In a surprise return of the electrical box series, I've been noticing new ones around the city. I haven't had a camera handy to take shots. Except for this one that I saw just outside the Gabba yesterday. It's a representation of the Lion's head coach, Leigh Matthews. He has quite a rep in the footy world, and he's also immortalized on an electrical box.
Monday, 28 April 2008
Classic Kick
Here's a photo of a classic kick on goal from yesterday's game. Taking photos from my seat was a challenge, since I was facing in to the sun. I made the best of it, and got a few great shots like this one when play was nearby.
Here we see a Melbourne player just after he's kicked the ball. He's fully extended, and in fact, almost leaping in the air. Facing him is a Brisbane player, leaping into the air, in an attempt to distract the kicker and possibly block a low kick. The ball is just below the shadow-line in the top-middle section. Below the players, we see their shadows. At the lower middle, we see the shadow of the ball. In the background are players from both teams, resting, along with water carriers and trainers. Most players on either team are very casual, flat-footed and even inattentive. That's because it's extremely unusual for players to miss kicks on goal from the distance the Melbourne player is kicking from. The likelihood the ball will go back in play in the 5-10 seconds after the kick is remarkably low. You still see a few players with their eyes on the ball and on the active play, just in case something goes awry.
I took this photo in very high res, continuous color, cropped it, and rebalanced the colors and tones. If you have some time, have a look at the original, largest version on the photo site. There's a surprising amount of detail in the shot. With a photo shoot like the one I had yesterday, I'm tempted to go find a telephoto or super-telephoto lens to take to games so I can get a bit more detail on the players, and also capture some shots farther away from the goal. When I get a chance, I'll stop by a photo store and see what my reasonable options are. I have no intention of spending tons on camera equipment, but since I am currently interested in sport, spending a little money on something that adds a bit of interest to attending games seems OK.
Fortunately, the people at the Gabba have no problem with still cameras. They do seem to have a theoretical objection to bringing video cameras in, but so far, I'm only interested in stills, both for my photo journal and for posting here on the blog.
The player did score. It was a great goal, and some good play led up to it. Melbourne did have a credible fourth quarter, but it was nowhere near enough to bring them back. Brisbane won 137-85.
Here we see a Melbourne player just after he's kicked the ball. He's fully extended, and in fact, almost leaping in the air. Facing him is a Brisbane player, leaping into the air, in an attempt to distract the kicker and possibly block a low kick. The ball is just below the shadow-line in the top-middle section. Below the players, we see their shadows. At the lower middle, we see the shadow of the ball. In the background are players from both teams, resting, along with water carriers and trainers. Most players on either team are very casual, flat-footed and even inattentive. That's because it's extremely unusual for players to miss kicks on goal from the distance the Melbourne player is kicking from. The likelihood the ball will go back in play in the 5-10 seconds after the kick is remarkably low. You still see a few players with their eyes on the ball and on the active play, just in case something goes awry.
I took this photo in very high res, continuous color, cropped it, and rebalanced the colors and tones. If you have some time, have a look at the original, largest version on the photo site. There's a surprising amount of detail in the shot. With a photo shoot like the one I had yesterday, I'm tempted to go find a telephoto or super-telephoto lens to take to games so I can get a bit more detail on the players, and also capture some shots farther away from the goal. When I get a chance, I'll stop by a photo store and see what my reasonable options are. I have no intention of spending tons on camera equipment, but since I am currently interested in sport, spending a little money on something that adds a bit of interest to attending games seems OK.
Fortunately, the people at the Gabba have no problem with still cameras. They do seem to have a theoretical objection to bringing video cameras in, but so far, I'm only interested in stills, both for my photo journal and for posting here on the blog.
The player did score. It was a great goal, and some good play led up to it. Melbourne did have a credible fourth quarter, but it was nowhere near enough to bring them back. Brisbane won 137-85.
Ta!
One of my favorite Aussie expressions is "ta." It is short for "thank you." A simple expression. Before I knew, I always thought it meant "good bye." I wondered why everyone was saying goodbye to me, and not even having the courtesy to say thank you. Well, I finally clued in to it, and I have to say I have come to really appreciate it. Everyone here uses the expression, and it truly is all purpose and omnipresent. It definitely marks the locals and the people who are being informal. Yes, we still say thank you, and with a particular emphasis on the "ou" that is entirely Aussie. But, for quiet moments, at the coffee shop, or with friends, it's so easy to use "Ta" as a simple, think-nothing-of-it, thank you.
