Melbourne: Aussie Rules

Melbourne is the home of Aussie Rules Football and I had to make sure I paid the G (the MCG - Melbourne Cricket Ground) a visit during my stay.  The footy has been played at the G since 1859 and half of the teams in the league are from Melbourne, which is where the sport was invented.

I got tickets to see the Melbourne Demons play the Gold Coast Suns. I had been following the Demons for a few weeks before to ensure I knew who to cheer for and although they may not be the best team in the league they had a fair chance of winning this match.

The ground is huge - probably the largest stadium I've been to with a capacity of just over 100,000. It is also (obviously) a cricket ground in the summer months and home to the famous Boxing Day Test. I managed to put the heartache of the recent Ashes Tour to the back of my mind as I settled in for the match.

I apologise to any Australian readers, but for my European/American friends who haven't had the pleasure in watching the footy, I will attempt to explain.... The ground is huge and there are are 22 players on each team. It is very like Gaelic Football, with players kicking and running with a ball like a rugby ball. They are awarded either 6 or 1 points for a goal, depending on how it is scored.  The score lines are typically close to a hundred for at least one of the teams involved. The athletes are very fit, as they cover a huge amount of ground during the match. They can sometimes get violent during tackles or altercations on the pitch.  They also have to wear very short shorts and a little vest.

The Dees may not have won, but I have a wonderful time and am looking forward to going back again to see another match.