AFL Grand Final 2018
3:46 PM
I'd love to report that I've been silent on this blog because I've been too busy travelling the globe but the reality is I've struggled to leave the state, never mind leaving the country.
When my AFL team, the mighty West Coast Eagles, found their way into premiership contention toward the pointy end of the AFL season, Amanda generously gave me a leave pass to travel to Melbourne should they make the grand final. Well, after a successful finals campaign, that's exactly what happened! After booking flights and accommodation prior to the Eagles even making the Grand Final, Mikey and I were very excited that our gamble paid off. However, we missed getting tickets in the GF ballot and for a while there thought we might not get to go. Lots of calls, messages, texts and emails later, we managed to secure two standing room tickets so off we went!
Red eye horror flight to Melbourne on Friday morning had us land in Melbourne in time for the AFL grand final parade. We pretty much went to the pub on arrival and actually bumped into a few people we knew and get into our beers. The parade was great and it was nice to see the boys relaxed before the big day.
Saturday we arrived early to the MCG as we were told that standing room areas pack out quickly and we wanted a decent position, which we managed to get behind a couple of short ladies. Our area got very packed and by the time bounce down came, we were well and truly sandwiched in.
The game itself was epic. West Coast got off to a very shaky start, giving up the first 6 goals of the game within the first 20 minutes, but steadied and started eating away at the deficit over the next two quarters to square up the scores at 3/4 time. The last quarter the Eagles and Collingwood trades punches, with the Pie getting out to a 2 goal lead before West Coast stole the lead within the last two minutes of the match with a brilliant goal from Don Sheed in the pocket (after a great intercept mark by Jeremy McGovern, a good mark and play on by Nathan Vardy and a ripping grab and play on by Liam Ryan). That goal ultimately won the game and the 2018 premiership for the West Coast Eagles.
It was great to be there and be part of the 100,022 strong crowd. We stayed at the ground after the game for the after party where Jimmy Barnes played live for 30 minutes before the boys came out to meet the crowd with the premiership cup. Was a great day.
Sunday we rose a bit slowly and after some food and some shopping, eventually found ourselves back in a pub to watch the match replay over a quite beer and reflect on a great game of footy. We eventually headed back to Perth first thing Monday morning, where parent duties resumed immediately!
When my AFL team, the mighty West Coast Eagles, found their way into premiership contention toward the pointy end of the AFL season, Amanda generously gave me a leave pass to travel to Melbourne should they make the grand final. Well, after a successful finals campaign, that's exactly what happened! After booking flights and accommodation prior to the Eagles even making the Grand Final, Mikey and I were very excited that our gamble paid off. However, we missed getting tickets in the GF ballot and for a while there thought we might not get to go. Lots of calls, messages, texts and emails later, we managed to secure two standing room tickets so off we went!Red eye horror flight to Melbourne on Friday morning had us land in Melbourne in time for the AFL grand final parade. We pretty much went to the pub on arrival and actually bumped into a few people we knew and get into our beers. The parade was great and it was nice to see the boys relaxed before the big day.
Saturday we arrived early to the MCG as we were told that standing room areas pack out quickly and we wanted a decent position, which we managed to get behind a couple of short ladies. Our area got very packed and by the time bounce down came, we were well and truly sandwiched in.
The game itself was epic. West Coast got off to a very shaky start, giving up the first 6 goals of the game within the first 20 minutes, but steadied and started eating away at the deficit over the next two quarters to square up the scores at 3/4 time. The last quarter the Eagles and Collingwood trades punches, with the Pie getting out to a 2 goal lead before West Coast stole the lead within the last two minutes of the match with a brilliant goal from Don Sheed in the pocket (after a great intercept mark by Jeremy McGovern, a good mark and play on by Nathan Vardy and a ripping grab and play on by Liam Ryan). That goal ultimately won the game and the 2018 premiership for the West Coast Eagles.
It was great to be there and be part of the 100,022 strong crowd. We stayed at the ground after the game for the after party where Jimmy Barnes played live for 30 minutes before the boys came out to meet the crowd with the premiership cup. Was a great day.
Sunday we rose a bit slowly and after some food and some shopping, eventually found ourselves back in a pub to watch the match replay over a quite beer and reflect on a great game of footy. We eventually headed back to Perth first thing Monday morning, where parent duties resumed immediately!
