When you receive a gift, it's custom in many cultures to respond with a thank you note.
In a year that's taken so much from so many, I thought it would be good manners to write an open thank you note to the Australian Football League, its employees and volunteers for delivering the gift of our great game; albeit wrapped in unfamiliar packaging this year.
While many of our country's leaders were busy playing a never-ending game of pass the parcel, our game's governing body demonstrated the steely resolve of an egg & spoon race carry over champion - against a six goal breeze, on their non-preferred spoon. While others were adopting a non-consultative 'start the rugb-uh league' season at all costs approach, the guardian of our game appeared to adopt a people first, business second strategy. From an outsider's point of view, this considered and watertight duty of care commitment meant that our great game could be watched without interruption throughout the entire second-half of the 2020 season.
And so, I pen this open thank you note to the AFL and to all who made this season possible. In my opinion, they faced and overcame the unprecedented challenge like a champion team defeats a team of champions. Truly in it together; in theory and in practice.
Dear members of the Australian Football League,
Thank you for the football season you gave us. We've shown it to everyone we know. And in some cases, we've shown it to complete strangers in the United States, who've never seen anything like it before! Between you, us and the goal posts, we think it's going to catch on over there. Watch this space.
Since you hand delivered your thoughtful gift back in June, we wanted to share what our friends have been saying:
You delivered hope, which helped us keep the faith: in our great game; and in our respective teams embarking on a finals berth.
You had a healthy disregard for the first two letters in IMPOSSIBLE. To say that you faced a logistical nightmare was an understatement.
Your systems and processes appeared tighter than Warwick Capper's shorts. In the midst of a global pandemic, it still blows our minds that not one player contracted Covid-19 during the home and away season - thanks to the carefully constructed player hubs. You gave us something to talk about. While it felt like we submitted footy tips virtually every six hours, the task was a welcome tonic for the reality we were facing. You gave us something (else) to whinge about: If you invented the holding the ball rule change and set back the goal review system several years to distract us from a relentless lockdown, then hats off to you. It worked! It gave us something trivial to be outraged about in our homes and on social media. If both changes are here to stay, well we'll definitely need to have a quiet word once the season is done. You played mind games with us and we didn't mind one bit: This season exercised our brains far better than a robust session of Sudoku. We asked ourselves and each other, "Which round is it?" "What day is it?" "It's Monday! Must be a game on tonight." "Wednesday? Is there a game on tonight?" "Who do you guys have this week?" "Well, we play Carlton in 15 minutes. And then we've got Collingwood in 36 hours."
You delivered us a kaleidoscope of colour against the greyest of skies: Is there anything more uplifting than watching a game of Aussie Rules?! The rich green on the ground; the clash of guernsey colours and the primary colours of the night and day Sherrins. Oscar Wilde said it best when he wrote, "Mere colour...can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways". The game spoke especially loudly to our hearts, minds and souls this year. Which brings us to our next point: Your canned crowd noises were (eventually) so authentic, we stopped hearing them. After a few initial hiccups when the crowd cheered a behind and James Brayshaw asked the viewers to "have a listen" to the roar of the crowd when the final siren went in a tight game, the virtual crowd noises were spot on. Finally, and most importantly, you delivered the gift that keeps on giving. Connection: one of the most fundamental contributors to our mental health and wellbeing. And boy, have we needed it this year. Whether it was friendly banter on morning walks between opposition supporters sporting their membership caps, respectful and robust debate on social media or zoom calls between family members to pick apart every possession of every match, the game became the glue that held even the most tenuous of connections together.
Thank you for keeping the season alive. You've proven yet again that you and the game you govern are head and shoulders above the rest. And to this end, our admiration of you has soared to new heights.
BUT! Once this season has concluded and you've enjoyed a well-deserved break, it is incumbent upon you as the guardians of our code to keep our great game alive; from top to bottom. It is in the game's best interest for you to heed the wise words of Martin Flanagan; place your footy boots with the long stops back on firm ground and extend that steely resolve and duty of care to the "shrinking ecosystem" of grass roots football.
In closing, thank you so much for Season 2020; for your clear and resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to finding a way. And thank you in advance for showing that same clear and resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to finding a way of ensuring that our great game survives and thrives for future generations.
Yours in Football,
The Aussie Rules Family
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