90 Minutes, 90 Emotions

Roar Rookie

5th September, 2009

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cbowden9000 new author

Roar Rookie

5th September, 2009

The A-League slogan, “90 minutes, 90 emotions” could not have been more true during the game between the Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory. As a Mariners fan, watching this game unfold was a crazy emotional roller-coaster.

Allow me to describe it for you:

I was afraid in the first 20 minutes – happy and feeling lucky from being one up thanks to Wilko, then depressed and doubtful after Porter’s handball. I was happy Vukovic saved the penalty, but then I had the sad realisation that I should stop cheering because Sterjovski collected the rebound and did what he should have done the first time.

I was then depressed during the last third of the game because we should have been still in the lead. Then I had the attitude of “these things happen in football.” I was in absolute disbelief that Tando Velaphi could just give the ball away, and then I was so hoping the pass to Simon wasn’t intercepted. Oh, and I was hoping Simon didn’t hurt himself running into the up-right! Then there was the free kick at the very end of extra time, where I was hoping and praying we didn’t concede a goal.

I know many of you comment on the “poor quality” of our A-League players but, to some extent, the uncertainty in our players ability creates anticipation and excitement. Sure it also creates a lot of disappointment, but I don’t allow my expectations to raise too high for the A-League. I love it for what it is, and I will embrace the day when it is full of quality.

I used to be fan of the NRL until I opened my eyes to football about two or three years ago. I have seen so many NRL games, but none of them truly immersed me in the way that last night’s game did. Being a hardcore supporter of the Mariners, I was sitting on the edge of my seat completely into the game just hoping we could get the points.

The variation of the goals and the way the game can instantly change its pace is a trait that other codes just do not possess.

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