The last Saturday afternoon of September is the day the AFL (Australian Football League) holds its grand final. This year was no exception with 110,000 people filling the stadiums in Melbourne. Others flocked to pubs, clubs and various locations to view the game via television. Millions of others around Australia watched from home.
The opening ceremony and lead up entertainment was, as usual, very spectacular. There was much anticipation for the match to follow – and then 2 ½ hours later a nail biting close game ended in an amazing anti-climax – there was no winner – it was a draw!
It was announced that the match would be replayed next Saturday! The players were visibly distraught, spectators were in shock and coaches looked angry.
Every great sporting event always has wonderful life lessons for us and this game for me was one of those times. Check out my video here and let me know what you think. Also please share any sporting stories you may have.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q27vEtO-Y2w[/youtube]
So what do you think about the rule of the players having to play again? If you were one of the coaches what would you do to get the team back into the right mental attitude?
Belinda Cunningham says
Sue
Oh it kills me to write a comment on a footy story as I abhor all that it stands for. Just an excuse for too many people to get too much money to behave badly. Generalisation I know, boys get over it, man up, it is just a footy game and life goes on, more important things in life than footy. Play the game and the all money raised from spectators goes to feed the starving. There are draws all through life just accept it and move on but please don’t make us go through it all again next week. Way too much emphasis on their needing to be a winner, I would prefer win – win. Wouldn’t that break some barriers.
Belinda
Sue says
Belinda you have an interesting point of view. Do you feel the same about all sports?
I actually had the same thought about the win-win as in business and life in general it is something I embrace. But it seems sport needs to have winner. Well most anyway.
I love the lessons from sport.
Thanks for commenting Belinda.
Take care
Sue
Oliver Tausend says
Hi Sue,
interesting scenario. Playing again is better than losing, isn’t it ? But I can understand that the energy involved in such an event can lead to inadequate reactions if the energy isn’t channelled into the expected result – that there’s going to be a decision today. That’s the beauty about soccer: At the end of the day, there’s going to be a decision, they’re playing overtime and then there are the penalties until there’s a winner.
Thanks for sharing.
Take care
Oliver
Sue says
Oliver I think the way that soccer is played out until there is a winner is much better than what we had on Saturday here. I love soccer but it is not so big in Australia. Although it is growing in followers.
I agree with you that playing again should be better than losing. I assume by now the teams are seeing it that way. It really was fascinating to see the reactions.
Thanks for dropping by Oliver.
Sue
Linda G. Cox says
Wow! I can’t wait to hear what happens!!!
I was never a sports fan until my children started playing! Four of my daughters played high school basketball (one is playing for college), also volleyball and one son football. There is so many wonderful lessons that can be learned from sports! I totally empathize with everyone involved in the game you are describing!! Of course the biggest bummer is everyone’s schedules are disrupted! And I agree with you, this is just like life, a speed bump!! If the players will take it for what it is, accept, focus, and give it their best, the better team will win!
I can’t wait till next week!
Linda
Sue says
It is funny how our children change us isn’t it Linda? I agree with you on the biggest bummer being the disrupted schedules. I was imagining the people with kids who are currently on vacation etc – but it happens in life.
It will be really interesting to see the outcome tomorrow, as it is Saturday here tomorrow. So not long to find out 🙂
Sue
Linda G. Cox says
I just have to tell you a sports story! It’s like you said, life’s lessons! The sporting stories from my family are limitless! The biggest WOW story came when my daughter – the most ‘gifted bball player in the family’ and the star player of her high school team, went down with a torn ACL at the beginning of her senior year season.
After an emotionally painful couple of weeks, Jaimi rose to the occasion and joined the team at every practice and game of the season. Her motivation and positive attitude took the team to places it would have never gotten to without her encouragement!
Just like life. Can’t let the difficulties keep you down. I can’t wait to hear what happens with your ‘Football Madness’!
~Linda
Sue says
Linda thanks for sharing the story about your daughter. It sounds like Jaimi is a very strong girl and maybe her torn ACL happened for a reason.
My daughter is also a very good bball player. She does not play at the moment but when she was in school she played regularly.
There was an outcome with the replay yesterday. A land slide victory for one team. I will share about it in a post very soon.
