Driving to the G on match day

[Whispering_Jack 30,126]

I took my wife for a routine visit to her eye doctor yesterday and after I dropped her off, I parked the car, donned my mask and went for a half hour’s walk through the streets around Toorak Road.

I was immediately reminded of the good old days when we used to go to the MCG to watch the Dees play their footy in the heart of Melbourne rather than 1,300 kilometres away to the north.

There was a time back in those days when we would drive to games from the south eastern suburbs down Orrong Road, take a short cut into Robertson Street, dive into Grange Road and head down Bruce Street. Before we knew it, we were motoring past Como and if the traffic was light, would be looking for a parking spot around the G in no time. In the mid 2000s it was always a good omen for the afternoon ahead to drive down streets named after a couple of team favourites in Robbo and Cam Bruce. 

That pair have now long retired and more recently, we found it more convenient to travel to games by train until COVID19 but on yesterday’s walk through the streets of our most salubrious suburb, I discovered a new omen for the future - Jackson Street.

[Blistering 541]

Did you pass any houses with PICKETT fences?

[Whispering_Jack 30,126]

1 minute ago, Blistering said:

Did you pass any houses with PICKETT fences?

No but if I would have kept on driving past places I’m not allowed to travel to these days, I might have crossed the Yarra and Maribyrnong RIVERS.

[Demon Dynasty 17,109]

2 minutes ago, Blistering said:

Did you pass any houses with PICKETT fences?

Hope you sought Copyright approval from PF before posting this Blister

[Deeman 1,497]

21 minutes ago, Whispering_Jack said:

No but if I would have kept on driving past places I’m not allowed to travel to these days, I might have crossed the Yarra and Maribyrnong RIVERS.

You left out the JORDON River.

[Demonland 72,192]

I'm not sure I'll ever step foot on one of those crowded trains again after a match of footy (if crowds are ever allowed to return). It's not too bad on the way to the footy as it's easy to maintain some semblance of social distancing (if you go early enough). But after the match I never like being packed in like sardines even pre-COVID. Now all I see is germ factories when I look at another human being.

I haven't even thought about all the potentially infectious people sitting and yelling around me at the footy. Does the Demon Shop sell Hazmat suits?

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,755]

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

I'm not sure I'll ever step foot on one of those crowded trains again after a match of footy (if crowds are ever allowed to return). It's not too bad on the way to the footy as it's easy to maintain some semblance of social distancing (if you go early enough). But after the match I never like being packed in like sardines even pre-COVID. Now all I see is germ factories when I look at another human being.

I haven't even thought about all the potentially infectious people sitting and yelling around me at the footy. Does the Demon Shop sell Hazmat suits?

Who's in favour of the club providing Demon facemasks instead of scarves with the 2021 membership?

[dl4e 5,851]

Going to the G on match day was easy as a kid. 5 min walk to Bruce st then bus to the corner of Alexander and Punt road.

[Diamond_Jim 12,588]

2 hours ago, Demonland said:

I'm not sure I'll ever step foot on one of those crowded trains again after a match of footy (if crowds are ever allowed to return). It's not too bad on the way to the footy as it's easy to maintain some semblance of social distancing (if you go early enough). But after the match I never like being packed in like sardines even pre-COVID. Now all I see is germ factories when I look at another human being.

I haven't even thought about all the potentially infectious people sitting and yelling around me at the footy. Does the Demon Shop sell Hazmat suits?

Perchance to dream....

Tahiti opened up last week to international travel.

The first country in Oceania to do so.

Helps that Tahiti is still part of France. Perhaps you could break out the Demonland yacht.

[Demongirl35 1,053]

I miss packing lunches and drinks with my family, everyone’s having a sing along in the car. 
Driving thru the gates and seeing the G would always light our faces. Go to the bar and get a drink and some chips. We all take our sits with the other members  and chat to everyone around us as we always do. Boys come out and we sing the song with a happy face, coin toss and first bounce is approaching! Smiles all round, opposition scores a goal  within a minute. We all now have sour faces and car ride home is silent. 
 

Yep I miss the G!

Would go through that all over just to watch our boys Again

[david_neitz_is_my_dad 4,083]

Im a Collingwood/East Melbourne suburb traveller. I will never forget those two sunset September 2018 walks ?

[Pinball Wizard 315]

I even miss those poor food vendors who used to sell healthy food like dim sims and chips outside the ground. ?

[deebug 1,754]

I'm with ya Pinball Wizard, i miss my footy soooo much?

[Jaded No More 68,915]

7 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Who's in favour of the club providing Demon facemasks instead of scarves with the 2021 membership?

That is honestly the best idea. Email the club.

 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

It's the pre and post game rituals I miss. Stomping Ground at opening time for mussels, frites and a pint of something really dark. Tamura sake and jazz bar on Gertrude St if it's a later game on a Saturday. They have a lovely sweet potato amber ale. After the game it's over to The Tippler on Wellington Parade until the crowds have gone. The scarf doesn't go on until I head to the ground. 

[Chook 15,013]

12 hours ago, Demonland said:

I'm not sure I'll ever step foot on one of those crowded trains again after a match of footy (if crowds are ever allowed to return). It's not too bad on the way to the footy as it's easy to maintain some semblance of social distancing (if you go early enough). But after the match I never like being packed in like sardines even pre-COVID. Now all I see is germ factories when I look at another human being.

I haven't even thought about all the potentially infectious people sitting and yelling around me at the footy. Does the Demon Shop sell Hazmat suits?

You know how you had that Depression-era grandparent or great grandparent who would never throw anything out and had creative ways to stretch every penny.

In 60 years Gen Z3 will have a bunch of germophobes for grandparents or great-grandparents.

[Dee Zephyr 19,267]

Will never forget driving to the footy as a young fella in the late 80s early 90s especially around finals time and seeing a massive Melbourne/Go Demons banner hanging down from the roof of a multilevel storage facility/warehouse on Alexandra Parade near the Smith St intersection. Always excited us young ones. 

[Pickett2Jackson 3,904]

Was watching some travel vlogs on Youtube last night...  the Greek Islands absolutely pumping and many other places. .

Sad that people think the crap happening in Victoria now is ok.   Everywhere else is open for business.

I cant wait to get back to the footy and I will be stoked to riding on trains full of people again.   Never give in to the fear mongering and please for your own mental health switch off your television and delete social media.

And if you know anyone who uses the phrase 'the new normal' unironically, kick them out of your life forever.

[Half forward flank 1,022]

As a kid it was the 48 tram along Bridge Rd to the MCG for me. On the trip home we would be balancing on the skirting board of the tram, some blokes would be in the drivers cabin at the opposite end to the driver. Drunks all around but never a concern for our safety. They were a good natured bunch. Conductors and inspectors had about as much chance as we did against the power clubs like the Tigers, Blues, Bombers and Pies. Fantastic fun. When an adult we approached from the south and would park around the shrine and walk through the gardens with the autumn leaves scrunching at our feet. Friday night G lights blazing as we came down the little hill near the Bowl.  I miss those rituals nearly as much as the games. It will be all those memories that will come flooding back when we finally taste success I glimpsed at a seven years old boy.