HOOKED ON FOOTY

Fremantle, Western Australia

Saturday, 6 May 2006: The Aussie Football League (AFL) "Derby" game between the Fremantle Dockers and West Coast (Perth) Eagles is to be played today at the Subiaco Oval. Subiaco is a quaint little suburban town, three rail stops south of Perth. We had been there on Thursday, when we tried to buy tickets, but the game was sold out. The two teams are bitter rivals (like the Red Sox and Yankees, only more so!!). We see many fans, dressed in their team colors (red, green and purple for Freo, and gold, blue and black for West Coast). Team scarves seem to be the most popular item,

but there are plenty of jerseys (jumpers as they're called), hats, jackets, etc. in evidence, not to mention, huge team banners. We erroneously believe the game won't start until 5:40pm, so we're wondering why they're here almost three hours early, but we go about browsing in the market. We're done in about 20 minutes and Rory suggests we walk up to the Oval and see if there might be anyone selling tickets on the street. It's only about a 250 meter walk and half way there we hear a loud roar. It turns out that the game started at 2:10pm and the first quarter is underway. At the lone open ticket window, Rick inquires about buying tickets to a game when we return to Freo in three weeks. He gets the same story as he got Thursday--they don't go on sale until a fortnight (two weeks) before the game; but, there are a couple of tickets for today available at another gate on the opposite side of the Oval. A short walk and A$60 later, we've got two for the biggest game of the year!! Later we'll learn that this game will set an attendance record here of 42,219.

OK, a bit about "Footy" as the game (and the ball itself) is called. The footy looks like an American football except it is rounder on the ends.

From what we can pick up from watching it on TV the past few weeks, it's a combination of soccer, rugby and football. There are 22 players on each team, with 18 on the field at any time during the game. The players wear no padding. It is estimated that they can run up to 17km during a game, which is divided into 4 periods. We think each period is officially 20 minutes long, but the scoreboard clock keeps running even when play is out. So you're never quite sure how much time is left and neither are the players. The players' uniforms have their sponsors' advertising on them and the footy itself has advertising on it. The field is circular in shape. There are four goalposts.

6 points can be scored by kicking the footy between the two center posts, and one point (called a 'behind') by kicking it between either of the two leftmost or rightmost posts. One point (for the other team) can also be scored if the team on defense kicks the footy between any two of the posts or runs beyond the endline with it. This is a move to take the pressure off when the other team has mounted a sustained threat--like a safety in football, except the defense keeps the ball and goes on offense. The footy can be advanced by running with it, kicking it, or punching it from one player to another, but NOT by throwing it! If a player runs with the ball, he must bounce it at least once every 10-15 meters. If the footy is kicked from one player to and caught by another player (on either team) a free kick ensues. The idea is to get a free kick as close to the goal posts as possible. There are other unique things about this game, like how the ball is thrown in from out of bounds (by the umpire, facing away from the field, and throwing the ball over his head and as far up in the air and back toward the field as possible) and who gets the ball after a tackle, which we have yet to figure out!!

Back to the game: we find our seats in the corner, just about on the goal line in the third row. It's not the best seat, because you don't get the perspective of the whole game, but there is a large video of the game projected on the scoreboard so we can see what's going on at the other end. Both teams use the Subiaco Oval as their home field, but today, it's a home game for the Dockers. We're sitting next to two blokes who patiently answer all of our questions. The fellow behind us is an avid fan

and loudly shouts out encouragement to the players, all of whom he knows by name. Before long we're yelling for Black, Jimmy, Hasleby, and "Meat Head" (Medhurst). The crowd frequently takes up the chant: FREEE-O, FREEE-O, FREEE-O. When Freo scores 6, the place goes berserk. There are high fives all around and the game goes on. The excitement is incredible and we are instantly into it. All of this is enhanced by the fact that Freo is a big underdog--West Coast is undefeated. At half time, the score is 50-48 in favor of the Dockers, with neither team able to take more than a 9 point lead. Freo goes up by 11 in the third quarter but the Eagles come back and take the lead in the 4th. Freo takes it back and it looks like an upset, but West Coast gets a late 6 to take the lead at 83-82. Paul Hasleby scores 6 putting the Dockers up by five at 88-83. The clock shows just over 27 minutes gone in the final quarter;

