Look out footy fans, the Bluebaggers are undefeated! In New Zealand.
Sure, it wasn’t the best performance you’ve ever seen, or against the most experienced opposition, but a win is a win is a win. Actually, that’s three. But we’ll take the one for now.
It wasn’t quite unchartered waters playing at the CakeTin, having previously played at the Baking Tray and the Casserole Pot [1933 preliminary final], but we turned it into a fortress, so that no team would ever want to play us there again. Nor, as the crowd numbers showed, would anyone want to watch us there ever again. But Wellington is now like a home away from home. Except s^*t and cold and in New Zealand.
But to the game… and, as we’d all hoped, the kids are our future!
Let’s start on that ball magnet, Patrick Cripps. Actually, magnet doesn’t do him justice – I’d say he was ball printing. Because, like the Sherrin written on the side, he never left the ball.
Crippsy was a machine. We all knew he could be a machine, but he showed just what a machine. Tackling like someone had stolen his phone, in and under like he was in a relationship with the grass, taking marks and kicking goals like some sort of magical Levi Casboult. The whole package. Hopefully that’s the standard and it never dips once in his next 300 games for the Blues.
Blaine Boekhorst finally made his debut, and he slotted in really well. You know what told me was ready for the big league? When he slammed the coach on Twitter and then happened to be drafted to the Blues. People say he was silly, but I was say it was all a cunning plan. And although it took four rounds for his debut, he certainly showed his skills at breaking the lines. And then fixing up the lines… that’s good manners.
Now to Dylan Buckley. Seriously, how was someone related to the legend that is Jimmy Buckley not even in the team? Has he got another brother? A sister? A grandmother? Get them out there; the bloodlines are too good to waste. WE WANT MORE BUCKLEYS. Except Nathan.
Aside from the kids it was great to see Murph take it up to his critics… and then push his critics in the face Alastair Clarkson style. An awesome captain’s game, leading from the front like a fat person returning to the buffet.
Hendo booted 5. How good was that? Forget ‘swingman’. Let’s just have him as ‘goalman’ and be done with it.
Plus, we did it all without Menz and Juddy. So hopefully with those two back, and an injection of confidence, we can take it up to Collingwood on Friday night.
So we got out first win on the board, and now we’re the same as Geelong and better than the Gold Coast. And everyone said they’d both play finals!
Plus, how rare is it to savour a win the same weekend the Hawks finally have a loss? Last time that happened Mil Hanna was buying hair product.
Go Blues!
Adam Rozenbachs is a stand-up comedian, broadcaster and actor. He is also a co-host of JunkTime AFL Podcast.