I was born in New South Wales in 1961 - a Hawks premiership year.
Their first premiership year…not that it meant anything to me at the time.
I was too young, and living north of the Murray our family were big rugby supporters – the proper game (union) and that other type (league). I did not come to realise the long-lasting effect of entering the world at 33.7500° S, 150.7000° E until much, much later.
We moved to Melbourne in 1966, and as luck would have it our first lodgings were an apartment block on the corner of Wellington Parade South and Jolimont Road…almost close enough to hear Ted Whitten entreat Bob Murray to “hit the boundary line”.
School in Doncaster followed in 1967, and as New Victorians we were naturally urged to adopt a VFL team. I am forever in the debt of my lifelong friend Peter Stewart, who regaled me with stories of a little bloke wearing number 5 who could run the length of Glenferrie Oval in under six seconds. The truth was that Crimmo did not possess super-human speed, but it mattered not. The hook was set.
When Dad’s friend at work encouraged support for the brown and gold, there was no turning back. Our family became devoted followers of the Hawthorn Football Club - #Always.
Further premierships followed – ’71 watched on a black and white TV from holidays in Sydney, and then ’76 (my first when present at the MCG). In ’78 I was in Form 5 and too busy with my first girlfriend to bother to go.
Then came the glory years, the seven grand finals in a row – each of which I attended. The premierships in ’83, ’86, ’88 and ’89. The beginning of my lifelong hatred of the colours red, black and navy blue.
Coming from New South Wales was fine, but it meant Mum and Dad were unaware of the greatest gift a Victorian parent can give to a child – being placed on the MCC membership waiting list. It was not until the arrival of my daughter Courtney in 1994 that the wrong was made right. With the assistance of my law firm partners, Courtney’s name and my name were placed on the waiting list. On 28 March 2006 I was “in” as a Restricted member.
While neither Courtney, nor my son James, took up their offers of membership I can still bring them into the Members Pavilion as guests. This is particularly important come summer, when the chaps in white flannels take to the hallowed turf.
Many years ago I entered into a pact with my children (now including Alexis, just turned eight…and on the waiting list) that wherever we are in the world, whatever we are doing, we must all meet outside Gate 2 at the MCG on December 27 before lunching in the Members Dining room. The kids don’t really dig cricket, but they love being treated as adults (which the elder two now are) and spending time together in our now traditional way.
While I enjoy the Tests, it’s our winter game that holds the special place in my heart. The exquisite agony, as I call it.
I am an anxious type who loves being there, but hates being there.
My pre-finals ritual involves acquiring an allocated seat in front of the coaches boxes on Level 2, then retreating to the comfortable chairs in front of the Library to watch a longboard surfing video on my iPod.
I usually sit on my own during the game, in a seat by the aisle so I can make a hasty retreat if things get too close in the final quarter. Not that I leave the ground, mind you. I usually just pace up and down in front of the Membership Services Office on the ground floor.
I spent the last five minutes of the 2014 preliminary final against Port doing this, straining to hear each cheer and sigh, hoping to judge the ebb and flow of the game by the crowd’s reaction. Siren sounded…wait…wait…”Yankee Doodle Dandy” starts up. Bewdy!
That is not to say I do not enjoy the company of others while in the Pavilion. Day 3 of the Boxing Day Test is devoted to my friends from high school, The Cutters (named after the boys in the movie Breaking Away). We get in early and grab seats under cover on the lower level so we avoid the sun but have a view of the scoreboards.
At half-time during footy season I meet in the alcove near the Percy Beames Bar with fellow Hawks Andrew and Vic for a latte and analysis of the game. We then return to our seats – usually only separated by a few rows. They think I am weird for not sitting with them, but I just need to be able to completely focus on the game…or the back of the green plastic chair in front of me if the opposition gets a run on.
On Sunday I was there to see the Hawks play the King Makers aka the Tigers. King Makers as in recent times if they beat us we usually go on to win the premiership. I wore my “uniform” – brown corduroy jeans, Hawks footy socks, yellow shirt (with collar, of course) and golden leather sleeved jacket given to me in 1989 by Kathleen, an ex-girlfriend from Ireland who worked in the Hawthorn Social Club.
Good luck obliges me to whisper “go Hawks go Hawks go Hawks” to myself as the umpire walks in for the first bounce.
For three quarters the game struggled to raise itself to the level of ordinary. Kicks missed their targets, handballs were batted down…and oh, the set shots. Awful. The three quarter time score of 7.15 to 3.11 tells it all.
“At least we can’t say the game was pointless,” quipped my friend Vici. Fortunately the Tigers’ pressure fell away in the last, and we piled the goals on.
The win was important.
It was also important as we were able to celebrate with another Number 5 – one who runs the length of the MCG in a more leisurely fashion; one who can get the footy; one of the great creators in the AFL; one who is loved by Hawkers but no-one else. Sam Mitchell played his 300th game. He is a Hawthorn great.
Two wins clear at the top of the ladder sets us up for a top two position at season end, giving us both the double chance and home finals. Because, you see, I can get into the Pavilion at finals time. Well, most finals.
There is one exception.
The one I have really wanted to see for the last four years.
The grand final.
But I can’t get in because I am only a Restricted member.
Because I was born in New South Wales.
Cursed geography.
Grant Fraser is an avid Hawthorn supporter who cannot believe his good luck at having experienced two sets of “glory years” in the one lifetime. He still loves Dermott above all others, but gee Cyril is getting close.
Match Summary
HAWTHORN 2.5 4.11 7.15 16.18 (114)
RICHMOND 2.5 3.7 3.11 5.14 (44)
GOALS
Hawthorn: Rioli 3, Gunston 3, Sicily 3, Breust 2, Puopolo, O'Rourke, Whitecross, Gibson, McEvoy
Richmond: Riewoldt 2, Rioli, Drummond, Cotchin
BEST
Hawthorn: Mitchell, Gibson, Hill, Birchall, Gunston, Lewis, Stratton
Richmond: Martin, Rance, Grigg, Miles
INJURIES
Hawthorn: TBC
Richmond: Grimes (hamstring)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Brown, Schmitt, Kamolins
Official crowd: 51,892 at the MCG