I picked up on this shortly after arriving, but never really thought to post an entry on it. There are more customs I've picked up, consciously or unconsciously, I'm sure. When I notice, I'll try to write about them.
The other night, I went back a few pages in my blog. I'm really happy with the way this is turning out. Old posts brought back some nice memories of days gone by, and reminded me of more than one happy occasion. A turning point for me here in Australia was the day I rented a car and went for a drive through the Brisbane Forest. I so remember that moment when I stepped out of the car and heard the waves of cicada calls sweeping up and down the hill. The beauty of such a simple thing after my senses had been overwhelmed by the works of man for so long.
The blog certainly has its awkward moments, too. But many years in the future, after I have left the country, I'll still be able to treasure the moments I've managed to distill.
I picked up on this shortly after arriving, but never really thought to post an entry on it. There are more customs I've picked up, consciously or unconsciously, I'm sure. When I notice, I'll try to write about them.
The other night, I went back a few pages in my blog. I'm really happy with the way this is turning out. Old posts brought back some nice memories of days gone by, and reminded me of more than one happy occasion. A turning point for me here in Australia was the day I rented a car and went for a drive through the Brisbane Forest. I so remember that moment when I stepped out of the car and heard the waves of cicada calls sweeping up and down the hill. The beauty of such a simple thing after my senses had been overwhelmed by the works of man for so long.
The blog certainly has its awkward moments, too. But many years in the future, after I have left the country, I'll still be able to treasure the moments I've managed to distill.
Sunday, 27 April 2008
At the Gabba
The Gabba is the stadium where the Brisbane Lions hold their home matches. It's the home of the Queensland Cricket Club, and located in a neighborhood known as Wooloongabba. Aussies have a habit of shortening most names, so Wooloongabba became The Gabba. It's a beautiful ground, located very close to the heart of the city. Here's a photo of one of the four light poles surrounding the oval, taken from very near the base.
Today, the Lions hosted the Melbourne Demons. It was a shellacking for the Demons. While I'm all for the home team winning games, I do like to watch a good contest. The match was quite uneven, and the final score does not reflect how uneven it was.
It was also ANZAC weekend, and I finally got to see some pomp and ceremony before a game. One of the things that's interesting to me is that this is the first professional sports game I've been to where the Australian national anthem was sung. More importantly, there was a brief memorial for the Diggers at the start of the match. ANZAC Day, which was formally last Friday, is a memorial for and celebration of the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in the First World War who landed on the beach at Gallipoli in what is now Turkey. It's a huge national holiday, roughly equivalent to Memorial Day and Veterans Day in the States, rolled into one. It commemorates the death of 60,000 ANZACS in WWI, as well as all the members of the Armed Services who have served their countries. Each ANZAC day sees dawn services at most of the memorials, followed by parades, and gatherings at the nearest Returned Services League hall.
And, in the same way that many professional teams have games on national holidays, so too do the Aussies have ANZAC day and weekend games. The big game is Carlton vs. Essendon, which is the only Aussie rules game played on ANZAC day itself. The game today at the Gabba continued Aussie Rules ANZAC day celebrations.
The opening ceremony asked all members of the audience to rise and remove their hats. A traditional memorial was spoken, followed by a lone bugler, and then the singing of the national anthem, Australia Fair. The teams lined up for the ceremony. To my experience, this is much closer to how Americans start most professional sports matches in the States. We typically rise and sing the Stars Spangled Banner, doffing our caps. The true patriots place their hand over their hearts.
It was a beautiful, warm day here, perfect for being outside. I went to the match with some friends, and we had a great time. It's really pleasant to spend time with other people who appreciate the finer points of Aussie Rules, and I'm certainly learning a lot more about the game as I watch the professionals play. There's a lot to learn from watching the games on TV, but there's so much more to see from the stands at a real game. It's very similar to the difference between watching baseball on TV and watching baseball in a stadium. You can never see all the action on TV. And in Aussie Rules, the difference is magnified, since there are so many more people on the field, and the ground is so huge. There are over 40 players on the field, plus five umpires and two goal judges. At any given moment, there may be 2-6 trainers wandering about, delivering water or drinks or towels to players, perhaps a trainer or two, and who knows who else, so long as they don't interfere with play. Players are coming onto and off the field regularly, so there's quite a lot to see.
