AAMI Park and Melbourne Storm

With a weekend off due to an interstate game for the Bombers, AussieRulesBlog took the opportunity to  check out AAMI Park and the Melbourne Storm game against the Dragons.

 

The stadium is a delight. With the benefit of such a small playing arena — seemingly about the size of a man-sized tissue — there’s an intimacy about the place that AFL simply can’t match. Sitting in a slightly upmarket section of the stadium, we were also struck by the comparatively generous leg room. All very positive.

 

Some curious elements to the evening included the announcement of the Storm team, via the very nice screens at each end of the pitch, well before the players had even run out for their on-field warmup. Each Storm player’s name being announced and picture being displayed generated enthusiastic applause which seemed quite strange when the players remained firmly ensconced in their changerooms. The “cheerleaders” provided a splash of colour and movement in a dance routine out on the turf, but we are reminded how grateful we are that the Bluebirds and Swanettes have passed into history!

 

Fortuitously, it was Billy Slater’s 200th game. After the away team had run out to, pretty much, a non-reception, the Storm had their cheerleaders manically waving their pom-poms as they ran out before the man of the evening broke through an AFL-style crepe banner celebrating his 200 games. One can’t fault the enthusiasm of the crowd!

 

Then there was the game. Oh that we could have been at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast the previous week — weather considerations aside — for Storm’s 40–16 drubbing of the Titans. Instead we were treated to an 8–6 slogfest that was — yawn! — pretty boring. Actually, we don’t think even the 40–16 scoreline would create sufficient excitement for us to return.

 

More curiosities, included the Storm’s mascot belting a cowbell for all he was worth to keep the beat for the obligatory MEL-BOURNE! Dong Dong Dong chant and the decidedly pro-Storm crowd making an inordinate amount of noise as Cameron Smith lined up his two goals for the night. Actually, cowbells are almost a de rigeur accessory it seems, with three or four of them getting a significant seeing to for much of the game time.

 

Mixing with the crowd after the game left us with the firm impression that NRL people are generally from less affluent circumstances than we routinely experience at AFL games.

 

An interesting exercise, and we’ll continue to monitor the Storm from the comfort of our easy chair, but the resounding result of the experience is THANK GOODNESS FOR AUSSIE RULES!!!! For those who aren’t rusted-on rugby league fans, the GWS Giants will eventually provide a far superior entertainment.