Toast Farewell to Subiaco Oval.

[Silent Alarm]

Probably the grey day when I went to my first and only derby there in 2013, when Pav kicked more goals than the entire Eagles side. A sublime schooling from the sort of guy who would time his six, seven goal hauls for the right game to just start giving us momentum.

Most of my memories are the rituals of attending as a country kid and doing the same thing every time we went. Everyone I went to school with had barely ever seen a live AFL match so it was a buzz. I used to love seeing the grass and getting there early, watching the boys warm up and kicking it back to them. Then the inevitable train home after a loss. Waiting for four trains to go past at Subiaco station – the first was full, the second was packed, the next two were out of service. We'd get off at Freo and walk back into town. When I was a student I'd get the footy special shuttle and sit in a different part of the ground each time, usually coming home in the damp, dank, but not wet orange afternoons.

I didn't go every week but it was formative and bonding.

The new stadium will be good but we will be in the unfortunate situation again of ludicrously priced tickets and the hassle of planning it days before. Being able to walk up on the day and paying $17 for a Friday night blockbuster is something you can't beat, not to mention the walk to Etihad or the 'G and the going out before or afterwards, or hangover sessions for a quiet afternoon match on a Sunday. But it'll be good to attend a game where even the shortest person doesn't feel cramped and you don't look around in worry because the stand you're in is a fire hazard.

An absolute shithole; hopefully they can convert it into something nice.

Growing up and being a kid and attending matches with your dad is a rare bond and a special one. Everyone who has done it, knows it. Subi for all its flaws is a part of that for me.

 

[Nightrain]

But it'll be good to attend a game where even the shortest person doesn't feel cramped and you don't look around in worry because the stand you're in is a fire hazard.

I pissed myself.

This is what goes through your mind when you're at the footy? I don't even check to see if the fire alarms in my house work.

During the breaks, most blokes would go for a beer or have a perve or do both but can't say I have seen anyone checking escape routes or looking for exit signs.

Not having a go so don't go on one of your rants. Just found it an odd comment.

 

[Silent Alarm]

I pissed myself.

This is what goes through your mind when you're at the footy? I don't even check to see if the fire alarms in my house work.

During the breaks, most blokes would go for a beer or have a perve or do both but can't say I have seen anyone checking escape routes or looking for exit signs.

Not having a go so don't go on one of your rants. Just found it an odd comment.

It was a joke man. The three tier stand is a bonafide fire hazard... ever tried climbing those steps even an hour before the game? It takes ages.

 

[Nightrain]

It was a joke man. The three tier stand is a bonafide fire hazard... ever tried climbing those steps even an hour before the game? It takes ages.

Nah I take the lift...

 

[Eski3]

JLo kicking that goal after the siren against the Saints. I remember heading out in Freo after the game and tons of cars were driving down South Terrace with the freo song blasting waving their scarves around. The only other time I can remember Freo having that kind of atmosphere again was after the 2013 prelim

 

[FFC4ME]

So many moments from my first attendance in 2002 until today - many of the best matches have been mentioned, but a few others that spring to mind:

-tossing the coin for David Neitz and Peter Bell in the first Dockers match I ever attended live; then watching the Wizard kick the winning goal after the siren
-Chris Connolly and Bob Maumill amping up the crowd after our comprehensive belting of Collingwood in '02
-the heaviest rain I remember at Subi during the final quarter of a match against Melbourne in '04 where the ball literally spent the entire time down the other (city) end and they overran us
-the Round 6 2016 derby; there has still not been a better quality match in derbies since that day
-seeing Anthony Hudson (by far the best new commentator of the last 20 years) perched on phone books preparing to anchor the semi final against the Demons in '06
-Scott Thornton missing a goal against North Melbourne in '07 and sealing Chris Connolly's fate
-Stephen Hill's first goal from a 50m penalty at the beginning of Rd 1 2009
-Paul Duffield's winning goal against Geelong in Rd 3 2010 and the whole place going nuts
-Michael Johnson managing to get his magic feet on the ball for a goal while lying prostrate on the ground against Richmond
-Ballantyne's weaving goal against Geelong a couple of years later; the very embodiment of his football and a reminder of how he could set Subi alight during an increasingly dour period
-the opening 10 minutes or so of the 2015 PF; Mayne missing from 25m dead in front really did destroy the entire match for us, Fyfe's leg or otherwise
-the spontaneous standing ovations for Mark Harvey and Ryan Crowley when neither of them had received a proper chance to say goodbye to the purple faithful (I hope Michael Barlow gets a chance to have this as well eventually)
-the end of Rd 3 2017; at a time when it really seemed we were on the road to nowhere, this rush of youth and enthusiasm rallied our spirits in a way I can't remember previously

