A new week of build up of excitement to something that has happened only on two other occasions before in the history of the sport has befallen.
The red, white, and black colours of the Saints were noticeably rare. No one in the colours of a magpie was to be seen. It’s understandable, considering that their team led for most of the day, only to end stalemated.
If you are a stranger from out of town, the rules alone can be bewildering.
Rules
“Hopefully the members of each club will be there and you’ll get a better crowd. That’s one of the good things about having the replay,” said Tim who lives in Aspen Colorado and grew up in the Bronx in New York.
“Also they should be able to make some more money. I heard they may make $10 [million] to $20 million out of it. That’s not bad, good money for Melbourne. There’s a lot of good benefits. It’s a little bizarre. I don’t think any other sport around the world does it like that.”
McGrath loves sports and has seen sports events all around the world—a big baseball fan of the New York Yankees, with generations of his family having a tradition of purchasing season tickets. Yep, he’s a Yankees and Kangaroos fan in MLB and AFL.
Steve Taylor, 43, was originally from the United Kingdom and now owns a cycling business.
“The atmosphere is going to be much better in the stands,” said Taylor. He explained how the corporate dollar won’t be there as strongly. “So, every Tom, Dick, and Harry is gonna be either a St Kilda or Collingwood supporter. What a singsong that’s going to be. There’s gonna be just raw passion in the stands.
“That’s what’s going to make it a ‘real’ Grand Final. Because a Grand Final always loses it to that corporate entity, doesn’t it? Those corporate boxes who don’t really want to go there like the fans [do]. But this time … woohoo,” said Taylor. “The atmosphere will be electric. Just imagine the tele adverts. That’s going to get everyone juiced up again.”
Football
“Collingwood gave it everything they had,” said Steve. “St Kilda clawed back into the game and that’s why Collingwood will have the ‘collywobbles’ next week.”
“St Kilda will have more belief now than when they started last time,” said McGrath.
As for if extra-time should be allowed on the first Grand Final? They both took the negative.
“I hope they don’t change it. Grand Final Rematch, it’s unique. They shouldn’t change it,” said McGrath.
“They have to keep it the same. It’s tradition. Special,” said Taylor. “They’re professionals. Why change it?”
In a game with rules written over 150 years ago, which is steeped in stories of heroes, to change some rules would be villainy.
Oh, and if you haven’t gathered yet: The Pies and the Saints have to play off in the AFL Grand Final Rematch this Saturday at 2.30 p.m.
