Victoria versus the Dream Team: wake me up next week.
Greg Baum:
OVERWHELMINGLY, fundamentally, footballs fans follow the game through the wonderfully irrational prism of their allegiance to clubs.
Fans admire other clubs, but love only their own. They would no more change club than gender. Even the unmoved in this city feel compelled to declare for a club at some stage.
A club provides its fans with important links, to a place, to the past, with all its resonances, and to each other. It provides a sense of tribalism, of belonging, of righteous struggle — week by week, season by season, decade by decade — in which no game stands alone, but is a step one way or the other in that ceaseless and unifying struggle.
The Tribute Game, by definition, sits outside this dynamic. It is a one-off, an exhibition, between two representative teams, one rarely seen, the other made up. Little, if any, emotion bubbles up in anticipation of it. I am not excited by it, but nor can I work up enough feeling to loathe it.
I feel indifference.
Me, too.
That's in spite of living in WA in the 70s and 80s and having to put up with wall-to-wall West Aussies droning on about how they'd beaten "you" as in me as in Victoria again.
There was even this one bloke, Blubsy, who would get stuck into me when Victorians lost on It's a Knockout. He seems a bit mad, but Blubs maintained he had an excuse: he played in a WAFL grand final, but a prominent Victorian football identity screwed his chances of a premiership. So he wasn't nuts, he was bitter. As, I suppose, were many other 'Gropers who were sick of seeing WA get spanked by Victoria despite the Victorian sides being loaded with the likes of Polly Farmer and Barry Cable.
After enduring 15 years of that you'd think I'd have been driven to support the Vics, but no, I never identified with my state team the way the West Aussies identified with their state team. I didn't care who won. I probably would have if I'd had to put up with it every week, like what happened when the Toast entered the VFL/AFL, but with state games being scheduled only once in a while I built up no animosity. Not that there weren't some good matches, but many of them were on weekdays so I didn't get to see them, and the one match I actually went to (1987) was a bore.
The only thing that did shit me was the number of locals who refused to accept that I didn't care. They thought I was trying to take the edge off their sledges.
No, for me a state game has always been a match in which Carlton* or the Demons aren't playing.
* "They would no more change club than gender." I've changed from Melbourne to Carlton to Melbourne, so I guess I'm a bloke again. Last time I checked, anyway.
If you read the AGB via a feed/reader and you've been getting strange pings and things, I've just been playing around with Windows Live Writer and feeds. Still don't actually know what I'm doing.
Posted by: Tony T | 07 May 2008 at 10:21
I Ching.
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 07 May 2008 at 10:50
As an expat Groper, I would pay good money to go to the G this weekend to watch a side wearing gold jumpers and a black swan take on the Big V. But dream team? Meh.
I suspect many Croweaters feel the same.
Posted by: Gareth | 07 May 2008 at 11:09
I used to love the SoO games. But this - this monstrosity - is not SoO.
Posted by: carneagles | 07 May 2008 at 13:06
And if I were an AFL player I wouldn't dream of fronting for a Dream Team and risk getting injured.
"Dream Team" sounds very basketball-ish, so that's another blob.
Posted by: os | 07 May 2008 at 13:21
If they are going down this so-called Dream Team path, they may as well have an East v West game (East = VIC,TAS,NSW,QLD - West = SA, WA, NT) so it puts everyone completely off except the corporates.
Or go back to a tri-yearly match between the states - with pub rules (winner stays on, if you don't kick a goal in a quarter you run around the boundary sans dacks.)
Posted by: Adsy | 07 May 2008 at 15:08
it all pales into comparison with the magnificence of "International Rules"
Posted by: Tex | 07 May 2008 at 15:47
You really changed teams?
Posted by: ThirdCat | 07 May 2008 at 16:50
Ex house mate of mine, brother of AFL playa. Said there was possibly enough numbers for a Yogoslav vs. Aborigines game. Back in the 90s.
"Hate the game, not the playa."
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 07 May 2008 at 17:12
A few years ago one of the papers over here lined up a team of Aussie-Croatian players from the west. Gerovich (x 3), Jakovich (x 2), Gril ..Gryl .. Grilusi.. ah hell, Gorillashit (x 3), Sumich (x 2), Begovic, Starcevich, Gaspar (x 2), Sarich. Squeeze in Ilya Grgic, Bulldog but was on the WCE list for a few years. It was a fantastic list.
Posted by: os | 07 May 2008 at 18:21
Don't forget BARICH! What a champ.
So they are all Cros, eh? No Serbs or Massos etc?
Posted by: Big Ramifications | 07 May 2008 at 18:34
Suma Magic... doesn't sound very Croatian to me.
And yes, I changed teams. Don't ask. Don't. Ask.
