Round 4 - A Dog day afternoon for the Cats ...

To know frustration is to be a Geelong fan. Cousin Davis and his new (siamese) twin, the District Attorney, who is a Collingwood fan, joined me at the phone booth yesterday to watch a heart-breaker. Notice the boys trudge off in the background? Rather than go into depth about the match, please read the match report instead. The pain is too much to go through again and I'm quite enjoying my lazy Sunday afternoon anyway. I've also got to get ready for G-Squared's engagement party. The final score was Western Bulldogs 14.14 (98) to Geelong 14.13 (97). Yes, a heartbreaker.

Walking back to the car from Telstra Dome yesterday, I was thinking what I could do as a Geelong fan to help my team get across the line and I came up with this winning formula: When I sit with Poppa Blog in our seats at K-Park and we consume tomato soup, we win by more than 10 goals. It's pretty simple, except to think the next game at Skilled Stadium isn't until May 27, for the Round 9 clash with Richmond. We could be 2-6 by then!

I knew the day got off to a bad start when we got to Melbourne and my beloved York Cafe was not due to open for another 20 minutes. Running out of time, we decided to get some over-priced foccacias served by some Fabio look-a-like at a nearby cafe. Anyway, we went back past York and they were open, so I got some famed Singapore noodles, with cashews, to go. The day was seemingly back on track. But then we went to the footy. A good afternoon ruined, although it was good to catch up with that dynamic duo and a colleague from work.

For a guy who has been watching his weight, the last week has been a blowout. But then I go and surprise myself by spending a couple of hours at the gym today to later weigh in at under 100 kegs. Yesterday, I also enjoyed a Whopper value meal, supreme nachos, a jam donut and beer at the footy, as we watched Geelong bumble, fumble and ultimately stumble. After such a promising start, one thinks it could be a long season. And to think I persuaded Cousin Davis to buy a membership. The guy might be permanently scarred.

Rivjuando e-mailed me the other day and said: "Looks like their's a lot of footy in your life these days." Well, apart from the footy and the long commute to and from work, there hasn't been much else. But I am going to Sydney on Thursday in a few days for, you guessed it, more football and some general sightseeing. Hopefully I'll have something else to report on then.

Round 3 - Cats swooped by the Hawks ...

The Real K-Lenko and myself looked quite happy to be at Kardinia Park after yesterday's match, but nothing could be further from the truth. While I enjoyed the company of many friends and many more beers yesterday, the result was far from flattering. The Geelong boys could have been accused of reading too much of their own press, including the rave reviews on this here blog, but they were thoroughly embarrassed yesterday by a much hungrier Hawthorn outfit. Too bad that I was probably too intoxicated to remember that much of it. This is perhaps a good thing.

A pair of slacks, a collared shirt and an additional $30 were required to watch the match in the comfortable confines of the social club, a mecca for any Geelong fan. But I knew it was going to be a bad day when I was the only dude wearing a pair of beige pants compared with the other gents wearing black suits. Like the team I went to support, I may have underestimated what was needed to excel at an elite level.

It was just as well I had consumed eight pots before the end of the first quarter because this effort could not be consumed on an empty stomach. Luckily, I had also lined my belly with the free pizza that was supplied out the front of the stadium by Domino's (yes, another shamless plug). It was quite chilly outside, so the rather large group, a mixture of Geelong and Hawthorn fans, decided to watch the game through glass windows from inside the social club. I felt for Poppa Blog, minus soup and other creature comforts, who went to the game and braved the elements with Han Solo. In other words, he was by himself. Trust me to mess with a winning formula.

The esteemed broadsheet's headline was Hawks turn on goal blitz with the final score reading Hawthorn 15.11 (101) to Geelong 6.13 (49). As you can see to the right, I was far from impressed. But the Rayman and Tinsel Tone were wrapt, rubbing their hands with glee. There can only be one winner. After the game, we consumed more beer at St Mary's Football Club and the Lamby's tent behind the Doug Wade Stand before KL and I went to join some others at Lord Of The Isles. I decided to pull up stumps soon after, buying burgers from Red Rooster and later Hungry Jack's (the Australian version of Burger King) before cabbing it home and falling asleep on the couch. Like Geelong's performance yesterday, it's still a mystery as to how I changed into my pyjamas after such a huge day.

In other news, I'm baffled at the number of anonymous blog postings as of late. I'd like to think Trent Croad is a regular visitor to the site, but I highly doubt it. I collared the District Attorney about them, but he has strenously denied all responsibility and as of yet no charges have been laid. Curiosity may have killed the cat and it's eating away at me currently. Where, or more importantly, who are you?