 

[Freo_4eva]

One of my fav. Games was the 2010 round 3 against Geelong. Pav vs Ablett in a 1v1 shootout of the modern greats.. a young team vs the Cats at their peak and Duffs goal on the run to seal it. Mayhem ensues..

 

[NicoNicoNico]

3. Derby in 2007, as the Carr brothers got stuck into Cousins and Kerr. Can remember so clearly Josh Carr knocking Kerr over the boundary and then shaping up to the eagles fans. Great moment;

This moment?

Carr and Kerr

• NicoNicoNico
• Aug 18, 2017
• freo

 

[danstar]

My memories of matches I attended there some good some bad.

A few away derbies seeing freo win and seeing the eagles file out early.

Sitting in the rain on occasions getting drowned

The 2015 prelim atmosphere it was such a shame the air went out of the stadium when Chris Mayne missed

It's hard to remember much else as I have lived in Melbourne for 6 yrs now and I wasn't able to afford a membership when I did live in Perth so I probably only went to maybe 20 games when I was there.

Have being able to attend every game in Melbourne since moving here and have many more good memories here especially pavs 6 goals against Geelong in 2012 in the finals

 

[danstar]

Memories of matches I watched on tv however are much more prolific.

2013 PF with the mcg chant

Round 3 2010 v geelong

Barlows breakout year matches before he broke his leg

2006 finals win against Melbourne

2000 demolition derby

The wiz goaling after the siren in his first match against his old side

I wish I did get to attend those games cause I'm sure the atmosphere would have being electric at all of them

 

[Okinakashi]

Not a good memory, but I was sitting close to the boundary near where Voss broke his leg. I remember that was pretty gruesome.

Luckily I was much further away from Mickey B v Rhys Palmer - both pretty awful incidents.

 

[Rob]

Needs more 2003 derby.



Probably my 2nd most memorable game other than the PF.

 

[Sir Deadly]

Never got to Subi being an interstate supporter but I'll always remember Pav single handedly defeating the Eagles, Pav's 300th and final games, and the 2013 PF.

Will absolutely be trying to get to the first game at the new stadium if I can!

 

[Paracleet]

Virtually every single genuinely memorable moment for me has been covered by somebody else. Instead I thought I’d do just random memories of Subi that just sit clear in my mind for no reason:

- Stephen Hill’s break away goal in the 2011 Derby (Ballas after the siren shot for win hitting the post game)

- Lindsey Thomas master class in small forward play, in a game we otherwise won comfortably, except every shot he took missed (0.6)! 2010. Or was in 2011?

- Mzungu running around against Gold Coast in their first game at Subi for some reason

- Taking Americans to their first every footy game, and Essendon obliging getting smashed by 97 points (1997)

- Finally seeing us beat Hawthorn live after 19 years (2014)

- Knowing we would lose after Suban missed a shot from 35 metres out directly in front just before half time in the 2014 Semi despite being 4 or 5 goals up.

- Sensing the angry frustration in the Hawthorn players during the 2010 Elim final “Why are we not winning?!”

- The strange sense of detachment in watching us get butchered at home by Collingwood during our slide in 2011 (The game Faulks had his jaw broken)

 

[Silent Alarm]

- The strange sense of detachment in watching us get butchered at home by Collingwood during our slide in 2011 (The game Faulks had his jaw broken)

Was this a Friday or maybe Saturday night game and both teams were undefeated? It was about six or seven games in and I remember it was going to be the first time Freo were ever top of the table? I seem to remember Collingwood were awesome and had that run that really epitomised their premiership year. The vantage of the top of the three tier stand really came in handy, or not, but it was a real showcase of their gameplan. I feel like it was 2010 as they hadn't won the flag yet.

That was maybe the 'biggest' game I went to and we absolutely blew it. There was a real sense of excitement about the Dockers up until then.

