This game was a walk in the park compared to the pressure cooker last Monday.  I could breath evenly, drink a beer, take a photo or two and enjoy without closing my eyes at each and every kick!

We sat on the ‘home’ western side in the 5th row at around the 30m mark. Although our sight line to the more distant try zone was compromised by being almost field level, it really gave us a real feel for the physical contact and what the game looks like from the player’s POV. The sweat, the exhaustion, the sound of Issac’s jersey ripping and the blood pouring out around of Craig Wing’s ear was very real and I don’t know how these guys do it.

It was game with outstanding individual performances that enhanced a true coordinated team effort. Nathan Merritt was seemingly everywhere, with sure catches of kicks or passes and running with total authority. He was the anchor. From where we were, we could see the crisp, controlled passing and how all the players seemed totally focused to catch whatever ball came their way.

It was so much fun to cheer Shannan McPherson’s break away run and Jamie Simpsons try in the corner. We heard Issac’s jersey rip before we saw it and instead of just throwing off what was left of it, he struggled to kept it on. It was certainly interesting to watch Shannon Hegarty and Nathan Merritt crash together going up for the same kick! It was cool to see a couple of plays they practiced at the training session (Issac’s and Jamie’s try) be so successful in the game

Chris Sandow looked every inch the leader last night. He had the ball in his hands seemingly on every play, dishing it off like lightning. What was incredible to me was to watch him on defense. He’s incapable of backing down; he would just square himself up and totally take on anyone with the ball coming his way. You could tell they were targeting him because he was in on so many tackles. Some big guys he amazingly took down and some he just hung on to for dear life!

I was listening to the Footy Show this morning and Matty Johns summed it up for me talking about the difference Chris has made to the Rabbitohs – he brings a balance to the team and everyone is now playing at a position where they ‘fit’. No one seems to be struggling as to what role they need to play, they just played and they seemed to know good things can and will happen.

Russell was in his Box, standing sentinel as usual. I looked up at the very end of the game and he unfurled a huge banner that had a big Bunny and ‘SSFC’ on it with what appeared to be his signature between. He was cheering with the crowd below so I don’t know if that’s his customary salute to the team when they win a home game.

We went up to the Member’s function at ‘The Cauldron’ after the game. It was great to talk to and mingle with other excited supporters. Nigel Vangana was interviewed briefly and it was good to see him again. Hayley Legg played ‘Glory In Their Eyes’ and Jason Taylor came on stage to talk for a bit. He said how miserable everyone was with 7 loses in a row and it’s such a different team at 5 wins in a row. He said he loved what he does and apologized to this wife for being a bit distracted almost all the time.

One last thing, my friend Shirley isn’t really an intensive sports fan but she was so into the game last night! She was in Jacksonville for the practices and the game, watched some footy on TV here and after listening to me go on and on, she was up to speed to really enjoy herself. She leaves tomorrow and is bummed she won’t see any more games.  

It’s one of the reasons I’ve come to love this team and this sport – it’s a game that with a little diligent effort you can generally understand and once you have the basics down and get involved with a team you’re a fan for life!

One more game to go, the Tigers next Sunday, before I’ll be sad to leave and with the Pope in town it should be a messy adventure just getting to the stadium!