Today the Australian Football League will host two teams, Richmond and Geelong, to play off for the Premiership Cup [see photo]. Traditionally this match is played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of around 100,000 spectators. This day is, and always has been, a pure celebration of "footy".
But. In this covid infested world this match can not be played in Melbourne so it will be played for the first time ever at a different location. Today it will be played In Brisbane before a restricted crowd of 30,000 people. Nonetheless this event will prove to be an amazing triumph for the Australian Footfall League which has been able to organise a shortened season of footy [in a covid infected world] that will culminate in a Grand Final match.
The Grand Final Match can not be played in Melbourne because the place is locked down as tight as an oil drum. The incompetent Government of Victoria has crippled the citizens of their state with the most totalitarian restrictions in the world today [these exceed those imposed in China back in January and February]. The reason for this state of affairs is that the current government of Victoria is an ideological beset mob which rivals the rule of the China Communist Party. Victorians are ruled by a totalitarian regime that is out of control; and yet this Dan Andrews led Government remains popular with the voters who elected it, go figure.
People can not legally gather in groups of more than five or six to watch the Grand Final as it is streamed live into their lounge room or onto the patio where the BBQ is cooking up a feast. Of course, these people are also restricted to a 5 kilometre boundary if they think of venturing out to a local store to stock-up on beer and steak. And, of course, while outside these folks must wear masks, social distance, etc, etc. These people are trapped in a purely dystopian world which they brought upon themselves.
I left Melbourne around 6 years ago. At the time I had some misgivings about leaving the place; but, today I feel as if I have escaped from a prison. I am free. I live a great life in Prague with people who know what it is like to live under a communist regime. Few will be watching the Grand Final here today; although, there will be some expats and Czech in groups who will enjoy it as a livestream of the match comes directly to them from Brisbane.
So wherever you are [whether you are an Aussie or a Czech] I trust that you will enjoy this annual celebration of Aussie footy.
Richard.
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