No, this is not a Red Sox post….
It’s about Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows.
AFL, the Australian Football League, started this weekend. My beloved Bulldogs are playing their first game as I type this (it’s the end of the 3rd quarter and the Dogs lead the Crows 87-85). I am listening to it on the radio, over the internet.
I was first introduced to AFL ‘footy’ back in the 80’s when ESPN would show games back before they were the mega success they are today. The young network was a bit starved for content so AFL (then called the VFL) was a good fit. You might remember seeing the lab coat wearing goal umpires….
ESPN stopped showing the footy and it soon fell out of my consciousness. About 5 years ago though I started posting at a Bruce Springsteen fan site. Some of the posters were Australian and in the off topic area they would post about Aussie rules. And they posted with such passion it caught my attention. Through the wonder of the internet I was able to really immerse myself in the game.
Now I am hooked. Last couple of years I even purchased a club membership, Think season tickets (that I will never use) for a limited number of games. Just want to support my club.
I won’t go on and on trying to explain the game, but if you are at all curious check out the videos below. One is a general highlight/propaganda reel. The other is a quick explanation on the rules.
There is now live TV coverage of AFL in the US again, but this season I didn’t purchase the subscription as I just couldn’t justify the $15.00 a month for just a few hours of programming a month.
COME ON DOGS! They are now down by 9 points, now late in the 4th quarter.
UPDATE: THE DOGS PULLED IT OUT! Victors, 126-123
6 responses so far ↓
1
tom
// Mar 23, 2008 at 7:37 am
I’ll have o check it out..I am trying to crunch the numbers now for week 2 Trivia champ…oddly enough last weeks winner was from Adelaide, Australia
tom’s last blog post..Some Pictures in Advance
2
Rick Astley
// Mar 23, 2008 at 10:14 am
Yeah, I remember those old days of Aussie Football and other alternative programming on ESPN! You may not remember this, but they even had a two or three hour business show on weekday mornings…
My, how ESPN has grown!
Rick Astley’s last blog post..The Magic of PAAS
3
jason
// Mar 24, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I used to watch AFL on ESPN. Haven’t seen a game in years. It’s an exciting sport. No helmets, no pads…a man’s sport.
jason’s last blog post..Making The List
4
bryan
// Mar 25, 2008 at 12:30 am
i used to watch those old espn broadcasts, a lot even. but, try as i might, i never caught on to the rules.
bryan’s last blog post..testing it out for the little brother…
5
Seatown Squids
// Mar 27, 2008 at 1:39 am
There is a cool English pub by my office that we get lunch (and a good English barley pop) at once in a while and they always have AFL or rugby on the big screens. After watching the vids you posted, now I’ll have a clue what is going on.
6
Myst
// Apr 16, 2008 at 8:46 pm
How cool! I think it’s awesome that you’re interested in Aussie Rules!!!
I have to admit to not being that interested in the ‘footy’ (not a sport watching girl here!)- but I like watching the guys watch the footy - very entertaining!
You should try and get hold of one of “The Footy Show” dvds - an entertaining and very popular show in footy season - and funny view of our Aussie culture.
They do breed them tough over here - helmets/pads….nah!
I hope one day you’ll get to come to Australia and see the Bulldogs in action!
G
xx
Myst’s last blog post..~Bye Banjo~
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