 

[Paracleet]

Was this a Friday or maybe Saturday night game and both teams were undefeated? It was about six or seven games in and I remember it was going to be the first time Freo were ever top of the table? I seem to remember Collingwood were awesome and had that run that really epitomised their premiership year. The vantage of the top of the three tier stand really came in handy, or not, but it was a real showcase of their gameplan. I feel like it was 2010 as they hadn't won the flag yet.

That was maybe the 'biggest' game I went to and we absolutely blew it. There was a real sense of excitement about the Dockers up until then.

Nah that was the year before.

 

[PapaJ]

...

- Taking Americans to their first every footy game, and Essendon obliging getting smashed by 97 points (1997)

Actually, that reminded me of another good memory at Subi pertinent to this place. It was GilG first time watching to Dockers on their home deck couple of years back. Him and quite a few BF posters gathered before hand and afterwards. Dockers gave Gil a win vs Collingwood and they let people onto the field afterwards then in the Bill Walker room after that. I've never seen a grown man so excited to be at that place, he was like a 4 y/o at Disney Land.

Glad to see the back of the place, but it's good that fans like Gil got to experience it before it's put to bed.

 

[wehavethepassion]

Third world stadium. The demolition teams can't come in soon enough. The WAFC has lot to answer for protecting their little empire where there are a lot of nouts in the trough. WAFC should have been banging on Govt door to get ew stadium yrs ago but as we have seen as soon as that happens their little empire crumbles.No Comparison to Etihad, MCG, Adelaide Oval etc

 

[Allikat]

I have many great memories of Subi oval, though not many from the past 10 years, mainly because I've lived interstate.

I remember going to my first game there, an eagles game way before Freo were a team, where we were in the grassy standing area, except that I was a child and too small to actually see anything.

I remember the demolition derby, getting worked up about the amount of biff going on, until the point that it resembled more of a UFC fight than a football game.

I remember going to our first final there. The seats were terrible, we had a poor view, and it cost so much money for a youngster, but it was totally worth it to see us finally play a game in September.

My last game there, Round 20 last year, where Freo forgot to turn up to the Derby and we were embarrassed by West Coast. Unfortunately I'd also been there the week before when we were embarrassed by Sydney.

But my most vivid and favourite memory of all was our first derby win. I'd been to many great wins against other teams, and many losses against west coast. But that day was magnificent. The grassy banks of the city-side stand had been replaced by concrete standing areas. My friends and I were taller by this stage so could actually see what was going on. Our feet were tired, and it'd been raining throughout the game, but the exhilaration of being in front at that final siren was something I'll never forget. We cried, we hugged, we cheered and yelled the team song with so much gusto. Somehow I found myself in the Freo change rooms after that game too and got to touch the precious derby trophy.

Good times, but I'm looking forward to making new memories in a more comfortable and bigger stadium.

 

[Balip]

Most of the big memories have been mentioned but a few specific moments stick in my mind

- Troy Cooks bump on Mitchell White in a derby.
- The Freo chant after we lost the final in 2003
- James Clements run down of the Geelong player
- Mcmanus's goal after being cleaned up by Wirrpanda

Wont miss sitting in the 3 tier stand.

 

[Reynolds Number]

2013 Prelim.

2006 Rd 6 Derby

 

[Nodgey]

Hope we run onto the ground through the inflatable sea container. And bring back the rock for one last time. What hurt can it ****ing do to appease some of us who have been here since day 1.

 

[crowls bowels]

1979 WANFL Derby Grand Final.

Record crowd.



Maurice Rioli almost kills Squizzy Taylor at 1:14.....


JLo's goal after the siren.

2013 PF. Great pressure footy.

 

[Admiral Byng]

I reckon everyone should turn up tomorrow with spanners and screwdrivers ready to strip down the place and take home a couple of souvenirs as soon as the final siren sounds. Even including the seats - **** it, make the West Coast members stand for their last home game!

 

[PapaJ]

I reckon everyone should turn up tomorrow with spanners and screwdrivers ready to strip down the place and take home a couple of souvenirs as soon as the final siren sounds. Even including the seats - **** it, make the West Coast members stand for their last home game!

Terribly unkind, do you know how hard it is to knit standing up?