Our first Official AFL Game: Fremantle Dockers vs. St. Kilda Saints

Tom enjoying a beer with Rob and Trish

running, running, running.....

Ben, Liam, Jake, Rein and Silka

We joined most of the other exchange teachers and their families on Saturday, May 28th to watch our first live AFL game. The St. Kilda Saints (visiting team) soundly beat the Fremantle Dockers (the local and favoured team). It was a surprise upset because the Dockers were also favoured in the standings as well.
We watched the young lads run practically non-stop (made me tired watching) under the hot sun. It is officially winter here in a couple of weeks and we were sitting in 25 degree weather. After about a half hour of complaints from the kids about the heat, I went looking for beer for myself and popsicles for the kids. After they were satisfied with their cold distraction, I dispatched them to sit with the other Canadian kids. Phew! I enjoyed my beer while chatting with some of the other adults and trying to get a handle on what was happening on the field. There were a few boys removed from the field on stretchers - I wonder if this is a common occurance....

St. Kilda kicking in a goal

Most of St. Kilda walked away with a 46 point victory (102-56) and we were soon funneled out onto the streets of Subiaco amid a sea of fans dressed in purple (Dockers colours). The fan-packed stadium would rival the fan-packed hockey arenas back home.