And this? This... is FOOTBALL! (Showdown 45: Port 93 – 96 West Lakes)
We
lost, and it hurts. However, the defeat has inspired me to write. Today, in a long text, I tell why Showdown 45 had all the ingredients of a game for the ages - pure football! I also argue
why Port is going to be the AFL Premiers this season. From the pain, it came deep
self-belief! Wishful thinking? Most probably, but it would be a very inoffensive
one. Still, what if it is not? Our hero’s journey might have just turned the
corner…
---
From now on, whenever someone asks me “what on hell is Australian football,” I will invite them to watch the Showdown XLV. I know we lost, but the derby had everything: great plays, dumb plays, fights, comebacks, controversies, and a tight finish. The game reminded me of a great short story by a fantastic Argentine writer, Roberto Fontanarrosa, called Viejo con Árbol (Old man with Tree).[1]
In the story, an amateur soccer team realizes they have a stranger as a supporter (more or less like Port and me), an old man that always seats under a tree with a small radio by his side to watch their games. One day, a player is subbed out and finally decides to chat with their fan. After putting some effort to break the ice, the player manages to engage in a conversation with the old man; who, then, explains why he enjoys football: “it is close related to the arts.”
He gives examples, pointing to the field of play: the footballers’ strong bodies are shaped like sculptures; the sweated guernseys and their clash of colors resemble paintings; the movement by the players – running, pushing, pulling, jumping, etc. – is no different than dancing… Meanwhile, the opposition presses relentlessly for the winning goal. The old man, however, goes on: [2]
From now on, whenever someone asks me “what on hell is Australian football,” I will invite them to watch the Showdown XLV. I know we lost, but the derby had everything: great plays, dumb plays, fights, comebacks, controversies, and a tight finish. The game reminded me of a great short story by a fantastic Argentine writer, Roberto Fontanarrosa, called Viejo con Árbol (Old man with Tree).[1]
In the story, an amateur soccer team realizes they have a stranger as a supporter (more or less like Port and me), an old man that always seats under a tree with a small radio by his side to watch their games. One day, a player is subbed out and finally decides to chat with their fan. After putting some effort to break the ice, the player manages to engage in a conversation with the old man; who, then, explains why he enjoys football: “it is close related to the arts.”
He gives examples, pointing to the field of play: the footballers’ strong bodies are shaped like sculptures; the sweated guernseys and their clash of colors resemble paintings; the movement by the players – running, pushing, pulling, jumping, etc. – is no different than dancing… Meanwhile, the opposition presses relentlessly for the winning goal. The old man, however, goes on: [2]
– And listen, you listen! The windy sound from the
players’ agitated breaths; the cracking sound of the boots meeting the grass;
the beat of the ball hitting the post; the odd chorus by all the yelling,
orders, alerts, insults, and the whistle of umpire… Well... This... this is music...
The
player couldn’t stop thinking how good anecdote he was about to tell the others
after the game! Especially because it would bring some joy after what seemed to
be an inescapable defeat.
– Now, look at this forward. This forward of theirs
celebrating like he had just won the Brownlow, raising his arms exaggeratedly,
putting up a face of joy, falsely roaring in glee, claiming histrionically the
spotlight… Well… This… this is theater.
The
player looks at the scene and asks out loud “what was called?” The old man
realizes what is going on – “He called it ‘goal!?’” – and marches onto the
field:
– What did you call?! What did you call, umpire and
that widely-known whore, mother of yours?!?!
The
old man gets back to the tree, astonished. The player then asks: “and this?”
– And this… This is football!
And
football it was, indeed! You see, as I have said before, sports “encapsule the whole of life without being life itself,” and life is not fair. I follow Brazilian
soccer,[3] so I am used to incompetence and corruption; AFL’s do not surprise
me at all.[4] They must be faced and fought, and contained as much as it is
possible them to be, but it is impossible to get completely rid of them.
