Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi

May 7, 2017
2 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

This Saturday night, I got to experience my first Australian sporting event! I attended an Australian football game, which is commonly known as "footy."

The match was between the Gold Coast Suns and the Geelong Cats and took place at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Getting there from Surfers Paradise was surprisingly easy. All I had to do was take the tram to the last stop, Broadbeach South, and then hop on a bus to the stadium. One of the best parts was that transportation was included with my game ticket, so getting there didn't cost anything extra.

Before attending, I knew very little about Australian football. One thing I quickly learned is that it is completely different from both rugby and American football. If I had to describe it, I would say it's a combination of American football, soccer, rugby, and handball.

The game is played on a large oval-shaped field with 18 players on each team. Players can move the ball by kicking it, handballing it, or running with it. To score, players kick the ball between goalposts at the end of the field. The sport is fast-paced, physical, and constantly moving, which makes it very entertaining to watch.

Australian Football, officially known as Australian Rules Football, is one of the most popular sports in Australia. Often referred to as Aussie Rules, football, or simply footy, it attracts some of the highest attendance and television ratings of any sport in the country. The professional league, known as the AFL (Australian Football League), is one of Australia's most successful sporting organizations.

One thing I noticed during the game was how young many of the players on the Gold Coast Suns team were. Some were only 18 or 19 years old, which I found pretty impressive considering the physical demands of the sport.

The atmosphere at the stadium was incredible. Fans were passionate, energetic, and fully invested in the game. Everyone was cheering, chanting, and proudly supporting their teams, which made the experience even more exciting.

The Gold Coast Suns ended up defeating the Geelong Cats, and it was a very entertaining match from start to finish. My favorite part was seeing how much spirit and enthusiasm the fans brought to the stadium.

To make the experience even more memorable, at the end of the game everyone rushed onto the field. It was such a fun and unique way to end my first Australian football experience and something that would never happen at most professional sporting events in the United States.

Overall, I had an amazing time at my first footy game. Even though I didn't fully understand all of the rules at first, the excitement of the crowd and the fast-paced nature of the sport made it easy to enjoy. Attending an AFL game was a great way to experience another part of Australian culture, and I would definitely go to another match if I get the chance.