Hawks supporter Ben Flavel reviews the clash between Hawthorn and Essendon.
Everything seems better when we win. The mood, the food, even the humble meat pie.
The day started just like any other Sunday match. Hook up with the brother at 12 for the walk to the tram, grabbing a “Sunday Saver” ticket on the way. I felt hungry for a win, hungry for some finals action and as I hadn’t had breakfast, I was hungry for a Vietnamese Pork roll. It’s become somewhat of a tradition, after all. The sign on the wall said to eat the roll straight away or refrigerate. I didn’t want to take any chances (hello Springvale), so devoured mine in roughly 3.5 seconds. It was delicious. A couple of tram trips later and we were at the ‘G’ for the clash with Hawthorn’s greatest rival, Essendon.
There are few certainties in life. Today’s game threw up just two; Matthew Lloyd would put on a diving clinic (and can he pull his shorts up any more?) and I would spend the day with “the footy chicks”, Keli and ‘Loud” Sarah (she’s much louder than any other Sarah we’ve met). I’ve been going to the football with the footy chicks for about 14 years, ever since the heady days of Waverly Park. I used to park my car in the southern most corner, at what will now be known as 31 Padey Drive. We didn’t have mobile phones in those days so we used to meet under the giant screen. If you were early, you waited. It always amazed me how a couple of light-bulbs always seemed to have blown on the screen. What a great piece of technology that was.
At the modern MCG, we choose to sit in the Ponsford stand for 3 main reasons; the leg room, access to facilities and the fact it is as far away from the Hawthorn cheer squad as possible. We like to think our cheer squad are better looking than the opposition, and this way, we can keep that dream intact. The Richmond cheer squad are by far the ugliest. When we played Richmond a few weeks ago, they were up early, with Richo – that great sack of whinge- kicking the first goal. For the rest of the game they were screaming through the gaps in their teeth. Today, we were subjected to Essendon’s cheer squad, although, it must be said, we didn’t have much to do with them. Essendon must have visited the local orphanage and flicked tickets to some 50 kids and through all the high-pitched squealing, we couldn’t think straight. I’m sure the level of screeching was greater than I absorbed, but most of it was too high a decibel to register.
It’s amazing how the vibe of the crowd changes with each team we meet. Collingwood, for instance, provide the same amount of brain cells as other clubs, just spread over a greater number. Essendon are a different breed. They seem intelligent, love their “Hirdy” and most seem to have season tickets.
So today, as we settled into our position behind the goal at the Ponsford end, we were all a bit nervous. We needed this win, but so did the Dons. It all started a bit scratchy, but eventually, at the end of the first quarter, we managed to pile on 4 goals in 7 minutes. Even Dicko scored a goal. Lovely stuff. Mind you, I missed half of the first quarter due to the scurry of precious Essendon fans who absconded under cover at the slightest drop of rain. We sat tight and the mist soon departed.
The footy chicks were getting a little nervous in the second quarter. We were on top, yet weren’t exactly running away with it. And then, right on half time, we witnessed the most deplorable holding the ball decision...ever! Guerra, having a fantastic game, snaffled the ball in his midriff after a marking contest. Lloyd started riding him like a bull and the ump blew his whistle. Ball! The words “prior opportunity” punctuated the stands, accompanied by the odd metaphoric exclamation and question mark!
Amongst all the excitement, I started to tune into the finer points of the game. Like, when did Angus Monfries pass his certificate 4 in the Matthew Lloyd school of diving? His diving effort on the member’s wing was something to behold. I gave it a 9.0. He would have scored a 10 if it had resulted in a free kick, or if he had managed to pull it off in the pike position. Lloyd himself wasn’t to be undone. He managed to pull of the dive of the day mid-way through the third quarter. He missed the goal though, probably due in some part to the distraction from the sun-glare off Croady’s svelte thighs.
The rest of the game merely highlighted the array of talent that has assembled at the land of the Hawks. They are a fine bunch of gentlemen (special mentions to Lewis, Crawford and Ladson) and much credit must go to Alastair Clarkson and the gang. Even more credit must go to the board that had the vision to hire Clarko in the first place. Croad was fantastic, as was Brown, Guerra and the rest of the backline. Up forward, Buddy stood out (a little work on the set shots perhaps?), as did Roughy (ditto that last thought). And what a difference Mitchell and Boyle made.
Yep, it was pretty good being a Hawthorn supporter today; the boys sure did us proud. In my mind, everything was at peace and felt right. The footy chicks were happy too, throwing around high-fives left right and centre. I’m even convinced that my pie had some real meat! Everything tastes a little sweeter when we win. Bring on September!
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.au would like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to the Official Club website. If you would like to sign up to write for hawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
Everything seems better when we win. The mood, the food, even the humble meat pie.