typically, including stoppages, periods last about 30 minutes. All of a sudden the roar is even more deafening. Rick has no idea what has happened and asks his new best friend sitting next to him. The horn has sounded ending the game. THE DOCKERS HAVE WON!!! Haselby's goal has come with only 43 seconds left!!!!! Rick's other new best friend (the one sitting behind us) jumps on the "dugout" in front of us and hugs everyone he can find! The amazing thing is very few people leave. Instead they break out in what must be the team song.

After a while we leave the Oval, laughing all the way back to the train station. WE ARE HOOKED ON FOOTY!!

Sunday, May 7th: By the time we get going today, it's lunch time. Another visit to Little Creatures Brewery by the waterfront seems just the ticket for a lazy Sunday. The place is packed, but we find a spot at the end of a long table. Rick overhears the guys next to us talking about the Fremantle footy game from yesterday. When he mentions we were there, wearing his Dockers hat, and rooting for the home team, we are instantly part of their group. They answer our few remaining questions about the game and one of them uses his mobile phone to track the accomplishments of the players on his fantasy footy team!! Rick feels right at home!!

Little do we know at the time, BUT IT DOESN'T END HERE!!

Thursday and Friday, May 18 & 19: Fast forward two weeks to the coast of Western Australia (WA) and the resort town of Denham. One of the things that's been high on our list of "must dos" is a visit to Monkey Mia to feed the dolphins. Denham is the nearest town to the Monkey Mia resort. about 25 kilometers southwest. We've booked a self-contained unit at the Tradewinds Seafront Apartments, and are greeted by Fay Deacon. She and her husband, Trevor, own the place. The office walls are covered with Dockers memorabilia: autographed jumpers (shirts), team photos and the like. It turns out that Trevor was one of the original financial supporters of the Dockers. He's amused by our experience at the Derby Match and that we've become such ardent supporters (their word for "fans"). The next afternoon, Fay brings Rick a small collection of Dockers items and suggests we try the Denham Bowling Club for dinner. She and Trevor are members and will happily sponsor us.

We take Fay's advice and have dinner at the Denham Bowling Club. Trevor is already there and signs us in as guests. He introduces us to several of his mates and Rick buys a round for everyone. There's a lot of good natured banter about Rick's poor choice of footy allegiance, but Trevor backs him up. Dinner is superb, we share a table with Fay and Trevor (not to mention two bottles of wine) and before we know it. it's 9:30. Trevor and Fay are driving to Perth at midnight and haven't packed yet. We reluctantly say goodnight and hope they will visit us when they next come to the states. They are terrific people and great examples of how hospitable and friendly Aussies have been to us.

Tuesday, May 30th: We're back in Freo. The day starts off on a high note with a phone call from Trevor in Denham. He has contacted a friend of his, who will be calling us shortly to invite us to some special functions before and after the match on Saturday. Sure enough, the call comes from Len Hitchen a vice president with the Dockers. He'll be arranging a tour of the Club facility for us this week. We're also invited to the pregame meal on Saturday for which he'll pick us up and be our host. We're pretty excited and amazed at how this has snowballed.

Thursday, June 1st: We're off to the Dockers' offices to meet Len Hitchen. We're greeted by Amanda who provides us tickets for the game and passes to the Admiral's Suite on Saturday. Len arrives a few minutes later and takes us on a great tour of the facility. First stop is the communications and marketing department. Everyone wants to know the story of how we got interested in the game and how we've come to know Len. Before we leave, Keith Black, the General Manager for Corporate Affairs, has provided each of us with an official cap and a team guernsey (jersey), that Rick will probably try to have autographed. We continue the tour including the coaches area (we meet several of them), the media room, the strategy room, the locker room and the weight room.


There are pictures in the hallways of many of the all-time great Dockers players and Rick is able to identify a few of the current players from various blown up photos on display. Len comments that Rick has been studying up.


