Aussie Rules

Jenn and I took the ferry up the Paramatta River to the Sydney Olympic Park. I was excited to finally experience Aussie football - AFL. The game is hard to describe without seeing it yourself, but it combines parts of soccer, rugby, and football into something uniquely Australian. It is very popular, chaotic, and rough. But also highly skilled combining speed, power, and endurance.

The highlight of the game actually occurred off the field. The visiting Sydney Swans were winning by about 10 points in the final quarter. A little boy of about 8 years old was cheering wholeheartedly for his favorite team only a few rows in front of us. He sported a Swans jersey and was totally engrossed in the action of the game. Unfortunately the home team, the Giants mounted a comeback and scored three unanswered goals to take the lead. After each score the boy would look back at the video screen to review the scoring play with a growing look of panic and disappointment. By the third score, and as it became clear that the Giants were on their way to an upset win, the little boy started to cry. We felt a little sorry for him until we realized moments later that the boy was once again cheering enthusiastically but now wearing the jersey of the winning team, the Giants. As the boy and his family left their seats and walked past us the Giants scored again. The boy, confidently cheered "finish them!" with an enthusiastic fist pump. I asked the boy and his brother as they walked by "I thought you were a Swans fan?" His brother matter of fact stated "He swapped". A fair weather fan maybe but he certainly loves Aussie football.