Christmas Time at Long On

By Sam Thomson

I’m one of the lucky ones! A full member before I’m forty and living in Melbourne with the 'G only a short train ride away. An understanding wife who is very happy for me to get my money’s worth from my membership. And believe me I have over the last few years. As a Saints supporter, while we haven’t saluted on grand final day, those preliminary finals against the Bulldogs in ’09 and ’10 have had me questioning whether I need to be on heart medication. My brother jumping into my arms when Zaharakis kicked that goal in the wet on Anzac Day in 2009 and giving our oldest and dearest family friend the biggest hug of all time when her Dogs saluted in 2016.

These are just some of the memories that stand out.

I have never taken my membership for granted. It is a wonderful thing to be able to have and because of this, my three year old daughter has been on the waiting list for her three years on earth. I look forward to the days ahead when I will be able to walk into Gate 2 with her by my side (hopefully in her red, white and black scarf!)

However, it’s Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test that I hold nearest and dearest. Without it being said, my family on my father’s side know not to make plans for Day 3. Because that’s our day! Some of us have an unbroken record all the way back to 2007 when we watched Warnie get chaired off after Australia cleaned up England in three days.

The cricket is so hit and miss on Day 3. We have watched teams collapse under the might of Warne and McGrath and then, later on, to Johnson and Lyon. We have also watched Shami, Kohli and Cook bat alllllll day. Whatever the action on the field, we always make our own fun, whatever bar we end up in and whomever we run into. By the end of the day, our family has usually swelled to double the number we came with! Many of the younger Thomson brigade have taken it upon themselves to set some records for the different bars attended in one day.

From Left: Damian, Matt, Nick, Stephanie, Maggie, Alex, Brian and Sam enjoying Day 3, 2018 from The Jim Stynes’ Grill.

I am the oldest, so I will take my place in the older echelon of Thomsons. However on the odd Day 3, I have taken it upon myself to show them the ropes (and the hidden bars, David Neitz Terrace is a very underrated hidden gem!) I am of course a well-versed MCC reserve member and so I wouldn’t like my family (many of whom are from country Victoria) to get lost in the mammoth Reserve! This mighty task of traversing the Reserve’s bars should not be taken lightly (and always with a decent lunch in tow.) ‘Let’s start at the Bullring and work our way up,’ could possibly be the most used phrase on Level 1 I reckon.

Great meals such as the Jim Stynes Grill have become a feature of our Day 3. My brother and I still talk of the great steak of 2018. All other meals at the MCG will now unfortunately most likely run in second place. However if not booked in anywhere, the roast beef roll at the Percy Beames (make sure you beat the lunch crowd) is hard to beat.

While many memories stand out, for me it will always be the Frankie Grey Bar, flanked by my Dad, uncle, brothers, cousins, sister and partners. Kevin Pietersen had just been caught at long on off a Nathan Lyon delivery. I’m sure there have been louder roars at the MCG, however I think that one with the whole bar watching and waiting for that catch, followed by the jubilation and strangers high-fiving is hard to beat. Another moment where I pinched myself and thought how lucky I am.

Let’s hope we will be able to keep the streak intact this December. Stay safe everyone!

Sam Thomson has been a member of the MCC since 1998, receiving full membership in 2015. Originally from Horsham in Western Victoria, he is now a Physical Education teacher in Melbourne’s south-east. He played his junior footy at Horsham and Kalkee, with some cameo appearances at Sebastopol in Ballarat while completing his teaching degree.

Sam enjoys a few off the wood with his family and friends at his second home, the Melbourne Cricket Ground - whenever he can. Among the many football and cricket matches, concerts and even wrestling events Sam has attended at the MCG, he counts the 2015 Cricket World Cup final as his favourite event.