The Gabba is a great stadium and the city has a lot to be proud of for building such a place. Even the light poles have their own kind of geometric and architectural beauty.
Today, the Lions hosted the Melbourne Demons. It was a shellacking for the Demons. While I'm all for the home team winning games, I do like to watch a good contest. The match was quite uneven, and the final score does not reflect how uneven it was.
It was also ANZAC weekend, and I finally got to see some pomp and ceremony before a game. One of the things that's interesting to me is that this is the first professional sports game I've been to where the Australian national anthem was sung. More importantly, there was a brief memorial for the Diggers at the start of the match. ANZAC Day, which was formally last Friday, is a memorial for and celebration of the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in the First World War who landed on the beach at Gallipoli in what is now Turkey. It's a huge national holiday, roughly equivalent to Memorial Day and Veterans Day in the States, rolled into one. It commemorates the death of 60,000 ANZACS in WWI, as well as all the members of the Armed Services who have served their countries. Each ANZAC day sees dawn services at most of the memorials, followed by parades, and gatherings at the nearest Returned Services League hall.
And, in the same way that many professional teams have games on national holidays, so too do the Aussies have ANZAC day and weekend games. The big game is Carlton vs. Essendon, which is the only Aussie rules game played on ANZAC day itself. The game today at the Gabba continued Aussie Rules ANZAC day celebrations.
The opening ceremony asked all members of the audience to rise and remove their hats. A traditional memorial was spoken, followed by a lone bugler, and then the singing of the national anthem, Australia Fair. The teams lined up for the ceremony. To my experience, this is much closer to how Americans start most professional sports matches in the States. We typically rise and sing the Stars Spangled Banner, doffing our caps. The true patriots place their hand over their hearts.
It was a beautiful, warm day here, perfect for being outside. I went to the match with some friends, and we had a great time. It's really pleasant to spend time with other people who appreciate the finer points of Aussie Rules, and I'm certainly learning a lot more about the game as I watch the professionals play. There's a lot to learn from watching the games on TV, but there's so much more to see from the stands at a real game. It's very similar to the difference between watching baseball on TV and watching baseball in a stadium. You can never see all the action on TV. And in Aussie Rules, the difference is magnified, since there are so many more people on the field, and the ground is so huge. There are over 40 players on the field, plus five umpires and two goal judges. At any given moment, there may be 2-6 trainers wandering about, delivering water or drinks or towels to players, perhaps a trainer or two, and who knows who else, so long as they don't interfere with play. Players are coming onto and off the field regularly, so there's quite a lot to see.
The Gabba is a great stadium and the city has a lot to be proud of for building such a place. Even the light poles have their own kind of geometric and architectural beauty.
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Check the Dunny
I haven't seen so much wildlife in my house since I lived in the woods in Maine.
The other night, I spotted a possum family on the telephone wires in front of the house. They were just sitting above a treeling, tails hanging down. I probably startled them when I came outside. Yes, there are possums in Australia, quite a few, actually. And they seem to get along nicely in an urbanized environment. The last time I spent any time with possums was when I lived in Eugene, Oregon. There was a family living in the trees in our backyard then. And, I seem to have a couple of rowdy families that hang out in the trees around my house.
I'm blessed by three mango trees on the property, along with two stands of palm trees and some form of gum/eucalyptus tree in the front yard. I've already mentioned the hedges. Plus, there is some sort of bush that looks somewhat like a willow, and a waxy-leaved one next to it. Anyway, I think the possums like to climb around on the mango trees, wander about the roof, and I've even found some possum scat in the ground level/garage. They're a bit noisy at night, from time to time, especially when they are climbing on the roof -- which is corrugated galvanized steel.
That same night, I ran into a lizard that had gotten into the house, and was climbing around the walls. After following it carefully, I noticed it was near what had been a spider web. I'm guessing the lizard decided to take on the spider and the pod of young'uns it had left.
Not thirty minutes later, I went into the kitchen and saw something scurrying along the floor. I do have a problem with crickets getting into the house, but this was moving way too fast. I looked a little closer, and discovered it was a red back spider. These are notoriously shy, and also poisonous, so I was really, really surprised. I gave it a very wide berth, and watched it until it moved back outside. I sincerely hope it was not disturbed by the lizard and seeking a new home. I do not need a poisonous spider nesting in the house. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see the famed red back as close as I care to see it. There's a saying in Australia: Check the dunny. Which means, check for spiders when you raise the lid on the toilet. Apparently, a fair number of people get bit when they sit down and disturb a spider. Red backs are absolutely notorious for spinning webs in toilets...mostly in Western Australia and the Outback, but it could be anywhere, really. I'll definitely be checking the dunny before use now that I've seen a red back in the house.
