I am a firm believer in the pre-game omen. Which is why my journey to Telstra Dome this weekend got me shockingly depressed. First of all, I had to go through “Hawksburn” station. That’s a bad sign. Then we passed a billboard for Qantas – the flying kangaroo. Then I noticed, for the first time despite thousands of visits, that Melbourne’s city loop train stations are a sea of blue and white. The only minute omen in our favour was an empty bottle of Mt Franklin that rattled on the train floor. It wasn’t looking good.
In the stadium, the omens worked their magic early as the Kangas bounced clear. I was watching a Hawthorn I had hoped was long dead – losing everything in the middle, failing to man up and continually passing to stagnant teammates. Then came the second quarter and the Hawks sprung into life. What a transformation!
Playing much more positively, we dragged ourselves back within a kick and forced the Kangas to run down time and keep the ball off us. It was a treat.
There is something about wearing a footy scarf or jumper or hat that turns strangers into old mates. I was discussing tactics and why we’d missed Jordan Lewis with the bloke sitting next to me, the two of us united only by the love of the Hawks and the preference of top level seating. I never learnt his name, but such details are superfluous – what’s really important is the knowledge that we would be experiencing synchronised emotions according to the play in front of us.
The final quarter: three goals needed, two players down, no fingernails left. All of a sudden, the Hawk charge we had been waiting for arrived, and we were in front. Then well in front. Then home. Buddy kicked a lazy five, Jarryd a silent four. Brad Sewell and Chance Bateman ran wild and free. And Robert Campbell had the best defensive quarter you are likely to see all year. When the siren sounded, the memory of three defeats last season (one of which never happened, of course) blended with the joy of seeing the Hawks fight back to win to concoct some sort of super-happy high. It was so satisfying snatching a win off the Roos.
On the way home, my sister and I began examining our chances against the Crows next week, and Brisbane the week after, but decided not to get ahead of ourselves and just be happy with the four points. To take it one week at a time. To use as many footy clichés as possible, basically.
All I know for sure is this: we’ve endured enough years of ‘rebuilding’ to appreciate the Hawks playing entertaining, competitive and matchwinning football.
And next time the pre-game omens try to predict a Hawk loss, I’m more than happy to have the boys prove them wrong.
Simon Morawetz - From the Outer
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the Hawthorn Football Club.
If you would like to be a From the Outer contributor email a short piece on your Hawks superstitions to fromtheouter@hawthornfc.com.au
