The Brisbane Lions play at the MCG this weekend and I can’t wait.
There is something special about playing there. It’s not just the fact it has these massive three tiered grandstands that go right up into the sky and can hold 100,000 for its biggest games.
Grand finals are played there, so it is a place where players’ reputations are made and broken.
It is the place where the game was born 150 years ago, and you can always feel that sense of history as soon as you walk into the ground, even though it has had more facelifts than most Hollywood actresses over that time.
For you Queensland kids and other readers of this column who live outside Victoria, I recommend going for a look if you ever get the chance.
When we play there, the crowd is often against us, even though we have terrific support from the old Fitzroy and ‘new’ Lions fans.
Particularly when you play someone like a Collingwood, you can cop plenty of ‘advice’ from over the fence.
Even though you are playing on the MCG, it is no different to a game of footy at Wilston-Grange, Yeronga or Ipswich.
You just have to tune out to whatever is being said and concentrate on winning the footy.
There is no better way to shut up loudmouths in the crowd than by beating their team.
I know our coach is very big on being humble in victory and gracious in defeat, which means you shouldn’t bait or respond to the crowd.
You just revel in the feeling of victory, nothing beats that.
Enjoy your footy this weekend and I look forward to seeing you Melbourne readers at the ‘G’!
Till next week,
- Jed
