The annual match between Collingwood and Melbourne at the `G on Queens Birthday Monday was a brilliant day for myself and the three other members I went with.
It started with me doing the rough of a Max Gawn caricature on the train. I figured Melbourne’s horrible 2019 probably wasn’t going to get much better against a very even Pies team. So combining the ice slide with a slide down the ladder seemed an obvious connection - even though I was going to barrack for Melbourne!
On the way through Yarra Park I scored two beautiful beanies. They really are special.
Once in the ground I watched all the participants going down the ice slide. It was an amazing experience to see Australian sporting royalty like Lauren Jackson, Bianca Chatfield and Anna Meares slide. Especially as Anna Meares has a personal connection to MND.
Of course there was the usual line up of AFL greats sliding as well. Nick “Rooey” Riewoldt stole the show as Freddie Mercury. (That’s not just because I barrack for St Kilda!) It was wonderful to see former (recent) greats such as Cyril Rioli, Liam Picken and Sam Mitchell put themselves into that icy bath for Neale Daniher’s research organisation. And what an incredible man Neale Daniher is.
The game itself was scrappy, with Collingwood always the likely winner. But as two of us were barracking for the Pies at least 50 per cent were happy.
The train ride home included the inking of the drawing. Never easy drawing on a train.
And I wondered who could they get to slide next year?
Alan Rose is an MCC member. He also runs Alan Rose Graphics.
COLLINGWOOD 3.5 6.8 11.8 15.8 (98)
MELBOURNE 1.2 3.5 5.9 7.15 (57)
GOALS
Collingwood: De Goey 3, Stephenson 3, Hoskin-Elliott 3, Grundy, Mihocek, Sidebottom, Treloar, Cox, Thomas
Melbourne: Weideman 2, Garlett, Petracca, Spargo, Hunt, Hannan
Crowd: 74,036