I have lived in Melbourne since I was nine years old, yet the number of Community Cups I have attended adds up to about 90% of all of the football matches I have attended. AFL. It’s just not for me. Sorry everyone!
Take the game away from the bright lights of the MCG, however, and away from the AFL corporatism, and replace the chiselled athletes with some overweight, chain-smoking, alcoholic musicians and radio DJs and you’ve got me there, cheering for The Megahertz (sorry Rock Dogs) every year without fail. Leaping Larry L’s commentary doesn’t hurt either. I even have a Megahertz scarf. I sure don’t own any other football team’s scarf and it will probably be a cold day in hell before I do.
Why do I do it? Because it was proven again yesterday that the day is a hell of a lot of fun. It’s not just about a game of footy. It’s about music, and raising seventy thousand bucks for Reclink so they can get underpriviledged kids to play sport… and patting strangers’ dogs.
The musical side of things was handled by Drunk Mums and Bunny Monroe before the 2pm kickoff, Boomgates at half time and the reformed cult band Blue Ruin after the game, which featured appearances by Mick Harvey, JP Shilo, Tim Rogers and Wally Meanie.
The theme of the day was The Cramps and the game’s umpires (which included Rockwiz co-host Brian Nankervis) were dressed up as the band. Brian makes a lovely Lux Interior, by the way.
Local comedian and RRR’s Lime Champions hostess with the most-ess Kate Boston-Smith can now add “best on ground” (shared with Rock Dog Liam O’Shannessey) to her list of “mostess” things that she has. You heard me.
Host of RRR’s Livewire Pauly P. can now add “wanting to kick Leaping Larry L’s arse” for all the fat-jokes made from the safety of the commentators box to his resume.
Tim Rogers wins the award for being the most surprisingly flexible person on ground. I’m pretty sure that’s not an actual award, but let’s just say that guy could kick himself in the face if he wanted to.
Anyway, weren’t there? Well that’s a bit silly of you. Don’t worry, there will always be next year. You will come next year, won’t you?
Oh yeah, I suppose I should tell you the score. The RRR/PBS Megahertz were 4.11.35, while the Espy Rock Dogs were 5.5.35. It’s a tie. You know what? It doesn’t really matter anyway. Everybody wins but football.
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