From my mentor and good friend Mike

September 25, 2011
by
@harry_o
View Comments

I was at the MCG on Friday night for one of those memorably close preliminary final struggles where the fans can get seats rather than the corporate theatre-goers.

The noise was extraordinary; I did not hear any of the four sirens.
What endures in my memory is that for a city of our size we punch above our weight in hosting amazing and peaceful sporting spectacles.

 
In the cauldron of the MCG there were almost 90,000 people yelling their lungs out. Not a single violent incident on or off the field.

 
Almost half the crowd was female, and near me they were the most vocal. Kids of all ages were everywhere. A group of Somalis occupied the row in front of me. The Hawks seem to have a lot of South Asian fans.

 
After the game, opposing players embraced and the emotion between the indigenous players was strong.

 
The crowd left the stadium in peace and shared irreverent humour.
In the context of global recession, national political mediocrity, and the continual dumbing-down of our culture, you need to find something positive, and I found it Friday night at the ‘G.

 
Go Melbourne (the city)!

  • Judy Robertson

    A place where we can all come together noisily but peacefully and celebrate our great game. You are simply the best, Harry xx

  • http://ghconsulting.blogspot.com Greg Hart

    Pretty much sums it up, I was a long way from the MCG, but still loved it

  • Sdhkfa

    Lol cuz u put “the city’ at the end bit very very inspirational <3

  • Jacquic

    totally agree with your Mentor’s sentiments. As a Collingwood supporter, I had a Hawks supporter next me (I didn’t know him). We shared humorous banter during the game and at the end of I shook his hand and apologised. He wished my team good luck for next week. On the walk back to the car, every Hawks supporter I walked past, said the same thing.
    Amazing place and people

  • Jacquic

    totally agree with your Mentor’s sentiments. As a Collingwood supporter, I had a Hawks supporter next me (I didn’t know him). We shared humorous banter during the game and at the end of I shook his hand and apologised. He wished my team good luck for next week. On the walk back to the car, every Hawks supporter I walked past, said the same thing.
    Amazing place and people

  • William Carison

    Excellent, I also did not hear the four sirens, terrific atmosphere!

  • Aaltair

    What a lovely piece…I had a nice thing happen to me too…dropped my mobile at the ‘G and an anonymous person handed it in to the East Melbourne police station – and didn’t even leave their name! Makes you proud to be a Victorian..and a Pies supporter!!

  • Hoodohersi

    I was one of the somalis that were in the row infront of you !

  • Jennifer

    Harry that is a great piece by your friend Mike. My feelings exactly. The G was an awesome place to be on Friday night – didn’t hear sirens either! As a matter of fact I have not experienced or seen any violence, racism or general nastiness at any footy game this year and I always sit smack bang in the middle of it. On Friday night my daughter and I (Pies fans) sat right near the Hawks Cheer Squad and had a lot of fun with some of their supporters.

  • TrudyS

    I had a lovely chat with some Hawks supporters before the game, met up with my Hawks friend at half-time and celebrated with the Pies back at the Westpac Centre after the match! Was also texting with Pies friends who were watching the game live in Poland and Kuwait! A great night and crowd – I never heard a siren at the end of any quarter either!!

  • Redrose22

    What would be even better – is if the AFL – did not want to profit from gambling & other people’s misery. Very disappointed with this aspect of the game.. They need to think outside of the box, and find healthier & more creative ways to make $. If you’ve ever walked into a Pokie venue.. it is absolutely vile & full of hopeless misery.

  • Georgiehy

    How nice that someone has for once said something nice about our game (obviously this nice person actually sits amongst the crowd to form his opinions rather than riding the wave of whatever is currently popular to say) and our (AFL – not just Collingwood) wonderful supporters. Thank you thank you thank you – I was beginning to become paranoid being labelled a toothless, dolebludging, racist, terrorist.

  • Kate

    brilliant…people coming together through sport. MCG best sport venue in Australia..nothing like having the craic with the opposing fans it is all part of it!!,passionate fans. Wish Soccer could embrace that.

  • Kate

    brilliant…people coming together through sport. MCG best sport venue in Australia..nothing like having the craic with the opposing fans it is all part of it!!,passionate fans. Wish Soccer could embrace that.

  • Chris

    Couldnt have said it better myself

  • Chris

    Couldnt have said it better myself

  • http://twitter.com/scruffydog101 Shay Semmens

    Certainly not all games are like this, but in this case he was spot on. Considering how passionate (loud) the supporters were from both sides, the Pies supporters were for the most part gracious in victory (probably just feeling fortunate to have escaped, to be honest) and the Hawks supporters were equally good sports. I didn’t see any incidents across the ground or on my way home.

