Setting Suns

The journey down to Warrnambool for a mates 50th takes me off the couch and on the road during game time for the Hawks Suns round 4 clash. As with all non football events, I breathe a contented sigh when I interpret the draw in matching these events upon discovering the party falls on away game. We set off for Leon’s.

An old mate Dan is along for the ride and we ride off into the west to Bobby Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited. The sun sets slowly on our journey and we arrive to dead calm and a light sea mist peppering the Victorian era street scape of the main drag.

I’ve had some terrible experiences when Hawk games criss-cross with an array of compulsory social events that reflect both the tenants of filial piety and mateship that reflect the milestones and priorities you’ve surrounded yourself with. A lot of my mates are football agnostic or committed to arts/hipster non-football engagement unless Hawthorn loses. Then – suddenly and disarmingly – they have opinions aplenty. I can just recall life pre-smart phones when you’d smuggle along trannies to tune into your game during a break in proceedings of your mandatory social event. Inevitably the venue would be tainted by poor wiring, an unearthed piece of electrical equipment to which you are adjacent or flouro lights that renders your signal a mess of radio haze and static.

You’re onto a winner if the venue has a TV, home and hosed if its wired for Fox Footy. Of course I’m not Robinson Curose. I recall a primary school fund raiser held at a Golf Club held the same night as a crucial Adelaide V Collingwood game deep in the season. Bucks was still playing. The 2nd stanza of trivia questions was delayed 20 minutes with the majority of the men in the front bar enthralled by a spirited fight back by the Pies. Even a sniff of action if only momentary can be enough to sate the thirst of the hungriest supporter whilst absent on social assignment.

The one consistent tendency is that in all these games every time you check your team is behind but coming back. What seems a close thing invariably ends as a blow out when during your final score check the flood gates are open and your lads are looking now to next week to atone. Not these days – we have AFL apps score refreshed every 30 seconds. We can watch the game live if our battery holds out. Tonight every time I check we’re ahead so maybe the sea air is good for my usual Hawk hex at these events.

There’s not many things Leon hasn’t been: Artist, Dad, Partner, Rock climber, Quarry Manager – now owner, Surfer, House Painter, Computer upgrade maestro, Mechanic, Mercedes classic collector. He is the only person I know who has a collection of old fashioned electric ceramic jugs. Adorned in simple earings and homemade tatts from his youth, he’s retains a touch of the wild ‘un with a cheeky grin and wicked laugh. The last party he’s held at home culminate in wrestling horse-play and busted shoulder. He’s on the mend and a wrist smashes at work.

We debate running a book at the party on what bone will be smashed and when tonight by the birthday boy. I go with a cracked sternum at 10.35pm and snag 5 to 1.

Sated by BBQ steak, an appearance by Leon’s son Noah’s band and good chat under a still seaside town sky, our thoughts turn to home as we begin our long goodbyes in the knowledge we’ll catch the last quarter on the car radio.

Our original quicker route through Mortlake back to Ballarat is scratched after a local in the small town of Derrinallum blows up both himself, his property and a couple of cops (non-fatally) after a siege post a violent incident in Ballarat the night before.

Two hours back home to a recording of the replay illuminated by a quiet road and a waxing moon under a cloud free sky. Thermos coffee, rum n raisin chocolate cruise fuel. Once home, I last til half way through the second quarter on the replay, enough to see Gunston nail a long goal and get his 2013 Finals series dead-eye direction back.

Here’s the birthday boy Leon, shown with his missus Tamara.

Hawthorn 23 10 148 defeated Gold Coast Suns 7 7 49