It’s the pointy end of the football season here Down Under, and Hawks hold up the rear as the 8th team on the ladder. It matched up with GWS, the Greater Western Sydney team, aka The Giants. As the 5th team on the ladder, it gets to host the one-chance game and ironically, it’s the game that is closest to us. Lucky me. The other games were at Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth. So off to Sydney we went.
Tress and I got up early on Sat, walked the little fellow, then dropped him off at Virginia’s. We then drove to Sydney, getting there around noon to catch a lovely lunch at the Peranakan Place. We then made that short drive to the Olympic Park near the old Homebush area. I said to Tress, that I remembered Homebush as the old abattoir that was developed to be host the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The NSW government did a great job and the whole area felt a well thought out and functional and pleasant place to be. Numerous sporting facilities (including the Accor and the Engie, where Hawks played the Giants) and wide open spaces are, I thought, really good as public event places, particularly for sporting events.
We stayed at the Pullman,
which was only a few minutes walk from the Engie – probably a touch longer than the Marvel from Spencer Street station in Melbourne.
The team stayed there too, and a number or rooms/dining/lounges were decked out in Hawks colours. Our request for early check in was met with gracious and efficient staff. So, even though it was just a bit after 1pm when we arrived and check-in time was 3pm (the game started at 3.20) we made good time and could leisurely walk across to acquaint ourselves with the venue and settle into our seats.
It was a a comfortable game for the most part but late in the 3rd quarter, the Giants staged a comeback and kicked 7 straight goals to edge ahead halfway through the 4th. Sam Mitchell did some magic and we then kicked 3 goals to hold off the fightback. It made the win so much more satisfying. The 2,000+ Hawks fans that made the trip were loud and happy. We won, to play again – Adelaide Crows, in SA.
We left Sydney around noon, and got back late in the arvo. We picked up the little guy and after a quick grocery pickup, went and saw the girls and their mum and dad.
Adelaide on Friday night would be a different ball game but who knows. We lived to fight again and often, that is what counts. Go Hawks.
Ante 