So, apart from the game, I've kept this holiday weekend relatively low key. The highlights have been sitting on the couch to watch The O.C. marathon, helping out the parents with general chores and catching up with the family for dinner just moments ago. I hope you and your loved ones have had a safe and happy Easter!

Round 2 - Kangaroos bounced by the Cats ...

It's a sweet view from the top of the Reg Hickey Stand and from the top of the AFL ladder. It was another week, another victory and another top day at K-Park yesterday with Poppa Blog. There were subtle changes in the hamper (sorry, dodgy plastic bag) with the traditional Heinz tomato soup being a late inclusion in the Thermos for the radical spicy tomato version that impressed last week. We also bought a garlic and cheese pull-apart from Baker's Delight before the match. In: Doritos' nacho cheese corn chips. Out: Smith's chicken chips. I'm sure Alaskan Marcus likes my brand recognition! The goodies were washed down with some Pepsi Max and a couple of Carlton Draughts. Surprisingly, Poppa Blog repeatedly refused my offers for a beer. Has the world gone crazy? Or is it just him? Haha! The day was made better because of a lovely young lass who just happens to sit next to us. Like the spicy tomato soup, she impressed on debut after missing last week's match. I just might struggle to keep my eyes on the field this season!

I have been battling a cold for most of the week and the occasional bursts of sunshine were a welcome change from last week's blustery and rainy conditions. But as I mentioned, the result was pretty much the same. Another dominating win. There were many highlights and rather than me tell you about them, why not read what the esteemed broadsheet had to say. "Kingsley kicks eight as Cats dazzle" was the headline and the final score was Geelong 22.6 (138) to the Kangaroos' 10.9 (69).

For those expats who follow other teams, you have the Internet, don't you? Only kidding. For Yvonne from Victoria and AC, the not-so-mighty Demons would be close to the bottom of the ladder after dropping their first two games. If only we played them in Round 3, but alas, we'll have to wait as Geelong plays Hawthorn next week, Easter Saturday. It promises to be a big one. I'm giving my seat away to Momma Blog so I can watch the game and drink beer in the social club with an even mix of Cats and Hawks supporters, some of whom happen to be my friends. Hopefully, JB's camera will catch all the action. Regardless, read all about it, here, next week.

Speaking of AC, I haven't heard from him lately, but he received some good news the other week (I was remiss by not posting an update) with his condition and his survival rate remarkably improving. I'm sure that our well wishes have contributed to the cause.

You may have also noticed a recent addition to the page, namely being the "The Song Of The Day". I have fallen in love with Nada Surf's "The Weight Is A Gift" album and decided to list their opener "Concrete Bed" as my favourite song of the past week or so. Apologies/thanks to Rivjuando for the idea. He has had a similar list since October 2004. You should check it out!

And that, my friends and followers, is all. God bless.

Round 1 - Cats tame the Lions ...

I'm not sure if taking my digital camera to the footy and reporting on each game will be a weekly fixture, but here goes. Yesterday was April 1, but the only fools at Kardinia Park (I still refuse to call it Skilled Stadium) were the umpires who looked like martians in their green uniforms and Geelong's once almighty opponent, the Brisbane Lions. It's hard to imagine that this was (sort of) the same team who appeared in four consecutive grand finals, winning three of them, not too long ago.

"Geelong slaughters Lions" was the headline in the esteemed broadsheet and the final score was Geelong 17.13 (115) to the Lions' 5.8 (38). It was an awesome display that saw the Cats take advantage of the wind and their trust in each other to seal the win by halftime in this man's humble opinion.

Poppa Blog and I took up our seats in Bay 1 of the new Hickey Stand (the old Hickey Stand is now the Doug Wade Stand, go figure) and, weatherwise, it was a typical winter's day in G-Town. Rain, wind and the occasional burst of sun through otherwise grey skies. While the other JB, Jimmy Bartel, surely would have secured Brownlow votes, my dad (who your remember from Christmas) was also best-on-ground for bringing the Thermos filled with spicy tomato soup, some cheese and bacon rolls as well as a big pack of Smith's chicken chips, which were mainly devoured by yours truly well before three-quarter time. They were washed down by a few plastic pots of Carlton Draught bought at the bar for $5 each.

Next week, it's back to K-Park to play the Kangaroos. Hopefully, the spicy tomato soup and a Geelong victory will again be on tap. I might see Blackie, my old primary and high school buddy there. We caught up yesterday and were both very pleased by the final result.