We headed downtown to check out Australian Rules Football. It's just known as 'the footy' here. The family Seth stayed with last August came to enjoy the game as they are fans of the North Melbourne Kangaroos. The mascot wandered around the field before the game. Lilly was excited to see it but very worried that it would come up into the stands.
Just like teams in the U.S., they make huge banners for the team to run through. I guess that was more high school, huh. Anyway, apparently this guy has made it through 50 games, although the other team had a banner for a guy that made it through 200 games. The Kangaroo player didn't look so great after I saw the other banner.
The game was fun to watch. It's 18 on a side, a cross between football, rugby, and a little volleyball thrown in for good measure. I get the idea but I don't know all the rules so I don't know why there were fowls called or people were pummeled. There are four posts so you get points depending on where the ball goes through (either 6 points or 1 point). And after points are scored a guy stands on the end line and flings his arms around and then flaps some flags. Seth got a video of it, I find it amusing, but that's just me. The day was rather cold and we were sitting in the end of the stadium so we had the wind in our face. We were under dressed since we figured they would have the dome closed, oops! 
The guys still ran around in shorts that I think are a little short and sleeveless shirts. The game is 4 20 minute quarters although they end up being more like 30 minutes and the guys are running the entire time so I don't imagine they notice the weather.
2 comments:
I love the player in the back - looking off to the right. I imagine him as confused as the rest of the world watching the sport! Was it like Gaelic football? :)
Unrelated to footy - I just read an article that those crazy wallabies are all getting sky high dining on poppy fields. I knew you couldn't trust 'em. Knock it off wallabies!
Hope all is well :)
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