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Back from Geelong-another CULT away trip
Once again I return from an away match to see people screaming at each other. On the otherhand those who travelled to Sleepy Hollow had a cool old time. Here of some of the random experiences from this weekend.
-Driving through a blizzard between Goulburn and Yass. Not rain, not sleet, but a full on heavy snow shower. And a temperature of 0 degrees! We were all very excited by this, with Pete even stopping the car and taking photos of the countryside all covered in white.
-the party at Cher's place. Despite temperatures hovering around 5 degrees about 30 Swans supporters from both Sydney and Melbourne were made feel very welcome by Cher and new RWO mascot Dermie the dog. Poor Dermie had had so many new people than by the time our gang got there he was very very tired and somewhat bewildered.
-The Cattery. Welcome to football in the country kids. A real bush feel to the place. Their Cheer Squad made a bit of noise, but the rest of them wouldn't say boo to a goose. There are stands at that ground that seriously resemble bus stops. But I guess that is part of the charm of the place; it is rustic and has that old world kind of history to it. Where else in the AFL can you go behind the main stand and buy an ice cream or Coke from the Mr Whippy van. The ice cream was nice too.
-Geelong, the city. Heaps bigger than I envisaged. As Adam from the Melb CS said, as big as Newcastle. And from what I hear, darn cheap to live in. I was staying with Vaughan, one of the Bay 13 cricket gang I know. He had a really nice 3 bedroom place in St Albans Park about 10 minutes from central Geelong and paid $37000 for the land and $117000 for the house. Pete then went on to say that a house his size in Sydney would be costing nearly $450000 odd. (Man, I sometimes wonder why I struggle to make ends meet here when I could live like a king in other areas of Australia.) Sure it gets the rap of being kinda dull. But it isn't far from the beaches in summer. And is close enough to Melbourne if you need to have some big city life.
-The pizza dinner at Hoppers Crossing. After being given a scenic tour of the beautiful suburb of Werribee at night
we finally found the Di Caprio's pizzeria, complete with a Michaelangelo mural plastered across one wall. 
I swear it was all planned by Denise, because if we got lost in the car she's have a captive audience trapped in her car that she could talk at unabated. Cheersquad Steve (aka the Fonz) was a complete crack-up, and even tried to get the telephone number of one of the waitresses. Laer on in the car out to the airport his seat would not adjust. So we had him swaying back and forward every time we stopped.
It is just so cool after a loss to hang out with people from all walks of life who all like to have fun yet can engage in intelligent conversation as well. I hark back to the days when I went to Geelong in 98 and went back to Melbourne on the train and stayed in a hostel all on my own, all lonely and depressed. Well, haven't things changed!!!!
The Melbourne Cheer Squad and supporters are just great people to be around, passionate yet not too feral, serious yet always up for a laugh, people who in some cases have followed the club for decades yet are unassuming enough to want to just stand and talk footy with a beer in hand. The pre match in the tent at the Barwon was fun. I got to make new friends which is way cool. Tony Morwood likes hanging out with us supporters. You can see that. Denise even tried to sweet-talk him into coming out on the banner with us. We even had a chuckle about a certain RWO listee and the troubles with ticketing for the Geelong match. We did very well getting everyone into the CS Area that we wanted by the way. JS, Des, Ruth, Old Royboys, Silent Lurker all got it. We even stood up the back, singing back at a group of Auskick kids who were intent to razz our chants and cheers. Apparently we were the first Cheer Squad to start singing back at them. "Hopscotch at playlunch, you're playing...."
-The cat mascot stealing Russell's Swan. He came around and just nicked it. So Russell went scurrying after it onto the field. The man on the gate even opened it for him. Meanwhile out on the banner in the howling Bass Strait wind, my banner rope handle completely snapped. We nearly lost the thing too, as the gate steward did not have any sort of run sheet at all and replied with a typical country answer of "Yeah mate, the Swans should be coming out in a little while." Welcome to Hayseed heaven!
There look to be a huge amount of Sydney-based listees coming down for the Dees match. Hopefully we can break the pizza record of 32 set after the Melbourne match last year, and have as many of you sitting with us behind the goals at the Lockett end.
People think I'm mad following the Swans around the country. I don't. I love it. Following the footy is as much for the social occasion as it is for the game. It is just so cool being with people from all walks of life who share but one thing-their ove of the Swans and having fun.
