TOPIC:

I don't know about you fellow posters on here, but I am sick & tired of the endless negativity with footy these days. Whats even sadder is this negative saturation isn't just aligned to the AFL anymore, us over here in WAFL circles are constantly drawn into everything other than talking about the actual game of football.

Are we to blame for it?
Damn right we are, but I am not saying we don't have a gripe. We have had to endure plenty along the way. And I myself have been drawn into it, Im part of it. But there comes a time where we have to all sit back and just get on with loving our game again. For our own sake if anything.

Just for something different, I would love to hear what other posters "ritual" is on game day. And try to keep it purely about your daily Saturday culminating in an afternoon at the football. I don't know about you, but waking up on a Saturday morning in winter gave me an instant rush. It may not be that way exactly these days, but I do still have my moments.

Back in the old days our Saturday morning was plenty of coffee, and tune into 6PR for the pre-recorded "Football World" pub panel show replay. Then get the newspaper off the front lawn, while the missus would try to iron it flat so I could read it. And it was generally straight to the footy line-ups page to dissect the EP line up, and to see what radio station was broadcasting the game. By 8.30am it was off to take the kids to junior footy, which was all over by about 10.30am. We would give the kids some money to by a hotdog and a drink. Then the kids would race back to the car with their footy boots still on and covered in dirt. The kids themselves wanted to get home and cleaned up because they themselves wanted to get to the WAFL that day asap. Once we all scrambled into the car, fully kitted out, it was off to the game quickly so we could watch at least a half of the reserves game, and then the league match. Unlike most kids of today, my kids were absorbed in the game itself. They sat there and watched everything. They never got bored. This allowed me to go off and get a beer at half time, like the responsible parent I was . But that was my ritual, my weekly 15 minutes after a 40 hour week at work. After the game we generally went up to the club rooms to watch the presentations, which hundreds of people did in those days. Then it was fish & chips on the way home, and no dishes to worry about. That is the way a Saturday was for us. We never discussed or planned a Saturday, it was routine. Some may say that is boring, but it was one of the best times of our lives. We loved the footy and everything that revolved around it. There were no grey areas and not a mention of peptides & drugs, an unfair draw, player drinking issues, unfair advantages, rule changes, 3 umpires, subs, negative coaching, kicking backwards etc etc etc... We just talked about our bloody wonderful game Aussie Rules. Back then we actually couldn't find anything to piss & moan about. It was the greatest outlet for most of us, after a long week. The WAFL & footy was our weekly saviour!!

I have my issues these days with EP & the alignment. But Ive learnt to move on. I have to. I still have my opinions of what I want for the WAFL, but my match day Saturday today is still one of purity. Going to the footy and thinking about nothing else but THE FOOTY. I still get to a game. I like to watch any contest unlike before when the mere thought of going to a game other than a Royals game was considered a sin. This weekend I cant get to any game, but the following week I will venture out to East Fremantle for the EF-C game, and more than likely the week after perhaps the SF-Subi game. I cant just cut myself off from the game I love because of certain things. I refuse too.

We have a great game, a great local traditional clubs that have a century of history. All I ask is for you to consider taking a fresh positive approach to the footy, especially on game day. Get out there, spread a positive vibe and enjoy your football day/afternoon without these hang-ups. Do it for yourselves, enjoy the simplicity of the footy again. Try it. Heck, if we all did it or at least trained ourselves to just love it like we used too, it may just rub off on a few more people.

I will take this time to wish everyone a great Easter break. And remember there are a bunch of real good WAFL games coming up on the weekend. Get out there, breathe in the hotdogs from the caravans, enjoy a cold beer, and just love the game itself again. Now is a good time to leave the bullshit behind.

Reminds me of the lyric's to this great footy song from the past, and its not Up There Cazaly. It used to always get me juiced up for the pigskin.

When the football season comes around again,
And the fans start swarming too the grounds again,
There's this kind of fever, that keeps us on our toes,
Hear the fans are roaring, as the whistle blows,
Though it pouring and your teams behind,
But still you never throw in the glove,
Its the football season, and that's the reason,
Its the time - of the year - that we love.
So grab your coat and your rug,
And your thermos and mug,
If your team is behind,
If it rains or it shines,
Its the football season, and that's the reason,
Its the time of the year THAT WE LOVE!!

So with all of that, just have a great Easter everyone, give the kids chocolate - it wont kill them. Have a block of Dairy Milk yourselves - it wont kill you. We can keep talking about Essendon, Hird, Crowley, The alignments, The AFL incompetence, The stupid Hippe Club fight, OR start enjoying our actual game again. Like we all should. Enough is enough. You know Im right, Im Sam Kekovich.

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Larry Bird wrote: ??

really larry? Really?

your contribution to positivity probably sums up why we are where we are today. In the past I'd expect the best from an EP person. Guess not these days. Thank you anyway.

Great post Jardine...

jardine wrote:

Larry Bird wrote: ??

really larry? Really?

your contribution to positivity probably sums up why we are where we are today. In the past I'd expect the best from an EP person. Guess not these days. Thank you anyway.

Jardine, like it or not, you are still basically an EP person.

Good post Jardine, I think the majority do move on. Lets face it
"it is what it is"

But it is hard to love your game again when the game I grew up watching called Australian Rules Football is no longer played.

This new manufacturely evolved out of that sport called AFL is not the game I love. It is the closest game to it or one that resembles it but it is not the game I grew up watching.

one time only wrote: Jardine, like it or not, you are still basically an EP person.

I have blue & black blood, your right. And I love Craig Wulff. I will never barrack for anyone else. But I wont go into another speal for you poor buggers, ive vented my feelings there. I just want everyone to get abit more positive about footy. The negatives are killing us. I want some old style footy goodness. Read the shit on here and it can make you wonder why anyone bothers anymore. We've lost our souls I think.

Ride a new positive with Ch7, because even at this early stage it has been a class coverage. Hope it grows and they sort this WP thing out.

that's all im asking - find some good & enjoy the game again. It rubs off on everyone & more will jump on board . Cheers

you had junior footy on a Saturday morning Jardine? it was always on a Sunday for me.

Greatwhiteshark wrote: This new manufacturely evolved out of that sport called AFL is not the game I love. It is the closest game to it or one that resembles it but it is not the game I grew up watching.

I know brother. I feel it.

But sitting at home on a Saturday isn't viable either. Just get positive, the alternatives are no incentive either. Seeing a 50 metre goal on a Saturday arvo is better than a 50 minute conversation with the missus over a bloody herb tea. Don't get me wrong I love her, but jesus.

Great post Jardine. Alignment still crap but am thinking it will be another WAFL clubs problem in a few years