The Mighty MCG

On the last Saturday afternoon in September around 100,000 fans will gather to witness the AFL Grand Final between Hawthorn (the next suburb to Richmond) and Sydney. So not only will it be a rivalry between the top two teams it will also incorporate the Melbourne/Sydney rivalry that seems to continue unabated when in fact we all know that Melbourne is the 'world's most liveable city'. End of story! Of course I am devastated that my team Geelong - the mighty Cats - winners of 3 of the last 4 Grand Finals won't be there. Oh the ebbs and flows of our teams. But there's always next year!

The Mighty MCG viewed from the city

 This year the (Hawthorn) Hawks will play the (Sydney) Swans who between them have beaten the (Collingwood) Magpies, the (West Coast) Eagles and the (Adelaide) Crows. So no wonder the (Geelong) Cats didn't get a look in this year! Perhaps next year they will play the (Richmond) Tigers or the (Brisbane) Lions or the (North Melbourne) Dogs!

I was fascinated to read on the base of the following photo that 'the first recorded game of Australian Football was begun on the tree-dotted parklands outside the Melbourne Cricket Ground by teams from Scotch College (located in Hawthorn) and Melbourne Grammar School on 7 August 1858. After three playing days the game ended in a draw with each team kicking one goal. 

Each team selected its own umpire: Scotch College chose Dr John Macadam and Melbourne Grammar School Tom Willis, who is depicted as the third person in the sculpture. Tom Willis a son of pastoral Australia and educated at Rugby School, England, did more than any other person as a footballer and umpire, co-writer of the rules and promoter of the game to develop Australian Football during its first decade.'

The first footy match in 1858

The MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground) is hallowed ground - not just for cricket and footy. It's the stadium that hosted the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. It's just a pivotal part of Melbourne as the Richmond mural I wrote about earlier captures (it even includes a television - which arrived in 1956).

The 1956 Melbourne Olympics with the MCG top right

Mike Brady's famous song 'Up There Cazaly' is now a sporting catchphrase inspired by former St Kilda and South Melbourne great Roy Cazaly. How appropriate that the old South Melbourne team is now the Sydney Swans! (how the South Melbourne footy team became the Sydney Swans is another story!) How many of you know the words? I didn't - so here they are:

Well you work to earn a living
But on weekends comes the time
You can do what ever turns you on
Get out and clear your mind
Me, I like football
And there's a lot of things around
But when you line 'em up together
The footy wins hands down

Up there Cazaly, in there and fight
Out there and at 'em, show 'em your might
Up there Cazaly, don't let 'em in
Fly like an angel, you're out there to win

Dick Reynolds

Now there's a lot more things to football
That really meets the eye
There are days when you could give it up
There are days when you could fly
You either love or hate it
Depending on the score
But when your team run out or they kick a goal
How's the mighty roar

Up there Cazaly, in there and fight
Out there and at 'em, show 'em your might
Up there Cazaly, don't let 'em in
Fly like an angel, you're out there to win  

Haydn Bunton

Up there Cazaly, you're out there to win
In there and at 'em, don't let 'em in
Up there Cazaly, show 'em you're high
Fight like the devil, the crowds on your side

Ahhh...
Up there Cazaly, in there and fight
Out there and at 'em, show 'em you're might
Up there Cazaly, show 'em you're high
Fight like the devil, the crowd's on your side
The - crowd's - on - your - side...

Even if you aren't a sports fan I recommend a wander around the outside of this enormous stadium set in a lovely dog friendly park where you will find the Scarred Tree I wrote about earlier. Walk the circumference of the stadium and marvel at the talent of the sculptor Louis Laumen who has created more than a dozen life-like sports stars. 

And so this weekend Richmond will be throbbing with excited footy fans making their way to the 'G' and those in the city and surrounding suburbs 'we'll hear the mighty roar'. May the best team win in 2012 and "Go Cats" for 2013!