JF
PS:- I hear that there will be some sort of aftermatch planned for the Telstra Dome match. Apparently it will be at one of the function rooms inside the ground.
JF
-Driving through a blizzard between Goulburn and Yass. Not rain, not sleet, but a full on heavy snow shower. And a temperature of 0 degrees! We were all very excited by this, with Pete even stopping the car and taking photos of the countryside all covered in white.
-the party at Cher's place. Despite temperatures hovering around 5 degrees about 30 Swans supporters from both Sydney and Melbourne were made feel very welcome by Cher and new RWO mascot Dermie the dog. Poor Dermie had had so many new people than by the time our gang got there he was very very tired and somewhat bewildered.
-The Cattery. Welcome to football in the country kids. A real bush feel to the place. Their Cheer Squad made a bit of noise, but the rest of them wouldn't say boo to a goose. There are stands at that ground that seriously resemble bus stops. But I guess that is part of the charm of the place; it is rustic and has that old world kind of history to it. Where else in the AFL can you go behind the main stand and buy an ice cream or Coke from the Mr Whippy van. The ice cream was nice too.
-Geelong, the city. Heaps bigger than I envisaged. As Adam from the Melb CS said, as big as Newcastle. And from what I hear, darn cheap to live in. I was staying with Vaughan, one of the Bay 13 cricket gang I know. He had a really nice 3 bedroom place in St Albans Park about 10 minutes from central Geelong and paid $37000 for the land and $117000 for the house. Pete then went on to say that a house his size in Sydney would be costing nearly $450000 odd. (Man, I sometimes wonder why I struggle to make ends meet here when I could live like a king in other areas of Australia.) Sure it gets the rap of being kinda dull. But it isn't far from the beaches in summer. And is close enough to Melbourne if you need to have some big city life.
-The pizza dinner at Hoppers Crossing. After being given a scenic tour of the beautiful suburb of Werribee at night
we finally found the Di Caprio's pizzeria, complete with a Michaelangelo mural plastered across one wall. I swear it was all planned by Denise, because if we got lost in the car she's have a captive audience trapped in her car that she could talk at unabated. Cheersquad Steve (aka the Fonz) was a complete crack-up, and even tried to get the telephone number of one of the waitresses. Laer on in the car out to the airport his seat would not adjust. So we had him swaying back and forward every time we stopped. It is just so cool after a loss to hang out with people from all walks of life who all like to have fun yet can engage in intelligent conversation as well. I hark back to the days when I went to Geelong in 98 and went back to Melbourne on the train and stayed in a hostel all on my own, all lonely and depressed. Well, haven't things changed!!!!
The Melbourne Cheer Squad and supporters are just great people to be around, passionate yet not too feral, serious yet always up for a laugh, people who in some cases have followed the club for decades yet are unassuming enough to want to just stand and talk footy with a beer in hand. The pre match in the tent at the Barwon was fun. I got to make new friends which is way cool. Tony Morwood likes hanging out with us supporters. You can see that. Denise even tried to sweet-talk him into coming out on the banner with us. We even had a chuckle about a certain RWO listee and the troubles with ticketing for the Geelong match. We did very well getting everyone into the CS Area that we wanted by the way. JS, Des, Ruth, Old Royboys, Silent Lurker all got it. We even stood up the back, singing back at a group of Auskick kids who were intent to razz our chants and cheers. Apparently we were the first Cheer Squad to start singing back at them. "Hopscotch at playlunch, you're playing...."
-The cat mascot stealing Russell's Swan. He came around and just nicked it. So Russell went scurrying after it onto the field. The man on the gate even opened it for him. Meanwhile out on the banner in the howling Bass Strait wind, my banner rope handle completely snapped. We nearly lost the thing too, as the gate steward did not have any sort of run sheet at all and replied with a typical country answer of "Yeah mate, the Swans should be coming out in a little while." Welcome to Hayseed heaven!
There look to be a huge amount of Sydney-based listees coming down for the Dees match. Hopefully we can break the pizza record of 32 set after the Melbourne match last year, and have as many of you sitting with us behind the goals at the Lockett end.
People think I'm mad following the Swans around the country. I don't. I love it. Following the footy is as much for the social occasion as it is for the game. It is just so cool being with people from all walks of life who share but one thing-their ove of the Swans and having fun.
JF
PS:- I hear that there will be some sort of aftermatch planned for the Telstra Dome match. Apparently it will be at one of the function rooms inside the ground.
JF
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