Incompetence
and corruption are part of football as much as they are part of life. Thankfully,
the game itself is – just like life also is – immune to them. As an old Spanish
saying goes: “La pelota no se mancha.” (“The ball is stainless.”) Life, footy,
and the Showdown are simply bigger than any pettiness that might be attached
parasitically to them.
The
fact that this game also had so clear examples of them, it only contributes to
make the Showdown XLV an instant classic. Victorians can deny as much as they
want,[5] but the Showdown is the best rivalry in Australian football; and I am
glad of having the opportunity to experience it – to be part of it!
As painful as this last derby was, those pains are ultimately what makes the rivalry so great. Derby wins wouldn’t be so sweet, if the losses weren’t as bitter as they are. One must accept the bad that comes with the good. There is no other way.
Of course, I would have preferred that Port actually had put itself in a position that calls like that ridiculous Westhoff’s 50m penalty [that I knew it would be called the moment it happened] and the “postgate” wouldn’t matter for the outcome.[6] We had the chance to do that TWICE in Q4, but we blew them both. Still, this also contributes to make last game so special.
The first quarter was the best quarter of footy I had the pleasure of witness. It does not matter that we were 4th and they were 12th on the ladder. In derbies, this is usually irrelevant. This season, however, AFL has a Top-12 that is absolutely leveled. Port has currently a 5-6 record against those teams, while boasting a 7-1 record against the Bottom-6 teams.[7] No surprise that the series went split with two close games.
As painful as this last derby was, those pains are ultimately what makes the rivalry so great. Derby wins wouldn’t be so sweet, if the losses weren’t as bitter as they are. One must accept the bad that comes with the good. There is no other way.
Of course, I would have preferred that Port actually had put itself in a position that calls like that ridiculous Westhoff’s 50m penalty [that I knew it would be called the moment it happened] and the “postgate” wouldn’t matter for the outcome.[6] We had the chance to do that TWICE in Q4, but we blew them both. Still, this also contributes to make last game so special.
The first quarter was the best quarter of footy I had the pleasure of witness. It does not matter that we were 4th and they were 12th on the ladder. In derbies, this is usually irrelevant. This season, however, AFL has a Top-12 that is absolutely leveled. Port has currently a 5-6 record against those teams, while boasting a 7-1 record against the Bottom-6 teams.[7] No surprise that the series went split with two close games.
Moreover, truth be told, Port played
better overall now than in the first Showdown. In any moment, we played as well
as in Showdown XLIV’s Q3; but we didn’t play as bad as we did in that match’s
Q1. For instance, we have finally moved the ball forward as I have been arguing it was our intention all along. It wasn’t only sparking moments of brilliance from
a couple of players, but something we kept doing again and again, with
different players involved.
Our problem was in the midfield – which we lost again, just like we did against Melbourne and GWS,[8] to point two games after the bye – and in the defense; especially with one-on-one plays and rebounding.[9] Those are known issues, that we have been able to manage with mixed results during the season. Our biggest problem has been our forward line, and it seems that we are finally improving. This is good news.
Still, it is not good enough. In search for more, I ended up re-reading my post on the Hero with a Thousand Faces, after our loss against Hawthorn in Round 11. I was hoping our hero’s story could still be going on. It is! Looking at the steps, we have ended the “Road of Trials” against Freo and GWS. In Ballarat, it seems that we have had the “Meeting with the Goddess” and received an important gift for our journey.[10] Finally, last weekend, we have fallen into a trap set by the “Woman as Temptress;” a woman called Adelaide.[11]
Our problem was in the midfield – which we lost again, just like we did against Melbourne and GWS,[8] to point two games after the bye – and in the defense; especially with one-on-one plays and rebounding.[9] Those are known issues, that we have been able to manage with mixed results during the season. Our biggest problem has been our forward line, and it seems that we are finally improving. This is good news.