The other night, when I was doing my laundry, I found a tree frog hopping around the ground level. It moved away when I started working. But, it was back by the time I checked on the laundry and worked on folding sheets. Eh, frogs aren't really a problem, at least, most of them. The only ones I really have to worry about are the cane toads, which are mildly poisonous -- mostly to small mammals -- have no natural predators in Australia, and multiply like crazy. They are the rabbits of the 21st century in Australia. I'm told they're easy to kill, but I hope they don't show up in the neighborhood.
I may just have to get a sizable gecko to keep the insect population down in the house. If all this animal life is attracted to or living in the house, I have to start discouraging them. So, a cat and a gecko might just be on the list for practical animals to keep around. This is a possible downside to living in a subtropical climate next to an open space.
For all the drama, though, I have to say I really don't mind it very much. So far, nothing has been really troublesome, and living in a place with a thriving garden and local wildlife has a lot going for it. The possums are really a minor nuisance, all things considered. So long as they don't come inside the house or raid the garbage cans, I have no problem with them so far. I remember living in Maine, we had some trouble with raccoons raiding the trash and tossing everything around...I used to have to clean up after them, and was I ever pissed. I have no problem with lizards in the house. Crickets aren't troubling, and most spiders are perfectly harmless and very beneficial in keeping the flying insect population down. So, all in all, a busy day and night getting acquainted with the fauna that want to share my house.
The other night, I spotted a possum family on the telephone wires in front of the house. They were just sitting above a treeling, tails hanging down. I probably startled them when I came outside. Yes, there are possums in Australia, quite a few, actually. And they seem to get along nicely in an urbanized environment. The last time I spent any time with possums was when I lived in Eugene, Oregon. There was a family living in the trees in our backyard then. And, I seem to have a couple of rowdy families that hang out in the trees around my house.
I'm blessed by three mango trees on the property, along with two stands of palm trees and some form of gum/eucalyptus tree in the front yard. I've already mentioned the hedges. Plus, there is some sort of bush that looks somewhat like a willow, and a waxy-leaved one next to it. Anyway, I think the possums like to climb around on the mango trees, wander about the roof, and I've even found some possum scat in the ground level/garage. They're a bit noisy at night, from time to time, especially when they are climbing on the roof -- which is corrugated galvanized steel.
That same night, I ran into a lizard that had gotten into the house, and was climbing around the walls. After following it carefully, I noticed it was near what had been a spider web. I'm guessing the lizard decided to take on the spider and the pod of young'uns it had left.
Not thirty minutes later, I went into the kitchen and saw something scurrying along the floor. I do have a problem with crickets getting into the house, but this was moving way too fast. I looked a little closer, and discovered it was a red back spider. These are notoriously shy, and also poisonous, so I was really, really surprised. I gave it a very wide berth, and watched it until it moved back outside. I sincerely hope it was not disturbed by the lizard and seeking a new home. I do not need a poisonous spider nesting in the house. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see the famed red back as close as I care to see it. There's a saying in Australia: Check the dunny. Which means, check for spiders when you raise the lid on the toilet. Apparently, a fair number of people get bit when they sit down and disturb a spider. Red backs are absolutely notorious for spinning webs in toilets...mostly in Western Australia and the Outback, but it could be anywhere, really. I'll definitely be checking the dunny before use now that I've seen a red back in the house.
The other night, when I was doing my laundry, I found a tree frog hopping around the ground level. It moved away when I started working. But, it was back by the time I checked on the laundry and worked on folding sheets. Eh, frogs aren't really a problem, at least, most of them. The only ones I really have to worry about are the cane toads, which are mildly poisonous -- mostly to small mammals -- have no natural predators in Australia, and multiply like crazy. They are the rabbits of the 21st century in Australia. I'm told they're easy to kill, but I hope they don't show up in the neighborhood.
I may just have to get a sizable gecko to keep the insect population down in the house. If all this animal life is attracted to or living in the house, I have to start discouraging them. So, a cat and a gecko might just be on the list for practical animals to keep around. This is a possible downside to living in a subtropical climate next to an open space.
