The Joys of Beating an Unworthy Adversary
May 16th 2008 02:53
In the Australian psyche, there is little more that excites the soul than winning from the underdog position; pulling the trousers down of an opponent which has lost control of the leash restraining their opinion of themselves. For me this glorious happening occurred at the MCG recently owing to a bunch of newly clear-skinned kids, a man who has his own spots eternally at the ready for a break out, and the Promised One still glowing with halo atop his shaven head.
When one has suffered through what have been dark times on Lygon St, you become accustomed to wearing your favoured Navy Blue along Flinders St more as a ritual than with any pride and hope for the coming events. The thought is always, I best save my windcheater for the conclusion having bravely retained it under arm for the duration in a hollow show of support for those doing similarly little to garner respect for their apparel. A sentiment not lost on my friend upon taking our seats,
The wonder of Collingwood and there supporters is that they always seem to think they are one step ahead of where they actually are. Apparently making a Grand Final is the equivalent of winning one. Bill Brownless and Garry Hocking would disagree. As would the broader football community. And it is this wondrous fairytale that makes beating Collingwood the most exciting of all victories, Kevin07 aside. Even midway through the second quarter with my chest puffed out at the display in front of me, I was told
When one has suffered through what have been dark times on Lygon St, you become accustomed to wearing your favoured Navy Blue along Flinders St more as a ritual than with any pride and hope for the coming events. The thought is always, I best save my windcheater for the conclusion having bravely retained it under arm for the duration in a hollow show of support for those doing similarly little to garner respect for their apparel. A sentiment not lost on my friend upon taking our seats,
Good to see you’ve all got zip up jumpers over the top you maggots!
pull your head in…you have zero chance of winning, zero!
This statement (one which I did agree with at that point having seen my team falter from such beginnings too often these past few years) of the Collingwood mantra reaffirmed on the field, twice the black and white actors run down from behind, heading toward open goals assuming they had done all of the hard work only to go unrewarded much like so many of their last of Saturdays in September. As unstoppable as our figure-head was, as unflappable as our saviour was, it was the image of a fallen magpie in the goal square, looking once again at what could have been that I savoured the most. Much like Peter Moore watching Mike Fitzpatrick hold the 1981 cup aloft, it is this feeling that brings unbounded joy at the football, that and still having your windcheater in your hand as you walk up the hill to Jolimont station, humming Lilly of Laguna.| 113 |
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