It's really a terrific tour and we are impressed, not only with the tour but also with the facility itself, Len is a wonderful host.


We spend about an hour and one of the points of interest for us is the Harbormaster Plaque, on which we locate Trevor Deacon's name. Before we leave, Amanda reminds Len that the pregame meal in the Admiral's Suite is a jacket and tie affair. Obviously we are not prepared for this, especially Rick. Len offers to bring a jacket for Rick to wear on Saturday and goes back upstairs to find an official tie for Rick (and one for himself). Saturday's activities will include the dinner in the Admiral's Suite, the game from the owner's box, and a postgame meeting with the players. Len and his wife, Barbara, will pick us up at our apartment and take us to the game. Rick does his best to contain his excitement. Before we go, Rick buys an official team jacket and Len makes sure he gets the staff discount.

Saturday, June 3rd: All the clothes we bought coordinate properly (Rick had to buy a pair of slacks and a dress shirt) and Rick hasn't forgotten how to tie a tie. Len and Barbara pick us up right on time. First order of business is for Rick to try on the jackets they have brought along. The blue double-breasted blazer fits Rick just right and we're off to the Subiaco Oval. When we get there, Len parks in a reserved spot just outside the stadium and we proceed to the Admiral's Suite for the pregame meal. We've been given the proper credentials and are ushered directly to the suite. The room holds about 190 people and we are seated at one end of the head table next to Len and Barbara. We even have place cards at our seats. The CEO of the Dockers (Cameron Schwab) is seated at the other end. We are introduced to many people connected with the team and most are curious how we've gotten here. There are preliminary speeches and presentations. Cameron gives a "state of the team" review, and in his intorductory remarks he includes us when he introduces special guests. We are wowed!! A short video about the Aussie Mens and Womens Field Hockey Teams follows, and then Cameron gives an overview of what to look for in the Dockers vs. Richmond Tigers game. The meal is outstanding--one of the best we've had on our trip so far. The wine is equally good. After dinner, Len and Barbara lead us to the President's Box, from where we'll watch the game.


Upon entering the box, we are given pre-printed name tags and shown to our seats (which also have our names on them) in the first row (above the lower tier of seats) almost at dead center of the field. Unlike our first footy game, we have an excellent perspective of what's going on and can clearly see who has the ball and when a goal is scored. The game gets underway and the Dockers take an early lead. The first quarter ends with our lads in the lead by 12, but by half time it's tied at 48. Len is somewhat critical of the team's performance; and Barbara (who is quite knowledgeable) is not too happy either. All we can think about is that the Dockers somehow have to find a way to win, or we'll feel that we have taken advantage of everyone's hospitality. During halftime, we're invited into the coaches box from where the game strategy is executed and Cameron gives us an explanation of what goes on there. The third quarter is a disaster, and ends with the Dockers on the short end of a 77-68 score. The fourth doesn't begin much better as the Dockers fall behind by 15. All Rory can say is "Oh no!" and "This isn't good." We've been told that neither of these teams has won back to back games at home against the other. Since the Dockers won last year, it looks like the streak will continue.

The home crowd has been out-shouted by the small minority of Richmond supporters; but the the Dockers dig deep and their offense comes to life. With only a couple of minutes to go, they're down by 1 at 89-88. Have they run out of gas?? NO!! Des Headland sends the crowd wild with a 6-pointer to make it 94-89 Dockers. Rick exhorts them to score once more and with about 2 minutes to go, our old friend (Paul) Medhurst kicks one thru. The horn sounds with the Dockers on top 100-89!! We enthusiastically tell anyone who'll listen that our string is unbroken: we've seen two games and the Dockers have come from behind to win both! Cameron says we should come back, and we promise that if they make the Premier League Final (like our Super Bowl), we'll find a way to be there.

Rick gets two more treats before we leave: a visit to the locker room and a walk on the field. We've had a great time, been treated like royalty, and met more terrific people, topped by Len and Barbara. When they drop us off at the apartment, we again feel like we're leaving family behind. We hope they'll come see us in the States some time soon. IS IT ANY WONDER WE"RE HOOKED ON FOOTY??



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