September 26, 2003
SPECIAL REQUEST
For the love of God, does anybody know of a bar in Oxford, England, where a man might view the AFL Grand Final? A former Brit, now an Australian citizen but currently slumming it in his country of origin, writes:
Would you believe it, just as your strangely beautiful game begins to capture my imagination, I can't find anywhere to watch the fucking Grand Final in Oxford. Doesn't Australia produce Rhodes scholars any more?
Unless a suitable venue is located he will suspend himself above the Thames in a perspex box like other distressed AFL fans. Please assist. While we’re on the subject of suspensions, here’s Patrick Smith on the Rocca penalty:
Rocca will miss perhaps his last chance to be a premiership player, not because he was malicious but because for a blip he was reckless. That is the fault of Rocca and not of the system.
He’s right. As soon as the incident was replayed I knew Rocca would get two weeks.
We’ll still win.
Posted by Tim Blair at September 26, 2003 04:03 AMI don't know Oxford but looking in yell.com shows a pub called "Bar Oz" at 8 Market St in Oxford. That sounds like an ozzie theme bar, and they might have Sky Sports or The Oz Sport Channel or whatever TV channel you need. Just a suggestion. Phone 'em on 01865 248388 and ask.
Posted by: Rob at September 26, 2003 at 04:27 AM"I can't find anywhere to watch the fucking Grand Final in Oxford."
I'm pretty sure the correct expression is "Grand fucking Final." So much for an Oxbridge education.
Betcha Rocca feels better knowing that he can easily be replaced by a 19 year old rookie. :-) Some fucking champion Tim.
Go the Mighty Lions!!
Posted by: Todd at September 26, 2003 at 10:06 AMI hereby announcre that I am boycotting this site until Tim recovers from his AFL provincialism and all the AFL crap disappears.
Posted by: Maxi at September 26, 2003 at 11:04 AMProvincialism?
71,000 people at Telstra Stadium? Brownlow Medal shared by three players from three different states? Teams from five states in the final 8? Premierships won by clubs from Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland in the last decade?
It's the nationl competition, baby!
Posted by: Gareth at September 26, 2003 at 12:59 PMProvincialism?
The game encompasses an entire continent and the discussion of the game on this site alone involves both hemispheres and several other continents.
Whaddya want, Collingwood vs Mars?
Posted by: ilibcc at September 26, 2003 at 01:13 PMThere's a guide to Aussie pubs in London here; a blogger describes his grand final day in London in 2001 -- and he's a Pies fan. Not Oxford, but a start, I suppose.
Posted by: Robert at September 26, 2003 at 01:22 PMRob lol.
What I want to know is why they even bothered to appeal the decision. $10,000 that could have been spent on hookers or beer, gone to waste.
Posted by: Yobbo at September 26, 2003 at 02:07 PMGareth writes:
>Provincialism?
>71,000 people at Telstra Stadium? Brownlow Medal >shared by three players from three different >states? Teams from five states in the final 8? >Premierships won by clubs from Victoria, South >Australia, Western Australia and Queensland in the >last decade?
>It's the nationl competition, baby!
The fact that teams from Sydney and Brisbane were in the AFL finals proves bugger-all, other than that a commercial structure has been put in place where professional athletes, bought and sold by clubs, have spread enough talent around to ensure an even competition. It doesn't prove that AFL is a keenly played sport in these places! Just go around Sydney and see how many kids you see playing AFL on a Saturday morning, not bloody many! I can't remember ever seeing AFL being played in Sydney outside the professional fixtures - I'm sure it is somewhere, however the other 3 footy codes are played everywhere in Sydney.
Of course there are enough fanatical ex-Mexicans following AFL in Sydney to give the appearance that AFL is an important code there - but it is only an important code at a professional level - beyond that - forget it!
Grand Final starts on Sky Sports 2 on Saturday 27 September at 5am (London summertime). Go the Lions!
Posted by: john at September 26, 2003 at 02:53 PMAFANA's International TV page has info on coverage around the world:
International TV
If it's any conselation I'm at Cambridge and the Australian and New Zealand Society have planned a punting voyage along the river Cam to Granchester on the same day as the Grand Final! And, I should add, nothing for the Grand Final. Fucking hopeless...
Posted by: Chris at September 27, 2003 at 12:05 AMChris: When I was at St John's, we managed to watch it in the SBR lounge. It was great. If they don't do it any more, the university is clearly in decline.
Posted by: Michael Jennings at September 27, 2003 at 01:00 AMOkay, update on watching the Grand Final in Cambridge. The game can be watched in Darwin College, from 5pm. Just tell them you're a University member, they won't check. They seem to have a Collingwood bias so it should be a bit of a laugh.
Posted by: Chris at September 27, 2003 at 01:22 AM