AFLQ Community footy writer, Beth Newman, is waiting in the wings on the road to recovery in her debut footy season.
It’s been another quiet week for me, footy wise.
I missed out on a chance to be a runner on Sunday, due to a late forfeit, much to my disappointment.
This week continued my stint as a rehabber, a status which makes feel a bit more legitimate in my footballing career, I must say, with a check-up at my hand therapist (I know what you’re thinking – ssshhh).
Apparently, my finger flexibility makes me a bit of a healing star, so I’m at least good at something football-related, if only being injured.
Without much actual footy going on for me, I had a chance to think about the AFL’s Multicultural Round.
With the definition of multicultural being a parent born overseas, it’s definitely made me look at our game in different ways.
I’ve certainly had my fair share of time with some international footballers, even at the Red Lionesses.
For the first half of this season, we had some British and Irish recruits (not of the rugby variety), and seeing them acclimatise to Aussie Rules was great to see.
One of the things I have always loved about footy is introducing people who are totally foreign to it and seeing their reaction.
This has wild variations within it, but generally ranges something from ‘that’s crazy’ to a general sense of bewilderment at the frenetic and unpredictable nature of the game.
Seeing somebody learn the game, whether playing, or spectating, is one of my favourite things to see –that light bulb moment when someone understands a rule, or the look of satisfaction when they tackled someone for the first time.
I also found out how many different backgrounds local footy players have, in my experiences this week at work.
One of the most touching stories came from this guy called Keith, who is playing for the Calamvale Leopards, and has fallen in love with Aussie Rules- just try not to get the warm fuzzies reading it.There are guys, and girls, from all over the world playing an “Australian” game.
People tend to try to put all these labels on games, but through Aussie Rules I have probably met more people with diverse backgrounds than in any other area of my life.
And that unity, as corny as it might sound, is my single favourite thing about sport – regardless of who you are, where you come from.
With a bye this weekend, my hand will get another check-up next week and hopefully I’ll be back in action, and out of rehab, asap, to the betterment or detriment of my team, that remains to be seen.
