Lockdown ended last year and slowly familiar signs and sounds of Melbourne have returned. The emotional scars of lockdown will reverberate for many years. For some the price was too high. Those best suited to survive it were always those privileged with money and power. Yet a pandemic is an equal opportunity event and strikes across the entire community.
Just outside the Melbourne’s city centre is the MCG. Like a Roman Colosseum it holds festivities for the masses. Here our modern gladiators strive and struggle to win for their adoring fans. Of all the football clubs in Melbourne none is more loathed and loved than Collingwood.
Finals Return To The MCG
This year the Collingwood Magpies have had a resurgent return to the top tier. Last season Collingwood finished 17th. This season they finished fourth just in time to play in a finals series at the MCG.
Collingwood brings with them an excited and rabid following. A following emboldened by winning eleven games in a row. Most of them by a goal or less. The belief in the fans and the playing group is solid. No matter how far behind, they know they can win.
AFL Finals are supposed to be held at the MCG. To even consider holding them anywhere else is heretical. When non-Victorian teams hold finals Melbourne is as quiet as a church on Easter Saturday. In mourning for the absence of a game in front of a capacity crowd no other ground in the country can boast.
Two Finals, One Was Louder
Two games were played at the MCG in the first week of the 2022 final season. On the Friday night saw Melbourne defeated by Sydney. Melbourne were wrestled out of the match by Sydney. With a crowd of 78,377, it was teaser for the Saturday to come.
Saturday, Geelong hosted Collingwood at the MCG. The crowd of 91,525 were loud, raucous and the players on either side did their best not to disappoint. It was an amazing arm wrestle only ended by the siren. Neither side truly submitting to the other, yet there has to be a winner.
Within the struggle of that game as the two sides fought for the lead a moment was observed. At 22 minute mark of the fourth and final quarter Collingwood scored a goal. Jordan DeGoey on the run scored from forty meters out to put the Pies in front again. The crowd response was enormous.
Robbo’s Observation
This response was observed and commented up on by Mark ‘Robbo’ Robinson, Herald Sun’s Chief Football writer. On AFL 360, the show he co-hosts with Gerard Whateley, Robbo rated the crowd response as one of the loudest he has heard. On par with the ‘93 Preliminary final when Mark Mecuri scored.
It was the crowd that caught Robbo’s attention. Not just the volume, but the actions of the crowd as well. “Bonkers” enthused Robbo describing the celebrations.
“I was looking to my left and right and you cold see human beings were going bonkers, like bonkers, jumping up and down hugging. And I’m looking at it going, we’re back, society, we’re back as a, as a group. And it was just a magnificent game.” Mark Robinson AFL 360 Mon September 5th 2022
The Crown Restored
The diadem in the crown of Melbourne, the apex event of the year, the game to rival all games is the AFL Grand Final. It is a game that has not been held in Melbourne for two years. Lockdown and quarantines left Melbourne’s citizens without their main event.
That Saturday evening the MCG was alive and resounding with celebration. A final at the MCG once again, is this the confirmation that Lockdown is over? Is this line that marks the end of that part of Melbourne’s history? Is the beginning of a new era? It does echo past celebrations.
When a new king or emperor ascends to the throne they often lower taxes, forgive debt or hold a huge event for the masses. It is held for the people to give them that event so they know all the previous stuff is over, for now. Right now is the beginning of a new era, the old is gone the new is come.
A Society Together Again
As Robbo saw we are a society again, a group able to be together again. To celebrate again, to shout and cheer in grand numbers again. No longer in lockdown, released from the restrictions of a pandemic the AFL Finals return to Melbourne.
Unfortunately there had to be a winner. Collingwood lost by six points. Geelong finding themselves in front when siren sounded. The opening lines “We are Geelong the greatest team of all…” are sung by the winners. Agony for the Collingwood supporters, justification to the Geelong fans.
Yet in the midst of this colossal clash at the colosseum there is the light at the end of a pandemic seen. A point where the woes of lockdown can be converted into something else. And perhaps Shakespeare will excuse this abuse to his sonnet that describes Robbo’s observation.
Sigh no more Melbourne, Sigh no more
Lockdown was not forever
Those Restrictions we all abhorred
Football dead? No never
Sigh not so To the ‘G You’ll go
And be you blithe and bonny
Converting all your sounds of woe
Into Up there Cazly