Australian football is a religion in (most of) this country. In Victoria, on any given day, the Sports section (of The Melbourne Age) is filled – page after page – with footy news. As a Canadian who understands ice hockey fever, I can even admit that the obsession generated from Aussie Rules equals if not surpasses, a Canadians love of hockey. It took Joshua about a month to replace his obsession with hockey and the Senators with his love of the Hawthorn Hawks and AFL. Now, perhaps he was encouraged to barrack (you don’t “root” for your team here in Australia) for the Hawks with my love of the team from 25 years of following this club but nonetheless, he has embraced the game wholeheartedly.
So, it was no surprise that he wanted to play and he joined our local club the Camberwell Sharks. After a season in AusKick (think Timbits Hockey), he graduated to Tackers and this past year played for the Under 10s. Unfortunately, with our departure timed the way it was, he was only able to play out two-thirds this season but he did so with great determination. He played different positions and always tried his best. The “club tradition” was new to him (and us) and it was a strong and organized club with great coaching and parent support.
A couple weeks ago before we left Melbourne, he played his last game for the Club. It was probably his best game I have seen him play. As captain that day, he led his side to an exciting win over the fourth place team (they were sitting second on percentage prior to that game) and the opposition team awarded him best and fairest on field – a great accomplishment for a boy from the northern hemisphere playing an Aussie tradition.
Today he can reel off AFL stats like the best of them. He knows the ladder, the importance of percentage, marks, possessions and disposals. He loves Cyril Rioli, Franklin, Hodgey, Roughy and Changa and despite the hawks mediocre season this year, is looking forward to following the Finals in September when we arrive back in Ottawa.
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