For all the drama, though, I have to say I really don't mind it very much. So far, nothing has been really troublesome, and living in a place with a thriving garden and local wildlife has a lot going for it. The possums are really a minor nuisance, all things considered. So long as they don't come inside the house or raid the garbage cans, I have no problem with them so far. I remember living in Maine, we had some trouble with raccoons raiding the trash and tossing everything around...I used to have to clean up after them, and was I ever pissed. I have no problem with lizards in the house. Crickets aren't troubling, and most spiders are perfectly harmless and very beneficial in keeping the flying insect population down. So, all in all, a busy day and night getting acquainted with the fauna that want to share my house.
Saturday, 12 April 2008
The Price of Petrol
My home sits across the road from a petrol station (that's a gas station to you folks in the States). I've started noticing the price of petrol. It seems to change rather quickly. Petrol costs a fortune, relative to the US...it's roughly A$1.40/liter, or about US$5.20/gallon. So stop whinging a bout the price of gas, you State-siders! ;)
Anyway, last night at 9PM, petrol was 1.40.9/liter. This morning, at 11AM, it was 1.37.9, and this afternoon at 4PM, it was 1.36.9. I'm sorely tempted to start a little site to keep track of their prices as a function of time.
Anyway, last night at 9PM, petrol was 1.40.9/liter. This morning, at 11AM, it was 1.37.9, and this afternoon at 4PM, it was 1.36.9. I'm sorely tempted to start a little site to keep track of their prices as a function of time.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Aussie Rules Footy
Here's a shot from 3/4 time at the Brisbane Lions versus Sydney Swans game on 05APR2008. Great footy, but the Lions lost.
From the very first week I visited Australia, I have taken a shine to Aussie Rules Football, as practiced in the Australian Football League, aka the AFL. I've spent a lot of time watching the various kinds of football played in Australia. There are actually quite a few variants, even of rugby. There are several variations of soccer, with one national professional league known as the A-League. There are two major forms of rugby at the professional level, NRL and Rugby Union. NRL, aka National Rugby League, or League for short, is the most popular form of rugby within Australia. There are a lot of teams. Rugby Union is much more of the international version of rugby, though Australia, per se has only one team. The Southern Hemisphere league is known as Super 14, and there are 14 teams amongst Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Australia has three teams, while NZ has 5 and South Africa six. Super 14 is played largely to Rugby Union rules. Of the two pro rugby rules, I personally prefer the Union variant, though that is hardly a popular position amongst the locals. The local Brisbane NRL team, the Brisbane Broncos, is the best financed in the NRL and has been a very competitive team for a long time. Queensland has three teams, including the Broncos; there's also the Cowboys from Townsville and the Titans from the Gold Coast. Probably the biggest difference between League and Union is the amount of contact allowed. In League, once the ball carrier has been tackled, play stops, the player gets up, and rolls it behind him to another member of his team. The scrum in League is barely competitive, while in Union, it's the full on, who's got the most muscle and mass.
Aussie Rules football is nothing like rugby. It's played on a cricket oval, which is a huge space, typically 150m from end to end. There are three scores possible per goal, 1, 6, and 9. It's usually a high scoring game. I find it one of the more challenging sports I've ever seen. The skills required are amazing. It's a running game with a ball, but passing and kicking are essential. Scoring is done by kicking the ball through goal posts. It's usual for scoring kicks to be made on the run, sometimes from as far as 50m (and more) from the posts. I've seen people kick goals from 2m out but practically 30m away from the goal posts. Bend it like Beckham *does* apply! It's such an exciting game that I've gotten a season pass for the local Brisbane team, the Brisbane Lions. They won the Grand Finals a few years ago, and I'm sure the team has had it's moment over the years. The past few years, they have been on the build again. The real seat of the AFL is Victoria, not Queensland. That is to say, around Melbourne. There are several teams around Sydney, and every State capital city has a team, but the majority of teams, and most of the great ones are from Victoria. I'm told that Aussie Rules is a similar to Gaelic football, which might say something about it's origins here in Australia.
