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Why I'm Basically Obsessed with Footy!

I was absolutely gutted to discover that enjoying traditional American gridiron football meant rising at the crack of dawn. No exaggeration! With the time zone difference, I'd be up at around 3 am to catch the Lions match. Occasionally the games would fall on a Monday during daytime hours, yet the Lions rarely made the broadcast. When the hockey season started, I faced the same dilemma. I've always needed my regular sports fix—both football and hockey. If I don't see at least one player get Kronwalled each season, watch Pasha work his magic, and experience anxiety whenever Howie's between the pipes, I'm one miserable Wings devotee! How would I survive without that sporting edge?

 I soon learnt that Australia encompassed far more than just Cricket and Soccer. During a holiday visit, an acquaintance had mentioned Aussie rules to me, though they failed to convey just how truly marvellous this sport genuinely is. ABSOLUTELY! It's as though NFL and Rugby combined to create something, then Hockey and Lacrosse did the same, and those two offspring merged to produce Aussie Rules. It's an incredible sport! Still sceptical about why I'm basically hooked (and you should be as well!!):

1. Every squad has that bloke. You know who I mean. Everyone knows his name and he's essentially the best thing since sliced bread? For me at Melbourne, that player is Nathan Jones. He's the equivalent of Kronwall for me. I don't care how ordinary a season he's having if when I watch the game he flattens someone on the field.
Source: http://goo.gl/Tfi7mp
2. Let's face it, there are rules but most people aren't aware of them (or are they?). It makes viewing the match so much more enjoyable! When I first began watching I was clueless about everything except the fact that if you kicked it between the middle posts, you scored 6 points and if you kicked it between the outer posts, you scored 1 point. But it didn't matter! I had just as much fun watching a match I understood nothing about as I do these days!

3. Following the idea of being unfamiliar with the rules, do the rules even count in AFL? Let's be honest... does anyone truly adhere to the rules? I mean seriously... There's no way the players bounce the ball every 15 metres, it's just more like when they think it's necessary.

4. Have I told you how fantastically incredible this sport is? That's justification in itself. Even without any background knowledge of it, simply knowing how tremendous it is should be sufficient.

5. Unlike most other sports, there are no protective gear in Footy. I've heard from quite a few Australians that the intensity of the sport has been toned down to protect players, so I reckon one day they might introduce light armour. Yet these blokes play the full match, hammering each other without any protection whatsoever! If that's not the height of toughness, I don't know what is.


6. The game maintains steady action from start to finish. I'm a fan of American Football (NFL), truly I am. Yet there are moments when watching feels like observing lengthy pauses interrupted by occasional contact. Naturally, there are also instances of thrilling tackles and engrossing plays. Australian Rules offers near-constant engagement. Breaks in play are infrequent, so throughout each quarter, you're witnessing non-stop activity. It's brilliant! Spectacular! Absolutely gripping!
7. My final reason for adoring Footy is how strongly it connects me to home. Those crisp winter weekends revolve around attending matches and socialising with mates. Sunday Funday isn't particularly prevalent here, yet Sunday Footy Sessions certainly make the week far more manageable. Spending quality time with wonderful mates whilst watching an exceptional sport is genuinely what makes enduring winter worthwhile!


 Whilst I'm reluctant to see summer fade away, I've got footy to look forward to and help sustain me through the colder months. Let's all don our scarves and woolly hats, pick up a meat pie and VB, and experience this exceptional sport alongside our mates. Australia.... or perhaps more specifically Victoria... we're grateful for Australian Rules!

Do you follow footy? I'd love to hear which team you support!
Until we meet again....

Keep Exploring!

 **This post includes various links to videos showcasing the brilliance of Kronwall, Pavel, and AFL. Enjoy the viewing!**

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Stephanie

Currently living in Australia, I started writing about my travels as a way to keep in touch with family and friends back home. From my travels, I developed a deep passion for photography. I find great joy writing about my experiences and sharing them with others. Be sure to follow to keep up with all the amazing adventures!