Still, it is not good enough. In search for more, I ended up re-reading my post on the Hero with a Thousand Faces, after our loss against Hawthorn in Round 11. I was hoping our hero’s story could still be going on. It is! Looking at the steps, we have ended the “Road of Trials” against Freo and GWS. In Ballarat, it seems that we have had the “Meeting with the Goddess” and received an important gift for our journey.[10] Finally, last weekend, we have fallen into a trap set by the “Woman as Temptress;” a woman called Adelaide.[11]
If this is accurate, it puts our
hero in the “Atonement with the Father/Abyss.” This is “the center point of
journey,” in which the hero, so close of his ultimate defeat, “beholds
the face of the father, understands—and the two are atoned.” The training is
over. The hero is ready to complete his quest.
In other words, now that it experiences itself contemplating the possibility of being out of the Finals, Port will finally grasp Hinkley’s gameplan and click! This loss is what we needed to finally become what we were supposed to be. Bring on Eagles, Pies, and Bombers. Bring on the Finals! Our Hero is ready!
CARN THE POWER!
In other words, now that it experiences itself contemplating the possibility of being out of the Finals, Port will finally grasp Hinkley’s gameplan and click! This loss is what we needed to finally become what we were supposed to be. Bring on Eagles, Pies, and Bombers. Bring on the Finals! Our Hero is ready!
CARN THE POWER!
---
Notes:
[1] In Spanish.
Notes:
[1] In Spanish.
[2] I have adapted the text, so it would fit the
Showdown. I am aware it is not a description of Jenkins’ reaction. I wanted
this adaptation to be closer to the actual text, rather than to last weekend’s
match.
[3] Better
yet, I am Brazilian born and raised – for Christ’s sake! Of course, I am
used to incompetence and corruption…
[4] Tom Basso, a Port barracker, has the whole
controversy covered here: https://themongrelpunt.com/afl/2018/8/6/i-have-faith-in-the-game-but-not-in-its-keepers
[5] Although there are exceptions, as Gerard Whateley:
http://www.portadelaidefc.com.au/news/2018-08-02/whateley-its-disrespectful
[6] In truth, "postgate" doesn't matter for the outcome. It is a fact that West Lakes kicked badly for most of the game, but it is also a fact that they dominated Port both right before and right after Jenkins' "goal." They even scored after the siren. The odds are that they would find a goal and win, regardless.
[7] Current record against Top-12: (1) Richmond, 10-4; (2) WC, 7-5; (3) Hawthorn, 7-5; (4) Sydney, 7-6; (5) Essendon, 7-6; (6) Geelong, 7-7; (7) GWS, 5-6; (8) Port, 5-6; (9) Collingwood, 5-7; (10) West Lakes, 5-8; (11) Melbourne, 4-6; (12) North, 4-7.
[8] We were outscored by both the Giants and the Crows in a very similar way. If the games were proportionally equal, preserving the number of scoring shots, either Port-GWS would have been 11.7:73 – 10.15:75 (GWS +2) or the Showdown would have been 10.13:73 – 14.17:101 (WL +28). Although we lost the midfield against the Demons, our defense played much better against them.
[7] Current record against Top-12: (1) Richmond, 10-4; (2) WC, 7-5; (3) Hawthorn, 7-5; (4) Sydney, 7-6; (5) Essendon, 7-6; (6) Geelong, 7-7; (7) GWS, 5-6; (8) Port, 5-6; (9) Collingwood, 5-7; (10) West Lakes, 5-8; (11) Melbourne, 4-6; (12) North, 4-7.
[8] We were outscored by both the Giants and the Crows in a very similar way. If the games were proportionally equal, preserving the number of scoring shots, either Port-GWS would have been 11.7:73 – 10.15:75 (GWS +2) or the Showdown would have been 10.13:73 – 14.17:101 (WL +28). Although we lost the midfield against the Demons, our defense played much better against them.
[9] It also seemed that we got more tired than they
did – but I cannot confirm that.
[10] I mean Farrell. His partnership with Watts in the
Showdown’s first half was a sight to behold. It looked like we have found the
substitute for Marshall. Do not get me wrong, though. Farrell and Marshall can
totally play together. I am referring to this season only.
[11] In Portuguese, Adelaide is a female name.
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