NRL Grand Final 2009 – From Ecstasy to Despair

What a weekend it was.

For just the second time in 23 years, the Eels made the Grand Final and I was there again. Just like I was in 2001 when we roared into the Grand Final as red-hot favourites.

This time we had scraped into the finals and pounded the top 3 sides to make the Grand Final, riding on a wing, prayer and history. We could have been the first team to win it from 8th spot.

Last week was amazing. We beat our arch-rivals, the Bulldogs, in front of 75,000 people. The crowd was deafening and it was the best Rugby League match I had ever been to. My son told me it had been the best day of his life. Nothing warms the heart more!

But this was the big one. The one that counts. We had reached the prelimiary final 5 times since 1986, but only made the Grand Final twice. We needed to make it count.

So, Dougall, Yellster, Ed and I took the nervous train trip to Homebush to drink, cheer and hopefully be merry.

We downed 4 at the Brewery before the game. I had never seen so many Parra jerseys in one place. It was a sea of blue and gold and the feeling of anxiety and excitement was palpable. I felt good and I felt confident. I had bets on for a 13+ victory. Perhaps ambitious, but that’s how I felt.

We stepped into the Stadium and saw the swarmof people around us. We had nice seats behind the goal posts but with a great view.

It was a game of 2 halves. The first, we had nothing to cheer about. Melbourne scored twice through some uncharacteristically weak defence. We didn’t have that spark. Hayne was very quiet. The crowd was nervous at half-time. I hardly even remember it.

The second was better. We lifted. Guru scored. Fui scored and we were happy.

All I could do was hope…maybe, we can come back…one last time.

It wasn’t to be. An uncontested bomb, a bullshit refereeing decision (fuck you Tony Archer), and a field goal later, and the Eels went down, 23-16. Melbourne win their 3rd premiership of the decade.

I was gutted to have lost again. It’s hard to lose a Grand Final after weeks of build-up. I can only imagine what it must feel like for the players.

But next year is a new decade, and a new chance for the Eels to start their domination. Tahu’s back. Poore and Shackleton are in. We will hopefully keep the core of the team. There’s no reason we can’t get there again.

I just wish I didn’t have to wait 12 months to do it again.

(Kids x 3) + Sydney + Footy + 11 hours of driving = 1 Tired Dad

So after moving all of my stuff out of my place (more on that some time) and into various nooks and crannies on Friday, and getting a sore throat, stuffed up nose in the process, I took the kids up to Sydney on Friday arvo.

The original idea was to go to the Parramatta v Penrith game because the boys go for Parra and my daughter goes for Penrith. Also, I hadn’t been to a game in a while and thought it would be a good chance to get away on the weekend before the school holidays.

They wore me the hell out, but we had fun. They travel pretty well in the car, but it’s the dragging around Sydney that gets pretty hard.

We went on a ferry and a train (in the same day!) which was a first for them. They saw the sights of the harbour and hopefully it’ll be something they remember. LaLa got to experience managing 3 tired kids while being sick herself. Fun!

I must admit that I always forget and underestimate how much work it is to take the kids on a trip. With the excitement of being away, and the chance to take advantage of Dad, they can be a handful.

The 4 year old is constantly hungry, or sleepy, and I must have taken the boys to the toilet about 20 times. Bladders of a pregnant woman I tell you!

The footy on Sunday was fun. We had front row seats, which I thought would be good, but unfortunately the fence was so high that the kids struggled to see over it. Next time, a few rows back would work better 🙂

The result wasn’t the best, but I think the kids enjoyed it. The boisterous drunken outbursts from fans behind us will surely burn into their brain. Fortunately they weren’t witness to the racial abuse that apparently happened.

I thnk we ate way too much junk food, but hey…that’s what holidays are for hey?

I still wanna see Kung Fu Panda though. I was going to use the kids as an excuse to see it….but might have to see it myself now 🙂

So, back to work. Still got a scratchy throat and stuffed up nose, but instead get to share it with workmates. Yay for them 🙂

3 weeks till I head back to Sydney.

*sigh*

Time is going so slow.

Monday Means Dot Points

Here’s the rundown..

• Sebastian Bach rained out. WTF? Sprinklers went off because of a ill-placed spotlight and the electical firey dude called the gig off. Not happy about but, but I did drink and be merry with old friends so that was a plus
• Things I am loving at the moment –
  • Deadwood – Watching all 3 seasons in a row. ($20 each. Woo!) I am starting to talk like a 1800’s prospector. If that offends your sensibilities, then fuck you cocksucker!
  • Flight of the Conchords – This Kiwi duo are piss funny. Think Tenacious D, but not as rocky. Their TV show is great too. Ch 10, on Sundays, after Rove.
  • Gyroscope – New album, ‘Breed Obsession’. Hell Yeah. Good solid Aussie rock. Very cool.
  • Dexter – I watched the first 2 episodes of this show yesterday and I have to say it’s a little disturbing, but engaging at the same time. Look for it later this year on Ch. 10, or look for copies…umm..elsewhere. A serial killing blood splatter specialist forensic cop. freaky.
  • Burnout 3 – A PS2 game where you ram the opposition cars and get more points and speed for ‘taking them down’. A little obsessed with this game at the moment..
• Things I am hating at the moment –
  • Woolworths renovations. I can’t find anything!
  • Wicked Wings price hike. Weren’t they 2 bucks about a year ago? Now they’re 3 bucks!
  • Petrol Prices – I know it’s not going to stop, but $1.60/litre is REALLY pushing it.
  • Mail Archiving. Very VERY OVER IT. Why do people have to keep so much email? Deal with it and DELETE!!
  • Big Brother – Boring. Boring. Boring. I hardly even bother any more. The excitement of the opening night feels like a distant memory.
  • The Parramatta Eels form. We played well on Friday and still lost. Damn you Lockyer! We’d better beat the Raiders next week!
• The Drop Bears play their inaugural gig at the Kingston Hotel this Friday. All are welcome! Come along and have a steak and then listen to us and rock out! Any requests?

That’s about it. I feel like I am treading water a bit at the moment, just waiting for traction and the chance to move forward.

Soon…..sooooooooon.

Gutted

Like a Fish.

The Eels have done it to me again.

They get my hopes up.
They play inspiring exciting football.
They give me a reason to believe.

Then they give me nothing.

We’re out.

The game before the Grand Final.

Again.

5 times in 10 years we have fallen over at the game before the Grand Final.

The one time we made it? We were done by Newcastle by the end of the first half.

Personally. I just want to MAKE IT to the fucking Grand Final for once. I want to be there when we run out. I would rather LOSE a Grand Final than lose the week before.

FUCK.

Cause now…the Grand Final is here….with 2 hated teams and I don’t give a toss who wins.

And don’t give me “It’s only a game”, or “There’s always next year”.

Never…ever…say that to a guy after this team loses.

Well…at least within the first 24 hours…

FUCKIT.

….

..

Bring on the cricket.