Alex Ischenko
Debutant
Attended the O+M Grand Finals in Wangaratta yesterday and can't wait for them to return to Lavington. The games (including the netball) were fantastic and worth the exorbitant entry fee, but the bloke with the bad dentures on the PA system was like someone scraping their fingernails on a blackboard. Isn't there someone younger to take on that role? Then there was the O+M decision to go with "...spectators stay off the ground. The ground is in lockdown..?!" This is Australia people - nothing should have been in 'lockdown!' 'Lockdown' is for another genre of event entirely! Talk about overstating the issue! And it was repeated regularly throughout the day. Totally inappropriate! Then there was the medal presentation for the Reserves footballers... calling a player up - then waiting until he was ready to leave the stage before calling the next! Get a move on! It's hot here in the stands! Then there were some of the players themselves... bring their whole bloody family up to receive their medal..?! As a spectacle the day was a success. As a "football product" it was a dismal failure. It was also embarassing for the 'parade of champions' where some 'champions' were in the back of utilities (very Australian and proper)... while others were inside cars being driven around. Spectators had to peer into them to get a glimpse of whoever it was meant to be! Rating: 3 out of 10.
