{"id":413,"date":"2013-05-15T12:46:57","date_gmt":"2013-05-15T12:46:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yumstudio.com.au\/footy\/?p=413"},"modified":"2013-05-15T12:46:57","modified_gmt":"2013-05-15T12:46:57","slug":"aint-no-second-prize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footy.yumstudio.com.au\/?p=413","title":{"rendered":"Aint no second prize"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Syd<\/a>

Syd ‘Swannie’ Skilton dimensions mirror that of the geezer who stood in front of me at the Grand Final<\/p><\/div>\n

It was the last defiant act on a diseased hip that seemed intent on crossing off its it\u2019s own bucket list by standing for the 2012 AFL Grand Final, 4 days before my right hip replacement.<\/p>\n

Grand Final day was freezing. We get into position early and we\u2019ve got the view to die for, lack of seat notwithstanding.<\/p>\n

We can see the whole ground like we\u2019re peeking out from behind one of those old fashioned windowed envelopes that were popular with business until email destroyed the time honoured concept of \u201clater\u201d.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest geezers I’ve seen bred outside of captivity plonks himself right in front of me just before the bounce. And he’s wearing a Swans Guernsey. Him and his mate are from outback in NSW and here for a bit of fun. He moves aside and the good natured ribbing between us begins.<\/p>\n

We can\u2019t see the flight of the ball, we can\u2019t tell if it\u2019s a goal at either end. We watch the kick and then gauge the reaction of those stationed behind the goals to determine if it\u2019s a goal before the noise from the rest of the ground confirms it. It\u2019s a painful finish. During this week I see a replay of highlights and realize I\u2019ve buried the result subliminally and for the first time feel the agony keenly of this loss due mostly to shanks at the pointy end.<\/p>\n

Sydney really is the AFL equivalent of a home for asylum seekers from other clubs. Players on their last chance take refuge in the detention centre that is the SCG and flourish. In their side are players who were deported from other clubs for philosophical, intellectual, behavioral and religious \u201cdeviations\u201d. At the Swans under the \u201cBloods\u201d ethos they assimilate into the disciplined team focused culture. Tonight there are least 5 \u2013 Ted Richards, (Essendon), Ben McGlynn and Josh Kennedy (Hawthorn), Luke Parker (West Coast). Ruckman Mike Pyke is a Canadian Rugby player, the ultimate AFL boat person.<\/p>\n

The two best games I saw last year where between these two clubs. The grand final, despite the result; and the Round 21 clash at the SCG where the Hawks got up on the death. Celebrating in a sea of red and white on the siren, the constant baiting from the terraces a distant memory as I sing the song til I was hoarser than a more joyous version of John Singleton in the mounting yard.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>

The transcendental scene at the SCG on the siren as the Hawks move to the top of the table Round 21 2012.<\/p><\/div>\n

In contrast, for tonight\u2019s Grand Final replay it\u2019s a balmy 20 degrees. It opens well. Buddy\u2019s been held goalless for two games straight but 2 minutes in he\u2019s marked and wheeled onto the left for a big 50 metre goal. Champagne Football!<\/p>\n

We\u2019re up by 40 pts at half time. The members around me are edgy, arrogant., eating their chips quicker than usual. The metabolism is aroused. We\u2019re walking on sunshine and don\u2019t it feel good? I always feel a little sad during Swans V Hawks games. As discussed in an earlier post<\/a>, my father was a South Melbourne supporter. He was shirt fronted into the after life well before retirement so I\u2019ve missed half a life time of talking \u2013 and kicking – footy with him.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not sure what he thought of the banjo solo in the middle of the Swan\u2019s song but I reckon it must have provided great comfort when the Swans were the whipping boy of the VFL\/AFL. The playing is crisp; almost new wave in the manner in which the rapid-fire strum is pursued by catatonic barre chord shifts. It smells of vaudeville, early black and white tele, boxing tent spruikers, the black and white minstrel show and John Lydon. Its Mammy meets Hendrix. It soothes and comforts while you\u2019re team is being dismantled by a power bigger than a Tonight show guest crooning \u201cYou were always on my mind\u201d with the in-house sidemen.<\/p>\n

We get some crazy decisions tonight from the field umpires:<\/p>\n