By Lynda Carroll
But, even though you’re typically watching from the inside out when you’re not at the ground, rather than from the stands looking in, there are some little traditions that hold true in this early part of the season, no matter your location.
The first round is always the loudest, the sweatiest and – particularly when you’re winning comfortably – the most immediately fun. You’ll always see the most spectators in t-shirts, with scarves resting around their shoulders, in Round 1. And what fun it was for the Demons! In this Grand Final re-match against the Bulldogs in Round 1, we saw Tom McDonald almost-but-not-quite reprise his 2021 premiership post-siren goal; we met Brodie Grundy in red and blue, teaming terrifically with Max Gawn, we welcomed Lachie Hunter, Bailey Laurie and Judd McVee, and we celebrated Kozzy Pickett’s four goals, while suffering the anguish of a much-replayed untimely bump that saw him exiled for two weeks. For that, too, is one of the little traditions; when things go wrong, as they always will at some stage.
While Pickett’s suspension was possibly the forerunner of a grey time in northern climes the following round, and while our injured captain will be sorely missed for the foreseeable, the fates were shining on another tall youngster when Jacob van Rooyen, bearing his own little tradition of the No. 2 guernsey, presented pre-game by Nathan Jones, kicked three goals on debut to help Melbourne to another 50-point victory in a capital city clash against the Swans. The noise was that special level of early season enthusiasm, with the extra touch of the van Rooyen clan high in the stands, sharing the joy of every red and blue clad spectator around them. The debutant joy clashed beautifully with the celebrations of Clayton Oliver’s 150th game, charmed by two goals from No. 13.
These are the little traditions that make up our game, from the first weeks of the season, when the grass is greenest, the skies still cricket season clear, and six months of hope, milestones and anticipation for our team stretch ahead of us, through to greatness or oblivion in September. No matter where or how we are watching the game, we are all part of it, from the balcony to the boundary line.
When you’re watching from afar, and your team plays in two 50-point wins in a month at home, you get to notice the game in a new way.
It’s different, it’s a bit removed, and it’s fortunate. For all the thousands at our beautiful MCG, there are millions listening and watching elsewhere; a shadow crowd with just as much spirit and love of the game as those in attendance.But, even though you’re typically watching from the inside out when you’re not at the ground, rather than from the stands looking in, there are some little traditions that hold true in this early part of the season, no matter your location.
The first round is always the loudest, the sweatiest and – particularly when you’re winning comfortably – the most immediately fun. You’ll always see the most spectators in t-shirts, with scarves resting around their shoulders, in Round 1. And what fun it was for the Demons! In this Grand Final re-match against the Bulldogs in Round 1, we saw Tom McDonald almost-but-not-quite reprise his 2021 premiership post-siren goal; we met Brodie Grundy in red and blue, teaming terrifically with Max Gawn, we welcomed Lachie Hunter, Bailey Laurie and Judd McVee, and we celebrated Kozzy Pickett’s four goals, while suffering the anguish of a much-replayed untimely bump that saw him exiled for two weeks. For that, too, is one of the little traditions; when things go wrong, as they always will at some stage.
While Pickett’s suspension was possibly the forerunner of a grey time in northern climes the following round, and while our injured captain will be sorely missed for the foreseeable, the fates were shining on another tall youngster when Jacob van Rooyen, bearing his own little tradition of the No. 2 guernsey, presented pre-game by Nathan Jones, kicked three goals on debut to help Melbourne to another 50-point victory in a capital city clash against the Swans. The noise was that special level of early season enthusiasm, with the extra touch of the van Rooyen clan high in the stands, sharing the joy of every red and blue clad spectator around them. The debutant joy clashed beautifully with the celebrations of Clayton Oliver’s 150th game, charmed by two goals from No. 13.
These are the little traditions that make up our game, from the first weeks of the season, when the grass is greenest, the skies still cricket season clear, and six months of hope, milestones and anticipation for our team stretch ahead of us, through to greatness or oblivion in September. No matter where or how we are watching the game, we are all part of it, from the balcony to the boundary line.
Lynda Carroll is delighted to be back watching her beloved Dees in 2023. She spends most of her time in the MCC Library, researching, writing, working on a match day, and cataloguing books.