I went to watch North Melbourne Kangaroos play Fremantle in Aussie rules football today, and it left me with a real feel-good feeling. It's so civilised compared to the football back home.
Sure, here too the ref is a wanker, various players should go back to their farms where they belong, and there's plenty of shouting, swearing, cheering and booh-ing. It's the inevitable result of that potent mix of testosterone, competition and adrenaline. There was no actual aggro though, no violence or serious bad-feeling. There's no segregation of supporters, they mix freely and happily throughout the stadium. Supporters of one team don't sneak home via circuitous routes out of fear supporters of the other team might be waiting to jump them and bottle or chib them. 'Mixed team' couples walk hand in hand wearing their opposing tops. No problem. When a Celtic supporter married a Rangers fan last year, the local tabloids ran a 2-page spread on the story.
Having spent long enough in Glasgow and Edinburgh to have become thoroughly disgusted with the 'beautiful game', it's so refreshing to encounter in person a type of football that's still sporting.
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