Is Melbourne coming of Age ?

Dear Banjo,

Us football tragics aren't too concerned. The break means those players who have been carrying niggling injuries can get themselves right for the finals. As a Cats supporter I'm really looking forward to some great footy.

I've not been to a game in nearly four years in protest about the moving billboards the league allowed around boundary at games. I refuse to pay good money for a ticket just to be distracted by advertising. I now find it better to watch it on the telly as the angles preclude much of the visual pollution.

A Telstra mobile lets me watch all the games free and through covert means we are able to view them on our TV.

I deeply regret that corporate interests have turned my St Peters into a Hillsong but it was never the game's fault. It is the best in the world in my less than humble opinion.

Before that one of my most favourite religious/football pilgrims was to walk the concourse from Flinders Street Station to the MCG on a Friday night to barrack for the team. With the lights on at the stadium and the seagulls circling in the glare joining 10s of thousands of people making their way to the ground. The atmosphere, the deep congeniality which only really seems to occur in Victoria, and the anticipation just embraces you. It is one of the great stadiums of the world.

I remember taking a visiting German and his family to a game at the MCG. He was astounded by the fact it could seat over 100,000 telling me the largest football stadium in Germany was about 75,000 capacity. When I told him we were expecting nealy that for an ordinary home and away game he didn't believe it until the official attendance came up on the score board, 78,000. He loved every minute of the game, particularly the physicality and the speed. One observation was that the violence was on the field yet he saw nothing in the crowd, it seems it is the other way round in Germany.

//What do Victorians do on a weekend without football?

I just got a phone call from, Melbourne and it seems there are thousands walking or driving around aimlessly and not knowing what to do.//

Do they not have libraries in Melbourne?

It seems even worse here in SA, as it's a footyless September...

...except that it isn't! Though the AFL is conspicuously absent, the SANFL are still playing; so too the SAAFL.

Over the border, I'd expect the VFL to be playing this weekend. Aren't they?

If so, I think this thread's a bit premature. The significant gap in football is next month, between the footy finishing and the (A league) soccer starting.

Hi Toni,

And what could you possibly suggest the average football fan do in a library?
Sit on a pile of books and watch a replay Biffo and Buffo having a toe to toe with each other in last weeks match between the Wombats and the Galahs.

Wow! I knew steely was a bit soft in the head, but I had no idea he was that bad.

It explains a lot about his posts. What's left of a brain addled by aerial Ping-Pong.