Victorian-based Joel Smith usually goes back home to South Australia for the Christmas holiday break. It was on his most recent trip where the idea to travel to the SCG in Round Six with his grandfather blossomed a possible family tradition …
As I looked out onto Carrickalinga Beach, South Australia, my Pop and I started to talk about the upcoming AFL Season.
Having once lived in Sydney, he (now living in his hometown of Adelaide) started to discuss the opportunity of having a ‘grandson trip’, come round six when we played the Sydney Swans at the SCG for the first time in four years.
Getting along extremely well together, I jumped at the idea and immediately made plans to make a weekend up in Sydney, set around the footy.
The last four years has seen my Pop make the trip to Melbourne to watch the AFL Grand Final at our house. I have since then made Grand Final Day with him a tradition and am hoping that maybe this Sydney trip could be added to that list. Then disaster struck.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Pop notified me that a week out from our weekend in Sydney he could no longer make it. Immediately, I pondered whether to cancel my trip and watch the game from the comfort of my own couch. But I was determined to see two of the top five teams battle it out in a certain season-defining game.
Knowing that Sydney was so far undefeated, I did not expect for our boys to win. However, I still held onto a small glimmer of hope due to our very good record at the SCG - having previously won the last three against the Swans.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Sydney for all it’s worth but when it comes to AFL - they are a different breed. Adelaide is a town of pride, bias and of notable competitive AFL nature. Melbourne is a city of constant AFL overload and Sydney is a congregation of ‘different’ people that like a sport called … what is it again?
However, there is something special about being at the SCG. So much heritage, so much history. I managed to take my seat on the wing (opposite to the members) just above the Crows cheer squad. The first quarter was like nothing I had seen from us this season.
A complete domination from both our midfielders and Taylor Walker saw the Crows advance to a four-goal early lead. However, the Swans were not to be denied and a defiant Adam Goodes led his team back into the contest to be up by a respectable seven points at the last change. Fortunately for the Crows, Goodes seemed to be a one-man-show and six minutes into the final quarter, was subbed off with a quad injury.
The final ten minutes was what only could be described as a whirlwind. Twenty-two thousand screaming fans were doing everything to get their team over the line but in the end it was the other 2000 that prevailed. Kicking four goals to two in the last quarter, the Crows continue their almost perfect start to the season and keep their winning run at the SCG alive.
This win goes out to you, Pop.
Joel Smith is the official Adelaide Crows commentator on http://app.playup.com. Follow him on Twitter @PlayUp_AdelCrow
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the Adelaide Football Club
