The MCG

Just back from Melbourne where among other things I went along to the Melbourne Cricket Ground, better known as the 'MCG'.

It's truly an awesome experience. With a curent capacity of 100,000, and record attendance of 130,000, it's one of the world's largest and most famous stadiums. It plays host to the AFL, rugby, and cricket, as well as the odd football (soccer) game and music concert. I'd definitely rank it up there with some of my other favourite stadiums like Old Trafford, the Maracana, and the Camp Nou.

Originally built for the '56 Olympics it's a 5 minute walk from the city, in Yarra Park. Indeed, the square mile around here must be one the greatest concentrations of sports arenas anywhere in the world. Next door to the MCG is the 15,000 all-seater Rod Laver Arena, host of the annual Australian Tennis Open. The neighbouring 56,000 'Telstra Dome' looks after another 5 of the 9 AFL teams in Melbourne. A 18,500 Olympic Park caters for those after some athletics action. And a 11,000 venue called the 'Hisense' hosts more tennis as well as basketball and concerts. Finally, a 8,000 'Lexus Centre' features swimming. And as if these aren't enough, a new 32,000 Melbourne Rectangular Stadium is being built adjacent to all of these to host rugby league and football (soccer).

You can see why Melbourne has three times been voted the world's most livable city. It's very sophisticated with lots of great cafes and bars, first-rate galleries and musuems, and plenty of parks and green spaces in and around the city centre. An excellent tram system gives it quite a European feel. It's close to the beach and has a river (the Yarra) running through the centre so you're never far from water. And with 29 stadiums of 10,000 people or more you get all the sport you could ask for - the Melbourne Cup, the Tennis Open, the MotoGP, the AFL final to mention but a few.

I'm really very envious...

Aussie rules at the Gabba

I went to my first live Australian rules football match last night with the Brisbane Lions taking on the Adelaide Crows. (Well done whichever brave Adelaidean decided to break the mold of naming the team after the usual Bears, Lions, Tigers, Bulls etc and opt instead for the mythological creature of doom).

I’d seen a few matches on television but found it nigh on impossible to understand what on earth is going on. It’s definitely a sport that needs watching live, as it’s actually tactically very interesting. People say it’s a cross between Gaelic football and Rugby league – the main aim kicking the ball between two centre posts for 6 points or just between these and another set of posts for 1 point. You can call mark (i.e. stop the play and have a free kick) it you catch it from a kick, but also pass by hand (but then obviously not call mark). So the main action is in and around the range from the goals where it's reasonably reachable.

But it certainly reminded me of a few other sports too. It’s played on cricket pitch (last night at the Gabba which hosts the cricket tests from October), and has the athleticism and pettiness of football, the length of US sports (it ran for about 3 hours over four quarters), and the scores (and scoring patterns) of basketball.

In the end Brisbane Lions won 83 to 70 after pulling off a remarkable and decisive turnaround in the final quarter. The Gabba itself is also a very impressive stadium (see Panarama shot below).

Australia vs Iraq

So the game was a close affair in the end, with Australia’s woefully inept defence matched only by Iraq’s lack of attacking prowess. A Harry Kewell goal in the 47 minute proved conclusive though, which means Australia progress to the next round of the world cup qualifying.

Watching any Australian team play is certainly a colourful and enjoyable experience, and there were a hardcore of boisterous Iraqi supporters among the fifty thousand in attendance to make it a good occasion. A couple of other observations. First, the etiquette of watching football seems to vary wherever I’ve caught games overseas – lots of whooping and screaming over here, not to mention random bouts of applause and unsporting cheering for opposition yellow cards. Second, the football itself is played quite differently despite obviously having the same rules and many of the players plying their trade in the UK. Much more about the athleticism than skill or composure, and a real absence of robust challenges.

Finally, I got to hear the Australian national anthem, called ‘Advance Australia Fair’. You can hear that below. Unfortunately I didn’t hear a whisper of Waltzing Matilda…