The AFL is back

Tonight I took Ethan to his first Australian Football League game. It was a practice match between the Brisbane Lions and Collingwood, played at Carrara, down on the Gold Coast. They had a practice game last year which I also went to, and this year they already have had a few games. As it says, AFL is Back! Brisbane won 14.15.99 to 12.10.82 in the end, although we didn't stay for the whole game, as Ethan got tired into the last quarter. That was ok, as I didn't really want to leave at the end with the rush out of the only exit from the carpark. They got just over 10,000 people there. Not bad for a practice game when Rugby League games struggle to get that many.

It was an interesting affair. We arrived late, just as the first quarter ended. We went to rush in, then got told we had to go an buy our tickets at a separate booth, so of course, although there was no one waiting at that time as we walked over to it, all of a sudden these Collingwood supporters came out of no-where, and jumped the queue. Ethan and I waited whilst they argued about whether they could get a seat in the stands, and there was only one ticket window open. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to stand in front of 7 ticket windows, with women behind each counting ticket sales, and wait for Collingwood supporters? Ethan also wanted to go to the loo. Fortunately, our saviour arrived when this guy offered us complimentary tickets. I took them, and we got in for nothing.

The interesting thing about Carrara is that there is a massive push to get an AFL team up there. the Southport Sharks are alledgedly trying to get North Melbourne to relocate up here, with half their games at Carrara, and the other half in Melbourne. They're supposedly very cashed up due to their Pokie revenue. Its interesting that the focus of AFL news up here, other than the Lions, has been on this. Maybe Age, you'll have to move up here!

Cheers, Whiz.