Aussie Rules!

Last night we went to our very first Australian Rules Football (AFL) game.  It was the season opener with the Brisbane Lions vs the Fremantle Dockers.  We had seen some AFL games on TV when we first arrived here.  We had a rough idea of the rules and  it seemed like a good way to spend a Saturday night, so we decided to get tickets and go. 

A beautiful night at Wooloongabba Stadium

The game was so much fun to watch.  The players are constantly moving and they can't throw the ball to each other, they can only kick it or "handball"  to another player (sort of like an underhad serve in volleyball), all while running at full speed.  The players score points by kicking the ball through the goal posts.  A kick through the goal posts at the side is worth 1 point, a kick through the middle goal posts is worth 6 points.  It is a very fast paced game, not without danger, as the players do not wear padding or helmets.  We saw three players helped off the field, two of them bleeding from head injuries. 

In the second half of the game we noticed that there was a big crowd gathering in the stands behind us and no one was focused on the game.  A lady sitting in front of us stood up to see what all the commotion was about and was very disappointed to see that it was a politician.  "Ken Bloody Rudd!  The real interest is down on the field!"  Kevin Rudd is the man who was Prime Minister before Julia Gillard and is now Foreign Minister.  Clearly, this lady was no fan!  As much as the crowd seemed to be interested in him where we were sitting (he was being mobbed like a rock star) he was resoundingly booed when they showed him on the big screen.  Like any good politician, he smiled and waved...any recognition is good.

Kevin Rudd in the centre of the photo, leaning down to shake hands

After all that excitement there was only about 20 minutes left in the game.  Brisbane had been ahead for almost the entire match but Fremantle was really starting to pour it on.  There were hits and kicks (mostly at the football) and with only 30 seconds left...Fremantle scored the go-ahead goal and Brisbane lost the game!  We were so disappointed to have such a sad ending to our first game.  Of course, as Calgary sports fans, we are very used to losing (ouch!)