Posted by: Tony T | 07 May 2008 at 19:17
How come no one has asked about Blubs?
Ok then.
He played for a losing WAFL grand finalist between 1973 and 1978. His brother played for another WAFL club in the 1980s.
Posted by: Tony T | 07 May 2008 at 19:36
My one viewing of the international rules was when I was stranded up in Darwin with work. Boring.
That's not counting a couple of those matches from the early 80s.
Posted by: Tony T | 07 May 2008 at 19:37
Richmond will be holding its own tribute game during round 14 vs Carlton. It will be our worse team of the last 25years versus our second worst team of the past 25 years. Justin Plapp anyone?
Posted by: Tiger in a Tube | 08 May 2008 at 10:23
Yes, West Australian's think there is some kind of burning animosity amongst victorians about WA, that every Vic gets up every morning wondering how they can do down the west, when the reality is that they don't care, and are only vaguely aware of the state's existence. The same attitude is prevalent on a (slightly) larger scale with New Zealand. Kiwis seem convinced that Aussies go through their whole day shaking their fists towards TLOTLWC.
Would be funny if Pavlich got injured (or better reported) in this game though. Seeing the Dockers lose and lose is the most entertaining thing in footy. At least Richmond expect to be perennial losers. The Dockers actually think they are good.
Posted by: The Worst of Perth | 08 May 2008 at 10:53
as a neutral AFL fan, who doesn't really have a strong alliegence, (living in Brisbane) I'm quite looking forward to the game, however I'm quite disappointed that the AFL world seems to think it's little more then a sideshow. Generally in any sport the quality of the match is highest when you get all the stars onto the one arena, which usually allows for a very entertaining game. But if the players themselves can't be arsed turning up, it'll be rubbish, which will be really disappointing as theres no other matches on this weekend.
Posted by: joshn | 08 May 2008 at 11:48
In the old days, in the 70's and 80's when the then VFL used to strip South Australia and Western Australia of their best players, State of Origin matches has a bit of spice in it.
This would give the Croweaters and the Sandgropers a chance to beat the hated Gumsuckers (yes that is the term for Victorians) and demonstrate that the reason why the VFL reigned supreme is because they stole all their best players away.
Victorians in general were so arrogant that whatever the result really believed that their football was so much superior it wasn't even worth about discussing.
As a Carlton fan, which in the days before salary caps used to raid interstate teams with its chequebook, it was fun to see people like Stephen Kernahan and Craig Bradley in their South Australian jumpers playing against some of their Carlton team mates. And the big 'V' jumper looks like a Carlton one anyway.
But I agree with Baum. After the advent of the AFL and interstate teams the whole rivarly thing has shifted to the interstate clubs and there is no reason for this concotions.
This sounds like one of those meaningless friendlies that happen in Association Football sometimes.
Posted by: Guido | 08 May 2008 at 11:54
The decline of state of origin football puzzles me somewhat. I can see that it should have declined, especially when some of the game's stars started coming out of NSW and Qld - it's no good having representative games without the best players, and you can't passionately support an Allies team.
But a lot of people say that state football was rendered obsolete by the national club competition, and I'm not convinced of that. State of Origin in rugby league continues to thrive despite the Broncos being in existence about as long as West Coast.
Posted by: David Barry | 08 May 2008 at 16:47
Hell, I can't believe I forgot Barra. Not only played AFL for the Eags, but NFL for the Western Reds.
I also forgot Scotty Watters, who gets a guernsey per favour of his mum.
And I found the article, from the West Australian:
BULLDOGS DREAM TEAM (From FB)
Jon Dorotich - Darren Gaspar - Travis Gaspar
Damien Gaspar - Glen Jakovich - Danny Civich
Rod Grijusich - Tony Parentich - Otto Santich
Eric Sarich - Tom Grijusich - Allen Jakovich
Peter Sumich - John Gerovich - Scott Watters
Ruck Jack Sumich, Mathew Pavlich, Jack Rocchi.
INT Ivan Glucina, George Grijusich, Tony Begovich, Dean Ercegovich.
Posted by: os | 08 May 2008 at 18:38
I mean NRL. League.
Posted by: os | 09 May 2008 at 11:33
There should be a return to SOO footy. 2 tiers: Vic / WA / SA in one league. Tas / Qld-NT / NSW-ACT in another. Play each other once over 3 seperate weekends (just before the season, around Rd 7, around Rd 14). Ladder over a 2 year period. Promotion and relegation for bottom of premier tier, and top of lower league. WA home games MUST be played with a Burley football.
SOO was a great standard of footy in the '80s it has to be said. I didn't go away crying if the Vics lost but was pumping my fist for Ablett, Dermott, Weightman and Sir Robbie for certain.
