Hi all,
Attending my first AFL game in SA on Friday. I barely watch any football myself but friend has free tix so why not right?
Wanting to know what I can expect there? What should I wear.. what food is available?
Any tips/suggestions would be great! (or even your first experience :) )
Thanks!
Thank you!
Not sure if food can be brought into the stadium anymore? Be ready for expensive food though if you’re buying at the stadium, but realistically that’s just the nature of the beast.
As djkelly69 said, I’d recommend wearing something warm as it’s likely to be very coldy.
You can always bring in food
If they protest tell them you are diabetic and have food allergies.
Learn the rules a little bit or else it’d be really confusing!
I like to listen to the commentary on the radio whilst I'm at a game as otherwise I sometimes get lost with what's happening, despite knowing the rules a little bit (usually one ear bud in and one out so I can listen to the live atmosphere going on around me too).
I am not a fan of AFL but was invited to a game a few years ago and decided to go. I had lost my will to live about 10 minutes into it haha never again!
that's unAustralian.
.
Yes I have been told haha
Out of interest; do you follow & attend other sports, or just not really a sporty person?
I don't follow any sport religiously, I rarely watch TV at all. But in the past I have watched and enjoyed football, rugby union and tennis
I am a sporty individual and have played football, trained in boxing, did bodybuilding in the past and have done a few multi-week treks in high altitude (hike every week)
The games are looooooong, each quarter takes about 30 minutes including stoppages + long half time break and 2 * quarter time breaks.
Can go quickly if it is a good close game with a good atmosphere.
Others can really drag, especially if like me you support a team that gets smashed every week in front of small crowds
Dress warm and take snacks
I find it a bit quiet usually - so I usually have the commentary playing through earphones when I watch.
Oh and if you really want to buy food/drinks there, make sure you go buy them about 10 minutes before the quarter finishes - otherwise it gets too busy
It is a (potentially) one-off experience for you, unless you become engaged with the different atmosphere at a live game as opposed to broadcasts.
I recommend just go with a mindset to enjoy the experience.
It will be cold, the food / drinks are expensive, but the crowd is worthy of people-watching at the very least, and it is only one night. And you will have something to talk about at work / uni on Monday.
might get to know the rule, watch some highlights or something if you're not familiar with the game.Might need a binocular if you're sitting in the nosebleed section haha… Enjoy the game !
Get a beef pie and sit far away from over passionate fans who swears and over aggressive. Like other said, food aren't great. So bring your own drinks and food.
Check the stadium rules about what types of drinks (containers) can be taken in. I won a can of coke outside Optus Stadium just before the game a few weeks ago and forgot that cans weren't allowed in (as I always take a plastic bottle of soft drink when I go to a game) - it got confiscated at the bag check area.
lol - bag check? I haven't been to a game in decades, do they really do that?
Bag checks and more recently Metal Detector Wanding has been standard at Melbourne stadiums for quite some time. Best to check the banned items list to avoid things being chucked out or being denied entry. http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/102/conditions-of-entry.aspx?…
What to expect?… do the following:
… I think I will leave a chip right here… ;p
Ah, a fellow sports fan I see. GET AROUND IM'! UP THE BOYS! SPECCY!
Lots of kicking the ball around, running around the field, screaming and yelling.
Totaly a full 3D experience
A good atmoshpere actually that is not appreciated watching the game on TV.
AFL Tragic, been going to games since 1974. Best advice I can give to any newcomer is that anytime a player in one colour of top grabs another player in a different coloured top and one or both of them fall over in the process scream 'Ball' at the top of your lungs. At some stage of the game one set of fans will start agreeing with you and share criticisms of the apparently 'biased' game officials.
OK to explain, one of the rules of the game is that if you are tackled (grabbed by the opposition) you need to dispose of the ball immediately. There are only 2 ways you can legally dispose of the ball, kick it or 'handball' it. If you dont do this immediately you will give away a free kick for 'holding the ball'. If you get rid of the ball but do it in a way other than kick or handball (throw it or drop it etc) you will give away a free kick for 'incorrect disposal'. The only exception is if the umpire considers that you didnt have any 'prior opportunity' to get rid of the ball (e.g. you grab the ball at the same time as 3 opposition players grab you). Fans of every club at every game including the under 10's are all over these rules and all appeal from the stands for a 'holding the ball' free kick. This is shortened to 'Ball' and screamed by many everytime anybody goes near a tackle. I am sure that there are people that literally just go to games to shout this. Normally they get very frustrated and that frustration builds up until eventually a free kick is awarded. You will hear huge roars of 'Ball' almost every time somebody is tackled. if a free kick is awarded the 'Ball' will be followed by cheers. Annoys the absolute sh1t out of me. There are peanuts that scream 'Ball' when somebody ties their shoelaces.
I've only been to four or five AFL games in my life, and my experiences and observations at each game very much align with the above ^^^^^
<insert derogatory comment about Port Adelaide fans>
I have only been to the footy at Adelaide Oval once (Showdown this year), but like most sports stadiums it was fairly cold/windy. Facilities are pretty good, food and beverage places just about everywhere. Food I saw was standard stadium stuff - pies, burgers, etc.
Don't miss Never Tear Us Apart (1 min before the bounce).
Should be a good atmosphere (particularly if Port are winning), hope you enjoy it!