Aussie Football and me: A love story
“Vindication has arrived” – Stephen Quartermain after the final siren of the 2009 AFL Grand Final
At the time that quote was said, I was introducing friends of mine in Three Hills, Alberta Canada to the sport of Australian Football. We stayed up until mid morning watching that championship game between Geelong and St. Kilda.
They only just discovered Aussie football the week prior. Myself, I was already in love with the game and had been for almost a decade. Now, 23 years after I first laid eyes on this sport, I am just as much in love with it now as I was then.
So, let’s go back in time. It’s the summer of 2000. In just a few short weeks, I was getting ready to start a new school after we moved to a different zone in the city. I was getting excited for this next chapter of my life and wasn’t even upset that the holidays were ending soon.
It was also just under a month until the 2000 Olympics in Sydney were to start and, being the sports nerd I am, was very excited to see another summer games.
It was just a regular Saturday at home when I Dad flipped through the channels and caught something different. He saw a stadium, and volunteers draping a part of that stadium in the Australian flag. To his amazement, he said “It’s the Olympics.” But, I knew the Olympics were still weeks away so I told him it couldn’t have been that.
As we watched more of this ceremony, my dad finally clued in. This was the Australian Football League. I had never heard of this. I knew the NFL and the CFL quite religiously but never heard of the AFL.
As a sports fan, I was intrigued and decided to watch some more. I could have never imagined that those couple of hours watching this event unfold would lead to over two decades of being infatuated with this game.
Get Derek Craddock’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
I don’t remember much about the game, but I remember the players kicking the goals and the umpires signalling for the points. It was so out of this world. I LOVED IT!
Now before I go any further, I’m not talking about Rugby (union or league) or Soccer. Every time I tell someone I watch Australian Football, they always think I’m talking about those two sports.
What I am referring to is a sport soaked in history as well as blood, sweat, and tears from thousand of athletes that have played the game.
Imagine if basketball, rugby, and lacrosse had a baby. It might resemble the velocity, agility, and the impact that is Australian Football.
The game is played on an oval shaped field with two teams trying to kick the ball through the posts. It sounds easy, but believe me, it’s not.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, that field and posts sound like Quidditch. I’d say, you’re right. I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if J.K. Rowling took her inspiration for that magical game after watching a few matches of Australian Football.
So, why do I love this game? Because it is unlike anything I have seen on this earth. What captivated me as a young teenager all those years ago, still captures my attention today. The fast paced action, the long kicks, the hard hits, the roar of stadiums that fit over 100,000 people, and memorable quotes like the one at the start of this article.
When I studied in Australia in late 2006, I had the chance to play this game on a real field with real goal posts, and real Australian fans. It gave me a greater appreciation for this sport. It also didn’t hurt that I lived in the city that won the Grand Final that year by only one point. (YouTube 2006 Grand Final).
When I remember that day 23 years ago, upon watching my first AFL game, I can’t help but smile. That day was more than just watching a football game, it started a new passion in my heart, one that grows every year and has even brought members of my family together. My dad, who first turned on that TV in the summer of 2000 has watched many Grand Finals with me and every year, we share in this excitement watching a game from the other side of the ocean.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering…Go The Bombers!
