The impostor of a game that calls itself football is over and the real Football kicked off last week at the Auckland Kingz (Pronounced : Kings).
As I write this column I have just booked my flight to New Zealand. I have decided to spend a couple of days sightseeing the North Island; why not have a look around sheep country. If this trip is (was) as good as my last trip to NZ then boy will I have some memories.
Last time I visited NZ I saw one of the funniest and most embarrassing things ever. While out cruising the streets after our day skiing was washed away I saw this lady standing out in the cold wearing a bikini. This was no ordinary lady doing a photo shoot for swimwear catalogue, she was middle age whose best days were behind (and I mean behind) her. She was doing some sort of funny dance outside a church in a pink bikini with hundreds of people staring at her. To my amazement one of the locals informed me that she was being punished by her church for something she did/didn't do and this humiliation was her punishment. That memory just sticks firmly in my mind when I think of NZ, I just hope that my one memory from this trip is more enjoyable and includes Carlton players and lots of goals.
Enough of my adventures to New Zealand and more about Carlton. I have never anticipated any sporting season like the one that has just begun. I thought it impossible that I could become more obsessed with sport than I already was. I thought going to 30 AFL games in one season counted as obsessive when only half involved my team, but my obsession with sport and particularly soccer will step up a gear as I will go to all 32 Carlton SC home and away games plus three? finals. I have already gone to most of our praccy matches, even on a cold and miserable night out at Fawkner. How crazy am I you may well ask? Why follow a team that lost 12 of their last 13 games? Because I love the club and I know that things can't get worse only better. Even when we were going through our rough patch last year I was still have a great time watching and travelling. I just enjoyed sitting (and standing) and watching the Carlton guernsey go round no matter what the result. But I know that the results this year will make it even more enjoyable.
At some stages during the off season it seemed like we were announcing a new signing every second day. Craig Deans, Andrew Packer, Ange Motsitopoulos(?), Dave McPherson, Stuart Slater, Mike Conroy and of course John Markovski. How can a team with this many class and experienced players not go all the way? I can't think of a reason, can you?
Anyway I better let you get back to watching the academy game (you are here that early supporting our whole squad, aren't you!!).
See you all around the traps.
Trumper
