The official crowd for an epic AFL clash between Hawthorn and Carlton last Sunday was 15,888. It felt like more as loud and passionate supporters made their feelings known on everything from the umpiring to the wait for hot chips.
The Northern Terrace at York Park, a terrific spot to watch the game, was dominated by supporters donning the navy blue. The much maligned, taunted, misunderstood ‘top end of towners’, who are experts at reflecting on past glories, couldn’t believe their eyes when six goals were kicked in the first quarter.
As a long-suffering Carlton supporter (my favourite colour as a child was blue), utter disbelief hovered over the crowd like clouds; we don’t often kick six in a half let alone a quarter.
Unfortunately, with a 31-point lead at half-time, the ‘premiership quarter’ proved our downfall, but you couldn’t fault the effort. Blues’ coach Brendan Bolton, the proud George Town lad said, “I probably won’t sleep tonight,” in response to a question about disappointment.
Reflecting on how the game turned so quickly, mainly because of the Hawks’ ability to deliver a momentum shift; transitioning the footy like the Blues were in still in the sheds, left you questioning - who would be an AFL coach?
The difference between a win and loss is millimetres. Carlton hit the post with seconds remaining that would have drawn the game – it wasn’t to be.
From local legend at half-time, Bolts’ tenure was supposedly finished by the three-quarter siren. The Northern Terrace generated comprehensive polling to substantiate my view. Premiership coaches, Pagan and Malthouse didn’t do any better. Bolton and an incredible number of talented top ten draft picks keep my faith in the navy blue.
Apart from games involving Richmond and St Kilda at York Park, I have never seen so many ‘split families’ with at least one parent in blue and one in brown and gold; holding hands and strolling about, enjoying their afternoon at a tremendous facility.
The way Hawthorn has indoctrinated schools and their students across Northern Tasmania is frightening! Conduct a quick tally at a footy colours day and my hypothesis is proven. The model for growing a fan base begins when children are born. It has been an incredible trajectory and proven formula that has ensured sporting, economic and cultural support across the north of the state.
As a Carlton fanatic and Hawthorn member for more than a decade (also a dual citizen…), I remain a firm supporter of the positive net impact the deal has delivered. And while not, initially, a fan of the North Melbourne deal, due to concerns about diluting a proven product, I do understand the importance of football state-wide.
Yet, one must pause to reflect - what an incredibly daft missed opportunity by the AFL, who if prepared to commit and support a Tasmanian team, generations of youngsters may be pulling on the ‘map’ rather than the brown and gold.
We shouldn’t be without football at the highest level, but if the AFL wanted a Tasmanian men’s or women’s team, they could make it happen immediately.
Forget the debate about Tasmania (State Government) having to stump-up even more in financial support, the purported lack of population to sustain a team, the need for $50 million of funding per annum, and blaming Tasmanians for being parochial. Those arguments are redundant. Melbourne and North Melbourne have small supporter bases, and Geelong is a regional team. Start-up clubs Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast disprove the suggested criteria with priority draft picks and substantial top-up funding ensuring sustainability.
Tasmanian can sell the rights to one or maybe two stadiums, delivering a substantial and ongoing revenue stream.
The AFL is a billion-dollar industry and if CEO Gillon McLaughlin was committed, rather than focussing on growing the game in Shanghai and Wellington, we would already have a team.
For the foreseeable period, it appears, I will still have the blues.
However, if a Tasmanian team was to run out at York Park against the side followed, admired and loved since I was six years of age, feelings of tremendous pride, admiration, a spoonful of support, and utter relief that the “map” had finally been recognised for its contribution to the great game, may quell my longing.
The Northern Terrace at York Park, a terrific spot to watch the game, was dominated by supporters donning the navy blue. The much maligned, taunted, misunderstood ‘top end of towners’, who are experts at reflecting on past glories, couldn’t believe their eyes when six goals were kicked in the first quarter.
As a long-suffering Carlton supporter (my favourite colour as a child was blue), utter disbelief hovered over the crowd like clouds; we don’t often kick six in a half let alone a quarter.
Unfortunately, with a 31-point lead at half-time, the ‘premiership quarter’ proved our downfall, but you couldn’t fault the effort. Blues’ coach Brendan Bolton, the proud George Town lad said, “I probably won’t sleep tonight,” in response to a question about disappointment.
Reflecting on how the game turned so quickly, mainly because of the Hawks’ ability to deliver a momentum shift; transitioning the footy like the Blues were in still in the sheds, left you questioning - who would be an AFL coach?
The difference between a win and loss is millimetres. Carlton hit the post with seconds remaining that would have drawn the game – it wasn’t to be.
From local legend at half-time, Bolts’ tenure was supposedly finished by the three-quarter siren. The Northern Terrace generated comprehensive polling to substantiate my view. Premiership coaches, Pagan and Malthouse didn’t do any better. Bolton and an incredible number of talented top ten draft picks keep my faith in the navy blue.
Apart from games involving Richmond and St Kilda at York Park, I have never seen so many ‘split families’ with at least one parent in blue and one in brown and gold; holding hands and strolling about, enjoying their afternoon at a tremendous facility.
The way Hawthorn has indoctrinated schools and their students across Northern Tasmania is frightening! Conduct a quick tally at a footy colours day and my hypothesis is proven. The model for growing a fan base begins when children are born. It has been an incredible trajectory and proven formula that has ensured sporting, economic and cultural support across the north of the state.
As a Carlton fanatic and Hawthorn member for more than a decade (also a dual citizen…), I remain a firm supporter of the positive net impact the deal has delivered. And while not, initially, a fan of the North Melbourne deal, due to concerns about diluting a proven product, I do understand the importance of football state-wide.
Yet, one must pause to reflect - what an incredibly daft missed opportunity by the AFL, who if prepared to commit and support a Tasmanian team, generations of youngsters may be pulling on the ‘map’ rather than the brown and gold.
We shouldn’t be without football at the highest level, but if the AFL wanted a Tasmanian men’s or women’s team, they could make it happen immediately.
Forget the debate about Tasmania (State Government) having to stump-up even more in financial support, the purported lack of population to sustain a team, the need for $50 million of funding per annum, and blaming Tasmanians for being parochial. Those arguments are redundant. Melbourne and North Melbourne have small supporter bases, and Geelong is a regional team. Start-up clubs Greater Western Sydney and the Gold Coast disprove the suggested criteria with priority draft picks and substantial top-up funding ensuring sustainability.
Tasmanian can sell the rights to one or maybe two stadiums, delivering a substantial and ongoing revenue stream.
The AFL is a billion-dollar industry and if CEO Gillon McLaughlin was committed, rather than focussing on growing the game in Shanghai and Wellington, we would already have a team.
For the foreseeable period, it appears, I will still have the blues.
However, if a Tasmanian team was to run out at York Park against the side followed, admired and loved since I was six years of age, feelings of tremendous pride, admiration, a spoonful of support, and utter relief that the “map” had finally been recognised for its contribution to the great game, may quell my longing.
Comments
Post a Comment