Sue
Don Enck says
Sue,
I can’t imagine such a scenario playing out here in the States. I’ve been a sports enthusiast most of my life. I’ve played sports in younger days and I enjoy watching them too. Although, I don’t make it a regular habit I do follow the Big Games. I have never experienced any such situation. Every sport I can think of, the game is played until a winner is decided. There’s extra innings, overtimes, sudden death…something. It’s almost Darwinism…survival of the fittest. the strong survive, the best conditioned, best coached, best team wins in the end.
No matter a player, a coach , a spectator the energy drain has to be exhausting. It’s the Big Game. To not have an outcome at the end of it is cruel for all involved. In my mind this is sad and I really can’t see what life lesson can from it. If you’re on the battlefield you don’t call a draw and come back next week to fight again. You fight now. You become the last man standing or you die.
Sue says
Don I totally agree with you. It is a ridiculous situation and the energy drain for me watching from home was huge so I cannot really imagine how it was for those really effected. I hope the rules get changed after this.
I laughed at one comment I heard through the week. It was that Australia had gone crazy, he had a “hung parliament” and now “hung” football.
There has to be a message here somewhere?
Sue
Louise Steiner says
Sue, I was watching the game also and was on the edge of my seat. Being a Collingwood supporter (I dare to admit it :-)), it has to be one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. The players gave it their all. As you say, not having a winner at the end of not just a fantastic game, but also after all the build up was the biggest anti climax of all time.
When they announced a replay the following week, I too was most surprised. My first thought went out to the players and how they could possibly recover physically and prepare mentally to give their absolute best just one week down the track. I did not envy the coaches.
On the other hand, I hate seeing a game decided on penalties, such as in Soccer. It’s almost like drawing lots. Extra time I could live with, but not penalty kicks.
Louise
Sue says
Louise I did not know you were a Collingwood supporter. You must be happy today 🙂
I agree extra time would have been better the replay. It is crazy I think. I like the comment your made of facebook _ only in Australia!
Did you watch the replay?
Sue
Barbique says
Awesome site, very well how you’ve written this post, I cannot really imagine how it was for those really effected. I hope the rules get changed after this. Thanks for sharing..
Sue says
Thanks for your comment Barbique. The rules did not get changed and ironically these two teams are up against each other in our Grand Final this coming weekend. Let’s hope we have one winner the first time around. 🙂
Thanks for your comment on my site. I appreciate it.
Sue
conan0506 says
I hope the rules get changed after this. I laughed at one comment I heard through the week. | 😛
Sue says
Thanks for commenting Conan. The rules did not get changed but this year we did not have a draw. The same two teams were once again in the grand final in Australia again this year. The team that lost last year were the winners this year.
Sue
Shanna says
I’ve played sports in younger days and I enjoy watching them too. Although, I don’t make it a regular habit I do follow the Big Games. I have never experienced any such situation.
Sue says
Thanks for your comment Shanna. I do not think too many people would have experienced this as most sports do not have such a crazy rule as to replay a grand final.
Sue
crown5 says
I cannot really imagine how it was for those really effected. I hope the rules get changed after this. Thanks for sharing.. | 😛
Sue says
Thanks for your comment crown and unfortunately as yet the rules have not changed.
Sue
Jennefer Fox says
i was very surprised my first thought went out to the players and how they could possibly recover physically and prepare mentally to give their absolute best just one week down the track. I did not envy the coaches.
slamdunk0506 says
I hate seeing a game decided on penalties, such as in Soccer. It’s almost like drawing lots. Extra time I could live with, but not penalty kicks.
Sue says
Thanks for the comment slandunk. I agree with you extra time is my preferred option.
Sue
Aprilrose says
Thanks for the dropping by! In my mind this is sad and I really can’t see what life lesson can from it. If you’re on the battlefield you don’t call a draw and come back next week to fight again. Thanks for the informative post!
Sue says
Thanks for your comment AprilRose. I love your analogy of the battlefield – so true!
Sue
malunggay56 says
I’ve played sports in younger days and I enjoy watching them too. Although, I don’t make it a regular habit I do follow the Big Games. | 😛
Sue says
Thanks for commenting Malunggay
ducati56 says
When they announced a replay the following week, I too was most surprised. My first thought went out to the players and how they could possibly recover physically and prepare mentally to give their absolute best just one week down the track. I did not envy the coaches. | 😛
Sue says
I totally agree with you ducati56. It is a crazy rule and I never knew it was like this as I had never seen a draw in a grand final before.
Thanks for commenting.
Sue
Sue says
Thanks for your feedback
Sue