Post by hoskotafe3 on Nov 3, 2017 19:40:00 GMT
Worst moment as a fan? I'll offer 2. 1999 NRL Grand Final. Dragons lead it 14-0 at half time and 18-6 late in the second half and end up losing after Jamie Ainscough (our best player that season) takes a guy's head off in the in-goal leading to a penalty try in the 78th minute.
As for Collingwood, every second of the 2003 Grand Final. Got the monkey off the back by beating our nemesis Brisbane in the qualifying final (qualifiers are basically seeding games where the winner becomes a top 2 seed and the loser isn't eliminated but has a harder path in the playoffs) then destroy Port Adelaide in the prelim. Our captain and arguably greatest ever player Nathan Buckley wins tbe equivalent of the league MVP. This is it. Everything is coming together after a fairytale run ended 8 years of mediocrity before ultimately falling just short last year, the Pies were going to win their first flag since 1990, and they were going to do it by beating Brisbane, the very team who'd btoken their hearts in last year's decider. Then the game happened. Brisbane led by 20 near the end of the first quarter, 42 at half time and 67 with 5 minutes to go. 2 years wasted and another 7 in the wilderness.
In cricket, 1993 Adelaide Oval. The first time sport had really ripped my heart out. Australia were playing the West Indies, the best team in the world, who they hadn't beaten since 1976. Set a seemingly easy 186 to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead with a game to play, Australia crumbled to 5-50. My 11 year old eyes began to water. Then my heart began to hope as Justin Langer, on debut, held the team together with 54. But when he fell Australia was 9-146. And Craig McDermott and Tim May would need to put on 40 to win the game with Ambrose, Walsh amd Bishop steaming in. Both men were struck in the body multiple times, their ribs and heads popular targets, but they survived. Hooe growing every ball. Australia needed 2 to win. McDermott got a bad ball and clipped it away "And there it is!" One of the commentators shouts. Only for veteran Windies opener Desmond Haynes to make a brilliant save. There it wasn't. But it will come my 11 year old mind told me. They can't come this far and fall short. Next vall from Walsh is at McDermott's throat. He doesn't play it well but surely hadn't hit it. Wait. The umpire Darrell Hair thinks he has. He's given it out. West Indies have won by 1 run. My soul is crushed. Australian captain Allan Border throws a ball through the wall of the dressing room. Windies players all mob Courtney Walsh. McDermott and May fall to their haunches despondant. The series us level at 1-all. West Indies humiliate Australia in the 5th test and win the series and I begin a life time hate affair with Darrell Hair.
Ironically by the time Australia did beat the West Indies I saw the national team as a bunch if arrogant jerks and was in the "anyone but them" camp. But I still remember how I felt as an 11 year old watching my nation lose arguably the greatest test match ever played.
As for Collingwood, every second of the 2003 Grand Final. Got the monkey off the back by beating our nemesis Brisbane in the qualifying final (qualifiers are basically seeding games where the winner becomes a top 2 seed and the loser isn't eliminated but has a harder path in the playoffs) then destroy Port Adelaide in the prelim. Our captain and arguably greatest ever player Nathan Buckley wins tbe equivalent of the league MVP. This is it. Everything is coming together after a fairytale run ended 8 years of mediocrity before ultimately falling just short last year, the Pies were going to win their first flag since 1990, and they were going to do it by beating Brisbane, the very team who'd btoken their hearts in last year's decider. Then the game happened. Brisbane led by 20 near the end of the first quarter, 42 at half time and 67 with 5 minutes to go. 2 years wasted and another 7 in the wilderness.
In cricket, 1993 Adelaide Oval. The first time sport had really ripped my heart out. Australia were playing the West Indies, the best team in the world, who they hadn't beaten since 1976. Set a seemingly easy 186 to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead with a game to play, Australia crumbled to 5-50. My 11 year old eyes began to water. Then my heart began to hope as Justin Langer, on debut, held the team together with 54. But when he fell Australia was 9-146. And Craig McDermott and Tim May would need to put on 40 to win the game with Ambrose, Walsh amd Bishop steaming in. Both men were struck in the body multiple times, their ribs and heads popular targets, but they survived. Hooe growing every ball. Australia needed 2 to win. McDermott got a bad ball and clipped it away "And there it is!" One of the commentators shouts. Only for veteran Windies opener Desmond Haynes to make a brilliant save. There it wasn't. But it will come my 11 year old mind told me. They can't come this far and fall short. Next vall from Walsh is at McDermott's throat. He doesn't play it well but surely hadn't hit it. Wait. The umpire Darrell Hair thinks he has. He's given it out. West Indies have won by 1 run. My soul is crushed. Australian captain Allan Border throws a ball through the wall of the dressing room. Windies players all mob Courtney Walsh. McDermott and May fall to their haunches despondant. The series us level at 1-all. West Indies humiliate Australia in the 5th test and win the series and I begin a life time hate affair with Darrell Hair.
Ironically by the time Australia did beat the West Indies I saw the national team as a bunch if arrogant jerks and was in the "anyone but them" camp. But I still remember how I felt as an 11 year old watching my nation lose arguably the greatest test match ever played.