Mexican Wave at the football!

Courtesy of some well-connected friends, we were able to get some tickets to the final Freo home game for 2006. Caleb waltzed along with his Richmond scarf and hat standing out in a sea of purple and green. It didn’t faze him that the Tigers had been walloped by the Eagles in Melbourne only a few hours earlier. When someone commented that we might be a bit out of place, we responded by joking that we made a wrong turn on our way to the ‘G’, which brought wry smiles! (Probably also some warmth due to the fact that Freo people hate the Eagles even more than they do Victorians!!!)
Well, the football experience at Subiaco was like a trip to another world! One could have closed one’s eyes and known what was taking place – utter silence when Port had the ball, and even more so when they kicked a goal. Freo possessions, on the other hand, were met with applause, cheers, and the occasional collective grunt (d’Oh) when they made a mistake or turned the ball over. The game was well over early in the third quarter when the crowd launched into a Mexican Wave. Don’t these West Australians know that this is reserved only for cricket?
But the real treat occurred in the last quarter when Port managed to scramble a goal. Down our whole side of the ground there was a sole Port Power flag being waved – something like a lighthouse in an barren peninsula. Apart from the Port cheer squad – who were all huddled together, this was a brave statement (albeit noticeable only after the game was over!)
I can understand the daunting challenge facing visiting teams to this venue. I can equally understand the pressure on the home team, with every mistake greeted by a collective groan of over 40000 voices. To carry that weigh every time they play must present its own problems, particularly if the team is not performing well.