Theme: Sports Watching
If you come to Melbourne between late March & late September you really have to come see a "footy" game at the "G" - the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Yeah I know it says "Cricket" Ground not "Footy" Ground, but cricket is for Summer & footy is for Autumn through Winter.
And, "footy" in this case refers to Australian Rules football not Soccer (what many refer to as the only football) or Rugby League or Rugby Union in the northern states.
I've been to 3 AFL footy games at the "G" this year & frankly the first one was pretty ordinary for two reasons.
Firstly my team, the Sydney Swans lost to the Richmond Tigers & secondly the atmosphere at the ground was pretty ordinary with a smallish crowd not even half filling what is an 80 000 (plus) capacity ground. That was at the start of July.
Late August I attended the Swans v Hawthorn Hawks match which we not only one, but had a bigger crowd with a lot better atmosphere.
BUT!!!! The biggie was the last weekend in September when my team the Sydney Swans played the West Coast Eagles (from Perth) in the AFL Grand Final & after a dour, but incredibly exciting struggle over the 4 quarters, the Swannies got up by a mere 4 points! All this as part of a crowd of a bit over 90 000 people, many of whom were wearing the Red & White of the Sydney/South Melbourne Swans!
Equipment: Now, if you find that you'll be in Melbourne for the last weekend in September then you will have to get yourself some tickets organised WELL IN ADVANCE! And the master of understatement is striking once again. Yes I mean months in advance & there are packages available from travel agents. I would suggest having a look at www.afl.com.au & having a look at their AFL Travel link.
Now if you are going to be here at another time of the footy season I suggest you check with the locals & see what games are worthwhile going to see at either the MCG or the Telstra Dome. The Swans play the Essondon Bombers in the opening round of the 2006 season at the Telstra Dome on the Saturday night of April 1.
So get some colours to support a team. If it's cool a scarf or if it's hot & sunny a cap & get out and do some cheering!
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Address: You can't miss it!
Directions: A mere 15 minute walk from the city along Wellington Parade then cross one of the pedestrian bridges after 10 mins or so walking & follow the crowd. You can catch a train from Flinders St Staiion & get off at Jollimont Station, just one stop later.
Website: http://www.mcg.org.au/default.asp?pg=football
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on Oct 30, 2005
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