BabbelOn

Friday night at Etihad Stadium.  A pre-season clash between Brisbane and Richmond. 

The only game in town.  Literally. 

These cup games give the clubs a chance to play the young guys, see if they can cut it in the big time.  One such youngster is Jason Kelly.  On the back of solid pre-season form, he has been named in the 25 man squad. 

The leadership group decided that despite last night’s indiscretion, it was his first offence and he hadn’t been charged with anything (his summons must be in the mail) so the best thing was to just let him play footy.

A typical hard-nosed decision by his peers. 

The crowd isn’t huge, not a surprise given the out of towners and Richmond’s form last year.  But a new year brings fresh hope and nobody is more optimistic than a footy fan in February.

I buy a hot dog and wander around.  When it’s full and the roof is closed, the stadium is claustrophobic.  Tonight it has all the ambience of an enormous lounge room. 

Air-conditioned football is a long way from cold Saturday afternoons in Moe. 

I make my way down the race and on to the boundary line and swap the usual pre-game bullshit with the waterboys, the cheer squads laying out the run-through banners, the security guards.  

The Richmond squad jogs out of the race.  They bunch up in front of their banner (it reads “TIGERS EAT LIONS”) and then push through it.  The Tigers fans make some noise. 

The players are all in the zone.  Dane and Kelly don’t see me. 

After the warm-up, Kelly comes to the bench with the other interchange players.  They’ll all get a run at some stage tonight.  We’ll see who can handle the speed, the crowd, the pressure. 

I played my first AFL game here.  It was a Friday night under lights against Fremantle.  Another small crowd but the biggest I had played in front of. 

I came on late in the second quarter.  I was in a daze, couldn’t fell my legs.  As I ran on, a Freo player coming off, an ex-Essendon hard man, caught me flush with a hip and shoulder that sent me sprawling.  Mum has it on tape and used to play it over and over to her friends. 

It didn’t hurt but the shock helped me focus and I managed to pick up some cheap possessions on the wing.  I stayed on for the second half and was just beginning to feel like I could belong out there. 

Fifteen minutes into the third quarter, I took a mark at half forward and as I landed my left knee exploded.  They say that the body can’t remember pain.  I do remember clutching my knee with both hands and biting through my mouth-guard.  Mum doesn’t play that part of the tape. 

After the game starts, I head up to the top deck.

Brisbane jump out to a three goal lead.  Kelly comes on at the 20 minute mark, running through the midfield. 

He is on the pace immediately.  He chases and tackles a Brisbane ball carrier and wins a holding the ball decision.  From the free kick, he plays on around the mark, has a bounce and hits the leading Richmond full forward on the chest from 40 metres.  

For a first touch in senior footy, it is remarkable.  A murmur goes through the crowd.  Tigers players swarm to Kelly and slap hands. 

As the full forward lines up his shot, a replay of Kelly’s run is shown on the big screen.  Kelly is back on the wing, hands on knees, taking in a few big ones.  He turns his head to watch the screen.  I am a long way away, but I could swear he is smirking.  Jesus.  One kick and he’s carrying on like Brendan Fevola. 

But he goes on with it and in the end, despite limited game time, is one of Richmond’s best.  He’s done enough to earn himself another game. 

I have a hunch he is no longer anonymous.