Posted on 09/25/2023 12:43:58 AM PDT by Ozguy1945
On this day two years ago I satirically declared Melbourne, Australia’s sporting capitol, dead. I did that because stupid lockdowns deprived Melbourne of the Australian Rules Grand Final in the birthplace of the game. The ridiculous banning and incarceration of Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open tennis tournament last year strengthened that assertion.
But the sheer love of sport in the hearts of the Australian people, especially Melburnians, might offer some consolations.
I write this post a couple of hours before the count in the Brownlow Medal, the most prestigious individual award in Australian football. In this award, the umpires cast the votes for the fairest and best player. Favourite to win tonight is twenty year old Collingwood player, Nick Daicos, seen below and above celebrating last Friday’s preliminary final victory with the “American Pie”, Mason Cox. (Collingwood are known as the Magpies or the ‘Pies. Cox was recruited in 2014-15 from the United States. In America, Cox was part of a state championship soccer team at high school and played 57 minutes of university basketball for the Oklahoma Cowboys, scoring 7 points.)
Both these men are crucial to Collingwood’s chances this week in Saturday’s upcoming Grand Final.
Peter Daicos, father of Nick, revolutionised the way small forwards kicked goals. Nick, at this stage of his career , appears to have achieved more than his legendary dad at the same age.
Mason Cox, at his best, has a fierce determination to win the ball. We call this “attack on the footy”. This manly sporting spirit does his home state of Texas proud. The chant of “U-S-A !!!!! U-S-A !!!!!” often greets his wonderful spirit.
Go Pies !!!!!!!
Please pray for us, America.
Every Friday I meet my Aussie mate who is a Collingwood supporter. He’s been keeping me informed of the action but I haven’t watched any games. It looks like it’s going to be a fun final based on what he says. He’s also mentioned the American superstar playing AFL.
I DVR the games and watch when nothing else is on. I have no clue what is going on most of the time even after reading the rules. No pads or helmets, it’s brutal fun. I could do with out the tributes to the indigeous forefathers whose land the game is on. Unfortunately OZ has developed an extreme woke mindset on many liberties.
Even the Aussie ladies’ games are entertaining.
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