I played union, and I'm still interested, but the game has changed so much my experiences are only relevent to stuff like training, fitness, coaching - the generic stuff rather than tactical details.
The sport I was committed to for years was baseball, initially under lights in Port Augusta, then locally. My club, sometimes my team, won multiple premierships. Again, the generic stuff of competitions, training, commitment, teams stuff etc is all that is relevent.
But for many years now, almost 20, my interest has been AFL, my passion the Crows.
That's my answer.
I think I do qualify as an educated fan of the game.
But I do think my values are shaped by my own sporting history. For example, I have never been able to accept that hits and niggles off the ball - I mean the other end, not somewhere near the ball - have anything to do with football, with the hand, foot or body-pressure skills. Those friends who have grown up with local clubs argue this one.
I also think that local club footy is quite a different sport from AFL, rather like the club rugby I grew up with has little to do with Super 14.
I don't think grass roots football really comes to grips with the athleticism v ingrained footy smarts issue, for example.
The sport I was committed to for years was baseball, initially under lights in Port Augusta, then locally. My club, sometimes my team, won multiple premierships. Again, the generic stuff of competitions, training, commitment, teams stuff etc is all that is relevent.
But for many years now, almost 20, my interest has been AFL, my passion the Crows.
That's my answer.
I think I do qualify as an educated fan of the game.
But I do think my values are shaped by my own sporting history. For example, I have never been able to accept that hits and niggles off the ball - I mean the other end, not somewhere near the ball - have anything to do with football, with the hand, foot or body-pressure skills. Those friends who have grown up with local clubs argue this one.
I also think that local club footy is quite a different sport from AFL, rather like the club rugby I grew up with has little to do with Super 14.
I don't think grass roots football really comes to grips with the athleticism v ingrained footy smarts issue, for example.
