Three cheers for the AFL

Go Sydney Swans!

I had always associated football games to rowdy crowds and hooligans. The football crowds in the UK were famous for fights and if England was playing abroad, extra security was usually needed in the host country. In the US, football fans displayed their loyalty through body painting and beer guzzling. Yes, these are two different types of football, but that doesn’t mean the behaviour of fans or players alters much. So when told that Australian football was yet another variation of the game, it was hard to show interest.

However, I do live in Australia and it is very hard to ignore sport despite the bad rap it’s been receiving recently. The rugby league in particular has been receiving all kinds of attention of late, with antics making the show Footballers Wives seem more like Little House on the Prairie. And let’s not be reminded of Australian cricket’s recent loss in the Ashes.

Even the Sydney Swans are having a tough season and were facing their last home game without any hope of advancing into the semifinals. Despite the nil prospects, the weather was starting to warm up in Sydney and a night sitting around and watching a game seemed a great idea.

The Sydney Cricket Ground on a warm winter's night.

Home games for the Swans are played at the Sydney Cricket Ground next to the soccer stadium, due to the fact that Australian football is played on an oval field, similar to cricket. Points are scored by kicking through four goal posts – the middle two score six points and the outer two score one. You can run with and kick the ball, and there are rules specifying how long you’re able to hold the ball. There is no stopping. The ball is constantly on the move as are the players – that was my favourite part of the game.

Another big plus was the crowd. The AFL draws a family-oriented crowd. Kids run around, and I even saw a number of pregnant mothers. Of course everyone roots for their team to win and there are noise makers to cheer even louder, but it’s all quite relaxed and good-natured.

Bye Swans. See you next year!

Going to an AFL game also doesn’t cost a fortune. Concessions are always pricy in stadiums, but tickets are pretty good value and not hard to get. There must be family discounts given the number of kids at the game, and season ticket prices are also available … which is not a bad idea.