The day started just like any other Sunday match. Hook up with the brother at 12 for the walk to the tram, grabbing a “Sunday Saver” ticket on the way. I felt hungry for a win, hungry for some finals action and as I hadn’t had breakfast, I was hungry for a Vietnamese Pork roll. It’s become somewhat of a tradition, after all. The sign on the wall said to eat the roll straight away or refrigerate. I didn’t want to take any chances (hello Springvale), so devoured mine in roughly 3.5 seconds. It was delicious. A couple of tram trips later and we were at the ‘G’ for the clash with Hawthorn’s greatest rival, Essendon.
There are few certainties in life. Today’s game threw up just two; Matthew Lloyd would put on a diving clinic (and can he pull his shorts up any more?) and I would spend the day with “the footy chicks”, Keli and ‘Loud” Sarah (she’s much louder than any other Sarah we’ve met). I’ve been going to the football with the footy chicks for about 14 years, ever since the heady days of Waverly Park. I used to park my car in the southern most corner, at what will now be known as 31 Padey Drive. We didn’t have mobile phones in those days so we used to meet under the giant screen. If you were early, you waited. It always amazed me how a couple of light-bulbs always seemed to have blown on the screen. What a great piece of technology that was.
At the modern MCG, we choose to sit in the Ponsford stand for 3 main reasons; the leg room, access to facilities and the fact it is as far away from the Hawthorn cheer squad as possible. We like to think our cheer squad are better looking than the opposition, and this way, we can keep that dream intact. The Richmond cheer squad are by far the ugliest. When we played Richmond a few weeks ago, they were up early, with Richo – that great sack of whinge- kicking the first goal. For the rest of the game they were screaming through the gaps in their teeth. Today, we were subjected to Essendon’s cheer squad, although, it must be said, we didn’t have much to do with them. Essendon must have visited the local orphanage and flicked tickets to some 50 kids and through all the high-pitched squealing, we couldn’t think straight. I’m sure the level of screeching was greater than I absorbed, but most of it was too high a decibel to register.
It’s amazing how the vibe of the crowd changes with each team we meet. Collingwood, for instance, provide the same amount of brain cells as other clubs, just spread over a greater number. Essendon are a different breed. They seem intelligent, love their “Hirdy” and most seem to have season tickets.
So today, as we settled into our position behind the goal at the Ponsford end, we were all a bit nervous. We needed this win, but so did the Dons. It all started a bit scratchy, but eventually, at the end of the first quarter, we managed to pile on 4 goals in 7 minutes. Even Dicko scored a goal. Lovely stuff. Mind you, I missed half of the first quarter due to the scurry of precious Essendon fans who absconded under cover at the slightest drop of rain. We sat tight and the mist soon departed.
The footy chicks were getting a little nervous in the second quarter. We were on top, yet weren’t exactly running away with it. And then, right on half time, we witnessed the most deplorable holding the ball decision...ever! Guerra, having a fantastic game, snaffled the ball in his midriff after a marking contest. Lloyd started riding him like a bull and the ump blew his whistle. Ball! The words “prior opportunity” punctuated the stands, accompanied by the odd metaphoric exclamation and question mark!
Amongst all the excitement, I started to tune into the finer points of the game. Like, when did Angus Monfries pass his certificate 4 in the Matthew Lloyd school of diving? His diving effort on the member’s wing was something to behold. I gave it a 9.0. He would have scored a 10 if it had resulted in a free kick, or if he had managed to pull it off in the pike position. Lloyd himself wasn’t to be undone. He managed to pull of the dive of the day mid-way through the third quarter. He missed the goal though, probably due in some part to the distraction from the sun-glare off Croady’s svelte thighs.
The rest of the game merely highlighted the array of talent that has assembled at the land of the Hawks. They are a fine bunch of gentlemen (special mentions to Lewis, Crawford and Ladson) and much credit must go to Alastair Clarkson and the gang. Even more credit must go to the board that had the vision to hire Clarko in the first place. Croad was fantastic, as was Brown, Guerra and the rest of the backline. Up forward, Buddy stood out (a little work on the set shots perhaps?), as did Roughy (ditto that last thought). And what a difference Mitchell and Boyle made.
Yep, it was pretty good being a Hawthorn supporter today; the boys sure did us proud. In my mind, everything was at peace and felt right. The footy chicks were happy too, throwing around high-fives left right and centre. I’m even convinced that my pie had some real meat! Everything tastes a little sweeter when we win. Bring on September!
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.au would like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to the Official Club website. If you would like to sign up to write for hawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
- The Hawks raised $1,700 for HSBCkids after kicking 17 goals in their sixth home game clash against the Essendon on Sunday 5th August click here for more details.
