The 2010 AFL Grand Final and Drugs

First of all - Congratulations Carlton on an excellent win over Collingwood. A huge crowd of 112,964 packed the MCG to witness another victory for Carlton. Ashman booted 3 goals, Maclure, McKay and Sheldon each kicked 2 each with Johnston, Buckley and Harmes kicking 1 apiece. Carlton’s best were Doull, Fitzpatrick, Hunter and Marcou with great performances by Maylin, English, Howell, Harmes, Perovic and Glascott. 

The first tap out of the game was won by Mike Fitzpatrick, and scooped up by Ken Sheldon. In a tight opening quarter, the Blues would score first after a nice 1-handed mark from Maclure, but it would…

Ooops, that was 1981.

The 2010 Grand Final just finished a few hours ago and I’m still high as a kite. Not from drugs but from the incredible spectacle called Australian Rules Football. This game was so exciting, so invigorating, so fucking fantastic that I am wondering if we actually need drugs. Okay, so the game was a draw but what a draw it was. Speed might be intense, ecstasy can be exhilarating and pot can be trippy but what I saw today reconfirmed that footy is mind blowing.

Today’s game between Collingwood and St-Kilda was Aussie rules at it’s best and it was on display for the whole world to see. I doubt you will find many people who saw the game who would complain that they weren’t fully entertained. Like most people, I usually draw the line at watching footy that doesn’t involve my team - except the Grand Final of course. But Grand Finals can end up quite boring especially when your team isn’t playing. 

Now this is where drugs come in handy. Many Aussies watching the Grand Final also indulge in some heavy drug taking. Yes, I’m talking about ethanol, booze or alcohol. And like most drugs, alcohol can make the experience more intense, more fun or more exciting. Fantastic for when your team is winning, adding excitement when your team is not playing and filling the void when the game is boring. I must admit that alcohol is the ideal drug to take when watching footy. I have previously watched footy on speed, pot and heroin but booze wins out by a long shot.

Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. It is a powerful psychoactive drug and one of the oldest recreational drugs. It is best known as the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages and thermometers.

[…]

The fermentation of sugar into ethanol is one of the earliest organic reactions employed by humanity. The intoxicating effects of ethanol consumption have been known since ancient times. In modern times, ethanol intended for industrial use is also produced from by-products of petroleum refining. Ethanol has widespread use as a solvent of substances intended for human contact or consumption, including scents, flavorings, colorings, and medicines. In chemistry, it is both an essential solvent and a feedstock for the synthesis of other products. It has a long history as a fuel for heat and light, and more recently as a fuel for internal combustion engines.

-Wikipedia

Unfortunately, Collingwood didn’t lose and the game was a draw which means there will be a rematch next week. With 100,000 fans, 2 football teams and a spattering of officials looking so bewildered and ultimately, let down, there will be plenty of debate about the current system. And I’m sure it will change after today’s result. Although it was an amazing game, there needed to be a clear winner. If not for the sake of the teams who focussed so heavily all week on today’s match but the poor old public who will have to, once again over indulge in their favourite drug, alcohol.