Culture

Let’s All Bask In The Joyous Glow Of People Being Happy About Sport

How good is sport?!

by Tom Clift  2 October 2017
Go Tigers Grand Final

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Over the weekend Australians gathered around their televisions and their Webers to celebrate two of the biggest sporting events in the land: the AFL grand final and NRL grand final. It was a glorious occasion, especially for fans of the Richmond Tigers and the Melbourne Storm, who screamed and cried and ran through the streets and posted incomprehensible nonsense on the internet and may or may not still be slightly drunk at work while they type this.

Personally, I love the Tigers more than almost anything in the world, and still cannot quite believe that this is a real thing that has happened. But even as I come to terms with the win, I am also releasing that there is a bad side to watching your team hoist a premiership cup: the emotional comedown of knowing that you have experienced the greatest moment of your life, and that nothing will ever top it ever again.

In an attempt to arrest my fall into the deepest of depressions, I’ve spent the morning looking at social media posts from people who are very happy about this weekend’s results. And now I share them with you.

#BringTheThunder

First up, the Storm! Sunday night’s Grand Final wasn’t quite as epic as the one last year, when the Cronulla Sharks snapped a 49-year drought. Melbourne were hot favourites, and showed exactly why that was, thrashing North Queensland 34-6. Still, try telling their fans it wasn’t just as much of a fairytale.

Yeah the storm! #nrl #melbournestorm #grandfinalwinners #storm #purplepride

A post shared by Sheridan (@itsme__sheridan) on

Here they are cheering retiring halfback Cooper Cronk, a very good player with an even better name.

Look at this little guy!

And also this one!

Someone was excited! #nrlgf #melbournestorm #purplepride #bringthethunder ⚡⚡⚡⚡????

A post shared by Dani Louise (@daniloumck) on

The players were also very stoked. So many men hugging and being open with their emotions, how nice!

Of course one of the biggest talking points from the match was the pregame entertainment by Macklemore. Despite concerns from very silly politicians and media commentators, everyone in ANZ Stadium was not turned gay by the rapper’s performance of ‘Same Love’. In fact, people bloody loved it.

The NRL even flashed the words “We Stand For Equality” on the scoreboard. How good is that?!

#GoTiges

Oh my god you guys. After 37 long and often very miserable years, Richmond are AFL premiers.

Channel 7 commentator Matthew Richardson, who played 282 games for the Tigers without every tasting success, was in tears.

And then, after presenting the cup to the coach Damien Hardwick and captain Trent Cotchin, was also very, very happy.

People had been waiting so long for this.

The moment. The Win. #yelliowandblack #richmondfc #puntrd #gotiges?

A post shared by jamie paterson (@jimmijam_patto) on

Others hadn’t been waiting as long, on account of how tiny they are. But they were also very pleased.

#gotiges

A post shared by chris (@grumpystoy) on

After the game, the entire suburb of Richmond basically exploded. Here’s what it looked like on Swan Street.

Strangers were hugging each other in the streets. I know this because I was one of them.

A barber was also giving away free Dustin Martin haircuts.

Meanwhile, back at the MCG, Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt was cutting loose with The Killers and just generally having a blast.

The party was still going the next day at Punt Road Oval.


In conclusion, sport is good.

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Feature image via Richmond FC/Instagram