Boarking's great Carlton tanking theory

Forget all this talk about Adelaide being really good, Carlton were doing alright until they realised that Essendon, their Nemesis, were going to win and therefore Carlton would have the dubious pleasure of hosting the 'dons in a home final. At that point, Carlton stopped, "tanked" in the preferred vernacular, prepared to gamble on losing a home final just to avoid the Bombers...

You soft blue bastards... now you'll go to Brisbane, we'll go to Adelaide... and we'll all lose!

How good is footy?

Here's a question I'm often asked:
"Ernst, How good is footy?"
Last night, tired & emotional at the 'G, I had an answer:
"Not that good!"
One shocking quarter and big team wide dose of the kicking yips did all the damage.
I found some consolations:
*The Dons are young and the lesson will do us good
*The Pies are actually pretty good, so not too much shame in losing
*Didak is in my fantasy footy team,
But still it hurt (though not as much as ANZAC Day hurt your pie fan!)

Did you notice the name change?

I did, but that's because I made it.
If you did too, and you are not me, that would indicate that the new title is untrue. In fact, even if you didn't notice, but you are reading this, and you are not me, then that would indicate that the new title is still untrue.
And that makes me happy.
However, barring the odd wonderful exception that is you, I know the title is broadly true.

A comparative analysis of the temperature at the end of the universe and the temperature in my old weatherboard house

When the last star dies, when entropy and expansion have wrought the death of the universe; it will still be warmer than Boarking Mansions tonight.

Boarking conjures the footy gods

All that stuff yesterday about Christians and lions, about feeling like a Melbourne fan, and lottery winning odds, not to mention the tipping against my own team; all a ploy, to tease and goad the footy gods into delivering for the 'dons. I'm glad they fell for it, I know I did.

christian bombers & lion hawks

We're off to the Colosseum tonight to see the Christians take on the lions. I'm cheering on the Christians, but I'm not tipping them.

Actually, I'm going to the footy, as you might have guessed. I was using metaphor. But it's true that the bookies are paying similar odd on Essendon as they used to pay on the Christians (probably), so the metaphor would appear apt.

It's not impossible that Essendon will win, just as it's not impossible that Boarking will win the lottery.

I'm going to the game in the spirit that Melbourne supporters go every week, and I will enjoy it!

Those footy gods, again...

There is no other explanation for Fev's post-er.

Sometimes there is a little magic even in just listening to footy: Fevola marks 15 out, 45 angle. It's all over, Carlton have done what Essendon did a week before. The commentators go quiet as he takes the kick, leaving the listener with the crowd... We hear the roar waxing, but it falters then wanes, the crowd like one wounded, bewildered animal. We know something is amiss, but what?

The footy gods have struck.