Regionalism within Australia does seem to have an effect, even on which sports people choose to watch and support. I mention this because Queensland is considered the birthplace and home of Rugby League, while Victoria is the home of Aussie Rules. Union doesn't really have a home, nor does soccer. So, I find it unsurprising that Queenslanders favor League. It's an interesting, self-fulfilling prophecy, though. Since no one supports Union, the local Super 14 team, the Queensland Reds, is mediocre. The Brisbane AFL team is competitive, but Victoria spends the majority of money on players, and thus its AFL teams are typically in the top four.
Regardless of the local politics and preferences, I've got the season passes and I have to say the two games I've seen so far have been some great footy. Oh, and that word: footy. It could be used to describe Aussie Rules, League or Union. You have to know the preferences of the person you're talking to to know which version they mean. One of my friend's girlfriends mentioned to my friend that she liked footy, and made further mention of short sleeve shirts. My friend took this to mean she preferred AFL, and so invited her along to a game. It turns out she's actually a League woman. I think she enjoyed the Lion's game, but it was just one instance where saying you're a footy fan can mean a lot of different things.
From the very first week I visited Australia, I have taken a shine to Aussie Rules Football, as practiced in the Australian Football League, aka the AFL. I've spent a lot of time watching the various kinds of football played in Australia. There are actually quite a few variants, even of rugby. There are several variations of soccer, with one national professional league known as the A-League. There are two major forms of rugby at the professional level, NRL and Rugby Union. NRL, aka National Rugby League, or League for short, is the most popular form of rugby within Australia. There are a lot of teams. Rugby Union is much more of the international version of rugby, though Australia, per se has only one team. The Southern Hemisphere league is known as Super 14, and there are 14 teams amongst Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Australia has three teams, while NZ has 5 and South Africa six. Super 14 is played largely to Rugby Union rules. Of the two pro rugby rules, I personally prefer the Union variant, though that is hardly a popular position amongst the locals. The local Brisbane NRL team, the Brisbane Broncos, is the best financed in the NRL and has been a very competitive team for a long time. Queensland has three teams, including the Broncos; there's also the Cowboys from Townsville and the Titans from the Gold Coast. Probably the biggest difference between League and Union is the amount of contact allowed. In League, once the ball carrier has been tackled, play stops, the player gets up, and rolls it behind him to another member of his team. The scrum in League is barely competitive, while in Union, it's the full on, who's got the most muscle and mass.
Aussie Rules football is nothing like rugby. It's played on a cricket oval, which is a huge space, typically 150m from end to end. There are three scores possible per goal, 1, 6, and 9. It's usually a high scoring game. I find it one of the more challenging sports I've ever seen. The skills required are amazing. It's a running game with a ball, but passing and kicking are essential. Scoring is done by kicking the ball through goal posts. It's usual for scoring kicks to be made on the run, sometimes from as far as 50m (and more) from the posts. I've seen people kick goals from 2m out but practically 30m away from the goal posts. Bend it like Beckham *does* apply! It's such an exciting game that I've gotten a season pass for the local Brisbane team, the Brisbane Lions. They won the Grand Finals a few years ago, and I'm sure the team has had it's moment over the years. The past few years, they have been on the build again. The real seat of the AFL is Victoria, not Queensland. That is to say, around Melbourne. There are several teams around Sydney, and every State capital city has a team, but the majority of teams, and most of the great ones are from Victoria. I'm told that Aussie Rules is a similar to Gaelic football, which might say something about it's origins here in Australia.
Regionalism within Australia does seem to have an effect, even on which sports people choose to watch and support. I mention this because Queensland is considered the birthplace and home of Rugby League, while Victoria is the home of Aussie Rules. Union doesn't really have a home, nor does soccer. So, I find it unsurprising that Queenslanders favor League. It's an interesting, self-fulfilling prophecy, though. Since no one supports Union, the local Super 14 team, the Queensland Reds, is mediocre. The Brisbane AFL team is competitive, but Victoria spends the majority of money on players, and thus its AFL teams are typically in the top four.
Regardless of the local politics and preferences, I've got the season passes and I have to say the two games I've seen so far have been some great footy. Oh, and that word: footy. It could be used to describe Aussie Rules, League or Union. You have to know the preferences of the person you're talking to to know which version they mean. One of my friend's girlfriends mentioned to my friend that she liked footy, and made further mention of short sleeve shirts. My friend took this to mean she preferred AFL, and so invited her along to a game. It turns out she's actually a League woman. I think she enjoyed the Lion's game, but it was just one instance where saying you're a footy fan can mean a lot of different things.
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