Power) were playing as a unified club structure, where the club's AFL listed players were granted permission to play for the Port Adelaide reserves team in the SANFL.
Port Adelaide had a breakout season. Port Adelaide unification and the excitement of the redevelopment echoed through their own field performance. Out of 18 teams, they finished 5th and secured a home final at Adelaide Oval which is only reserved for teams that finish high on the ladder. They dominated against Richmond at Adelaide Oval, then again in Perth against Fremantle. Even with the thrill of Port Adelaide marching on towards winning a Premiership, I certainly wasn't swept up in this.
The one game I remember actively watching was the 2014 Preliminary Final between Port Adelaide v Hawthorn at the MCG. Hawthorn had been the dominant team for a few years and was predicted to proceed to the Grand Final the next week. Even so, the wave of momentum from the 2014 season followed Port throughout this game.
I distinctly remember with about 3 minutes to go my mum saying, “You know if they kick another goal this means they get into the Grand Final?”.
Growing up in a family and a city that loved football, I knew that this was a big deal. The 30 minutes of excitement and anxiety I felt in the last quarter was only contained to the sirens signifying the end. Port Adelaide lost by 3 points and Hawthorn went on to win the 2014 Premiership.
With this impressive performance in 2014, My family got Port Adelaide memberships for the 2015 season. The first 3 rounds of the 2015 season started without my knowledge or interest but Round 4 was different. 25th of April 2015 was the 100th anniversary of ANZAC day.
After the dawn service down at Semaphore foreshore and even with my resistance, I piled on the Outer Harbour train line with my family to head into my first football game at Adelaide Oval. I now know that, ANZAC Round in the AFL is a major part of the fixture and getting a home game was an even bigger deal. Coincidentally, Port Adelaide was playing Hawthorn for the first time since the Preliminary final.
We merged from the Adelaide Railway station, down along the Bridge. The flows of people marching towards the Southern gate was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. By the time we choose our seats I realised this was nothing like watching the final half of the Preliminary final on the TV, this was different.
Photo: Michael Wilson; AFL Photos
The build-up of Not Giving In by Rudimental swirl around the cauldron of Adelaide oval as Port Adelaide ran out, I could have never experienced in front of 10,000 people at Footy Park. I had been witnessed and been part of ANZAC day commemorations before, but the 100th anniversary gave even more significance.
The players, coaches and umpires lined up parallel to the flags that were firmly in the centre of the oval, wreaths laying at the base.
All 50,000 people shuffled to a stand as the Ode of Remembrance was read,
At the going down of the sun
and in the morning
We will remember them.
The singular roar to start the Last Post was enough to silence the last mumbles.
50,000 people were silent as the song rang out. The sounds of traffic, trees blowing and a plane over 20kms away were all I could hear. I had heard of deafening silence before, but it hadn't registered that it would be truly deafening. Those 60 seconds of silence was broken by the faint muttering,
We will remember
them
Lest we forget
Almost as if the entire crowd had held their breath, a burst of indiscernible words and claps exploded as the players and umpires took their positions.
With only enough time to pick up your scarf, the cacophonous lyrics of INXS’ Never Tear us Apart blared out,
We could live
For a thousand years
Fans held up their scarves, shoulder to shoulder until the blare of the siren sounded and the thud of the first bounce of the game.
I won’t bore you with the minor details of the game, but it was exciting. My favourite player, Hamish Hartlett, kicked one of the goals of the year to help make it 37-1 in the first quarter.
The Power chant rang out after every goal and they ended the first half with a strong 51-point lead. In the end they only hung on for an eight point win as the reigning premiers almost clawed their way back.
Photo: Michael Wilson; AFL Photos
I was converted.
”It’s just a game” is certainly untrue in my practise now as a football fan.
The ritualistic nature of footy has now become cemented into my everyday practise.
Putting in my tips on Thursday night when the teams are released,
Following the new players on draft night,
Talking to my Mum about why putting Connor Rozee in the back half at the start of the game seems to be working to get him into the game rather than starting in the centre,
While I do also love the numbers and tactics of football, the feeling and emotions are what has kept me coming back for 10 years. On the back of Gather Round, ANZAC Round and Sir Doug Nicholls round this week, the feeling of belonging has been echoing through Adelaide Oval.
Something that is bigger than just one club, just one player, just one fan. That feeling is bigger than ‘just footy’.