Dream Team game is a nonsense, the mere mention of the word "exhibition" makes me cringe. I do like the Irish hybrid rules games though. Probably because they are so Irish.
Posted by: RT | 09 May 2008 at 12:30
At least they didn't call it an All Star game.
Posted by: Tony T | 09 May 2008 at 12:38
@ The Worst of Perth - Fremantle are the Richmond of Perth
Posted by: Tiger in a Tube | 09 May 2008 at 16:08
Roy Master's has a good article on SoO AFL & NRL, and tonights Oz/Kiwi clash.
It does seem to an outsider that AFL is far more tribal round their clubs rather than their State and I would put it down to the fact that Aussie Rules suffers from a lack of international competition. The lack of enthusiasm is akin to the NFL's Pro Bowl. It's more an exhibition game than the blood and guts affair that the regular season is.
League, although having good competition internationally doesn't compete with Union as far as the ceremony and pride that goes into those Internationals. Nothing can compare to a Bledisloe Cup or a winning tour of the British Isles. For that reason the advent of SoO in the 80's became League's version of the Bledisloe.
I can still remember Brohman's broken jaw at the hands of the maniac Boyd and more scarifying at the time, Beetson attacking Cronin in SoO I. That attack on not only a team-mate but a gentleman raised the hackles of every New South Welshman. Ever since that game SoO is the be all and end all of the NRL up there with the NRL Trophy.
Tonight's game, as Masters points out, has an injection of Stuart vs Bennett. Could the SoO be undermined by these two clashing? I hope so. The hatred of QLD has tempered a tad since the NRL has expanded and there seems no good justification for thuggery, no state vs state mate vs mate. So perhaps a good old fashioned flogging of NZ (and particulary Bennett) might be just the ticket. If not, then humiliating QLD would be just as nice.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 19:50
Whoah! Whoever that was at the end of the Haka with the spastic face is craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaazy man!
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:15
Magic try. Storm 4 - NZ 0
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:23
It' a Storm show tonight as Billy saves a dead set cert.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:27
The 'Short Ball' to Crocker, "a shade forward" says Rabbits. Storm 8 - NZ 0.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:31
20 minutes in and it is, after all, an exhibition match. 16-0.
UnZud is PussWeak. Bring on QLD.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:35
Rabbits, Sterlo and Gus, the brains trust, don't know the rules. No one on him, it was a try for all to see. The Kiwi's are a joke. Storm 12 - NZ 0.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 20:41
Inglis lets in a weak one. Storm 12 - Storm 4.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 21:18
Rabbits, Sterlo and Gus were confident it was a double movement, but I thought a bloke had to be held and then scramble again for a DM to be called. But what do I know.
More importantly: why are our boys wearing blue and purple? Or is that azure and mauve, or some such poncy combination?
Posted by: Tony T | 09 May 2008 at 21:24
You're 100% spot on Tones. No DM.
I was wondering the same myself out loud and the mrs said it is probably a combination of Maroon (QLD) and Blue (NSW). That's good enough an explanation for me.
What an extremely poor game. The shining lights were the Oz defence, the first try and Billy Slater.
The worst commentary effort for some time, negative selections for both teams, poor coaching, lack of intensity, too many penalties. All up a complete waste of time.
This game exemplifies why SoO is streets ahead of a League International, no matter how much Rabs and Gus try to talk it up.
Pats rating: Shouse to the nth.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 22:02
On a more momentous note, Jack's dead, long may he live.
For Parramatta's Dorothy, Sursum Corda!.
Posted by: pat | 09 May 2008 at 22:44
I care about as much as the IPL, teh Supa Test and what Kevin Rudd had for breakfast.
Posted by: Colin Campbell | 10 May 2008 at 08:04
Lifeless bloody game. Turned it on as Gasnier strolled through for a try. Turned it off when Hodges butchered a try at 22-6.
And I gots t' agree with CC. The IPL is turning out to be a total bust for me. I suppose that's no surprise, but shit! it's managed to achieve a sum total of about 5 minutes of my attention.
Posted by: Tony T | 10 May 2008 at 10:18
Vale Jack Gibson. Great coach. Had the balls to wear a fur coat to a Grand Final win in the early 80's and always good for a quote.
"Waiting for Cronulla to win a premiership is like putting a porch lamp on for Harold Holt."
Posted by: RT | 10 May 2008 at 10:41
Raise The Porch Lantern.
What's Chinese for aldis?
Posted by: Tony T | 10 May 2008 at 11:21
Watched a fair chunk of the Dream Team game - it LOOKED like an exhibition match, with very little of the genuine hard-ball competitions you see every week in a normal game. They mainly just looked a little tentative - quite silky and skilful, but very "bloodless". Not how I remember state games, and just the opposite of NRL State Of Origin.
Posted by: tONY | 11 May 2008 at 21:46