    Also, I may have raised the stranger next to me into the air with a giant bear hug after the siren… though he was also a Pies fans so it was acceptable.

  • Branx

    Awesome atmosphere at the game, friendly banter among the supporters during the game. When we left we were euphoric in the knowledge we could dare to dream of another premiership. Melbourne is the sporting capital of the world, soccer fans should see how 87000 fans can be passionate and show sportsmanship no matter who wins.

  • Mary Estcourt

    That sums up so much that is good about the game and the people.

  • Lisabullock

    Why is it we don’t hear these stories in the news wonderful to read thank you

  • ReibaLaLaLa

    I was at the “G” on Friday night, the atmosphere was amazing, I can reffer to pretty much all of what was stated in the blog. (almost forget to mention that I’m a big Collingwood fan) GO PIES

  • Kylie Herbert

    I had the same experience. I was there alone but left the ‘G having shared laughs, hugs and handshakes with total strangers. It was certainly the most friendliest game I have ever attended. Makes me proud to live in this great city. I wouldn’t trade Friday night’s experience for anything. Thank you Melbourne. GO PIES!

  • Jonesy4567

    Football in Melbourne. There is nothing like it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=624432320 Lissette Knight

    SO TRUE! I went with my mother in law, 2 sister in laws & niece and my poor Tiger husband who enjoyed the game as much as anyone else. I guess I take it for granted that there is a lack of violence at the footy however passionate we get. Definately need to pat ourselves on the back, we’re good people Melbournites.

  • smauge

    I’ve always been proud of our game and its followers ability to enjoy a pressured contest, opposing fans sitting side by side, vocal between the sirens but jovial after it. You look at other sports around the world where fans of opposing teams are separated by wire and sitting at opposite ends of the stadium. How boring it must be not to have the banter between all the supporters!
    I live in Sydney and our supporter group up here meet at a pub for each game. The pub is “home” to several supporter groups, Hawthorn being one of them. On Friday the room was filled with equal amounts of both teams supporters and it was just as vocal there as it was at the game. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard such a loud game in all my years of supporting!
    The last quarter was amazing. The lead seesawing and the crowd seesawing with it. The last three minutes had everyone on the edge of their seats, as if anything we said or did could influence the result.
    When the siren went we Collingwood supporters were a mixture of elation and relief. The Hawthorn supporter, clearly disappointed, but also proud of a team that came so close to beating the reigning premiers. But most importantly ALL supporters in that room hugged, shook hands and share the experience of having seen a game we knew would go down in the annuls of history as one of the best. The majority of Hawthorn supporters wished our team good luck and some said they’ll be turning up on Saturday to cheer on the very team that had just broken their hearts.
    We have a lot to be proud of when it comes to our sport. For a country that is so famous for our sporting fanaticism, we lead the way in regards to crowd behaviour.

  • Mikiv82

    Beautiful article mate. Thank you for capturing what this marvelous game means to so many of us.

  • Tbg

    GO MELBOURNE (the TEAM)

  • Dan

    I was at the game on Friday night and the last quarter was a real test for both players and fans alike. I could not help but express my excitement and relief as the Pies took the lead, with an almighty raw along with the rest of the magpie army. A Hawks supporter standing next to me felt an urge to do the same, right in my face, as Buddy nailed a miracle goal. At that point a measure of combat was expressed as our passion for our respective sides poured out and it was obvious to a mate of mine that things were getting heated. He had the presence of mind to point out that we were both being taken away by our passion and that we might not want to end a great night out, in violence. I tell you what, it worked for me and the Hawks support took the hint as well. I’m not a violent person but at that one extreme moment, we were clearly taken away by it all. So thanks to my mate Grant, as we all enjoyed this spectacular, in a loud and peaceful manner. Thanks to all the mates who consider others in the great times like these and the tough and desperate times. Melbourne is the best city in the world and we can all do our bit to keep it that way. Good on you Harry and Go Pies.

  • Victor

    We live in a wonderful world; despite what goes on elsewhere around the world – there is more good than bad. Let’s not forget those who are less fortunate than us and pray for change.
    What Mike wrote is so true..this game is ours: Multicultural, Sport loving Australia.

  • Graeme

    Like everyone else- i didnt hear the siren and thats the first time thats happened to me since the geelong v coll prelim in 2007. Amazing game and atmosphere ( during and afterward). Go pies!

  • Angiesteffy

    I woz born in Australia and been fortunate to have lived and travelled overseas, I’ve also gone to third world countries…I just have to say how bloody lucky we are to live in such a country, where honesty still exists and naivete…I just pray we never see corruption or totalitarian governments here…We live in the best city in the world..I like to call it Gods Country..;)

blog comments powered by Disqus