The Terrace

Recent news surrounding the poor stadium deals clubs receive remind us of how lucky we are to be the only Victorian club to enjoy a true home ground advantage. From a supporter’s point of view, this is a boon: whether it’s a patch of concrete on the terrace, a blue (or white) plastic seat in the Brownlow, a wooden set of slats in the Doug Wade (with a pylon obstructing your view),  a glass-enclosed view from the Popescu Room (aka ‘The fish tank’), the local and variable points of view of KP define who we are and how we see the game – or not if you happen to sit in the new Hickey stand during sunset.

In the mid 80′s I recall sneaking through a fence at the bottom of the Old Jack Jenning’s stand. Geelong was playing Richmond and Gaz was, as was his way with the Tigers, on fire. I pushed my way through the long coats to secure a great view in the ‘Jenning’s pocket’, just to watch the fast-twitch fibres of the great man carry him on an express lead toward me. As the ball arrived Gaz launched himself in the air and, instead of using two hands, he threw just one out. We watched the ball hit his fingertips and roll down his arm to his chest. The crowd erupted, in the manner that you’d expect when Gary performed that sort of act. In that split second I looked back and saw one old Jenning’s gentleman grab his mate by the head and kiss him on the cheek. I’ll never forget it!

As a precursor to this weekends game against the ‘roos at KP, check out the way the ground used to be…there seemed to be a lot of hill and plenty of squinting amongst spectators on the eastern wing. Some things never change…

Can you remember where you have stood (or sat) watching the great games that now make up your memory and infuse your stories? If so, let us know… Whichever view you have enjoyed watching the blue and white hoops will no doubt influence and reflect what you hold dearly. Wherever it may be and whoever it may be with, we salute you!

As an aside, now that the past-players’ stand has been swept away with tide of development, can we rightly call it the past-past-players’ stand?

Kindest Regards,

Your sentimental friends at The Terrace

Hopefully by now you’ve enjoyed the joys of Monday night football. Here at The Terrace the concept of football on Monday has excited us about as much as sharing a nude spa and glass of bubbly with Wayne Swan. Then again, i guess Collingwood getting flogged every Monday wouldn’t be a bad way to start the week…at least better than a nude spa with Wayne.

Anyway, on a thoroughly more positive note, last Saturday (a good day for football ladies and gentlemen) The Terrace was back where it belongs, home sweet home in The Gary Ablett Terrace (aka ‘The Vegie Patch’). No place on earth really compares to The Cattery when the sun is shining, a cool southerly breeze is blowing (which generally equates to more Vegie-Patch goals) and the GFC is on a roll. Saturday met all three of these criteria: it really was veritable football bliss.

Premiership years run deep on The Terrace.

As if to reaffirm the above in my mind one local punter was heard quizzing his sleeveless GFC-hoodied mate: “what are you doin’ here, don’t you ‘ave a seat down the other end?” At which point the sleeveless-hodied mate’s other mate replied on his behalf (for the record no sleeveless hoody on him, just a catters’ jumper with the number ’07′ emblazoned on the back), “yeah, but he’d rather stand down here”. Respect!

Speaking of quotable quotes, unsuprisingly there was no lack of banter on The Terrace late Saturday afternoon. Here’s the standout (sung to the tune of something, although were not exactly sure what):

Oooohhhhh, Barry Hall, Oooooohhhhh, Barry Hall, with a packet of sweets and a cheeky smile, you’re a paedophile…

I suspect they roll this one out for every visiting full-forward – it would sound good with Matthew Lloyd too, don’t you think?  – but it had a particularly nice ring to it on Saturday. Deservedly most of the stick handed out from The Terrace was delivered in the direction of BBBH (Big Bad Barry Hall – we stole that from this article about his demise). He really has lost the plot.

Anyway, as tradition now has it, each quarter in four words or less:

1. 5 points one goal
2. Mumford’s showing some class
3. ’07 Stokesy has returned!
4. Votes: Corey, Selwood, S. Johnson

As the cats kick another...The Vegie Patch erupts and bangs the crap out of the Target ad.

Until next time…

Your loyal companions,

The Terrace