SCG Members Stand
September is back, which means just as we’ve finally got over our winter aches and pains, ills, colds and chills, we’re hit hard by a heavy dose of finals fever.
This year’s minor round saw some familiar patterns emerge: Collingwood is still the team to beat, Chris Judd is still the best player in the game, Eddie McGuire still thinks the AFL is a one-team comp, Sheeds is still a media harlot, and Richmond still teases its supporters like a stripper giving a lap-dance at Men’s Gallery.
Oh, and the SCG is still the best ground in the country to watch footy.
That’s not a stuff-up. You read that right. Read it again just to make sure. Slowly and let it sink in. Read it? Okay, let’s move on.
The SCG is the best ground to watch footy because it’s the closest thing to an old suburban ground in today’s nice, family-friendly, plastic-as-uncomfortable-terrace-seating AFL.
First up, aesthetics. The SCG is a dog’s breakfast, a mis-match of stands from different eras, centuries and millenniums. No uniformity here. The only thing missing are practice cricket pitches and nets along the boundary (they’re out back behind the Members Stand).
Then there’s the intimacy. Smaller than all the concrete jungles in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth (Adelaide has to make do with that shanty-town for another couple of years just yet). You almost feel like you’re part of the action at the SCG. At some games, where rival supporters don’t travel, you can even stand in certain sections, beer and pie in hand.
Now, I can already tell you’re drifting off to years gone by at Victoria Park, Moorabbin and Windy Hill, so let’s turn our attention to the game itself. Where else can you see the game the way it should be played, the way you remember it being played, the way you played it growing up before rolling zones, machine-gun fire interchanges and Gary Ablett (God) only knows what else?
At a Swans match you’ll see long kicks to a contest, tough no-frills footy and accountable players manning up on the opposition. Still not convinced? Last year, recently-retired Swans full-forward Daniel Bradshaw kicked a goal from 55m out on the boundary with – wait for it – a monster torpedo punt (screw punt). No lie: an actual torp! (screwy!)
Finally, atmosphere. Swans fans are every bit as one-eyed and knowledgeable as any other footy fan. The umpy is a cheat, their players can do no wrong and they cry “Ball!” for everything and anything at full voice over four quarters. Basically, they’re as biased as you are. Footy tipping competitions, online betting and Supercoach have made Swans fans armchair experts, too.
There’s some things Swans fans could do better to enrich the SCG experience. Like incoherently curse-out umpires and rival players, not be so polite to opposition supporters and dress-down a bit to at least give the impression they actually go to watch the game and not just for pre-drinks before a night at The Ivy.
So, as die-hard Saints fan Molly Meldrum would say, “do yourself a favour” and, by plane, train, automobile – hell, walk if you have to – get down to the SCG this weekend for some real footy. You’ll have a blast. It’ll be just like the good ol’ days.
Well, sort of.
Jeff
Guest
The best ground to watch footy....maybe the fans making a good atmosphere or the closeness to the field but it is not even close to a great footy ground. There are many sections of the ground that have restricted or terrible sight lines. The facilities are old and terrible. Too many stairs, dodgy toilets and average food. Old grounds are cool, but like what is happening in the US, new revamped, brand new sporting experiences are being offered. Once you go there you won't go back. I cannot believe they charge for seats behind a light stand.....
amazonfan
Roar Guru
You mean Australian football? Just a tip, plenty of sporting fans use the term football, however many are not referring to Association football. I use the term football, not footy, and I never refer to soccer as such.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
How polite. :D I love that.
Tony
Guest
The SCG must be rocking right now!
JVGO
Guest
It's actually very generous of the NSW cricket team to let you lot use their oval while they are away overseas representing you as the Australian Cricket team. And I hope you are paying them handsomely for the priviledge.
Johnno
Guest
No it is not the best blace to watch football with rectangular model rugbyleauge, Union,soccr. No chance. To far. I love the old ladies stand kept, but in my opinion the new renovations with the aqua green stets have killed the atmosphere and energy of the ground to. i LOVE THE OLD CAMEL or beige seats, the old doug walters stand to, and yabba hill. great times and memories. So now for me for rectangular sports no chance not even close to far form the action, give me the SFS any time over the SCG for rectangular sports.
hutch
Roar Guru
oh, is this an australian rules article? i just saw footy and assumed it was the sport that everyone i know calls footy. my bad!
Titus
Guest
Well then say, The SCG is the best place to watch Australian Rules Football and we might know what you are talking about. Because for certain footy codes it just isn't.
stabpass
Guest
Are you aware that there is a stack of football codes on this planet, and they all have various standard sizes. You probably dont though !.
Titus
Guest
Sorry, I just have trouble fathoming cricket grounds being the best place to watch football.
stabpass
Guest
Your comment is quite petty.
Titus
Guest
Might be good for footy but it is terrible for football. The members and ladies stands are the best stands at any ground in Australia, with the exception of maybe North Sydney Oval.
hutch
Roar Guru
the best place i have watched footy in australia is suncorp, followed by the sfs. i didnt mind the scg when the tigers played there last year and its great for cricket of course, there is something historic about it.
The Cattery
Roar Guru
clipper yes, it was a gentle dig, the few times I've been to the SCG for the footy, I've really enjoyed it. But I have to say, Sydney footy crowds are different - make no mistake about that - but that's great in itself. I'm reminded of a letter writer writing a letter of complaint to the Inside Football magazine, and how the first time in his footy watching life, at the SCG, he was shooshed.
Chris
Guest
+1
clipper
Guest
jamesb, I think The Cattery was having a gentle dig at all the posters that reckon only ex vics go to see AFL in Sydney. By all accounts there would only be 10-20% vics there, depending on the other teams fan base.
JVGO
Guest
The Sydney Cricket Ground is actually the best place to watch cricket.
Pete
Guest
Victor Trumper stand is there now. Nice well organised stand, close to the action, with a cover
Billy from Heidelberg
Guest
Remember reading an article in the Footy Record in the mid 1980s which classified the SCG as the best ground in the then VFL for spectator comfort, viewability etc.. Back then recall most VFL grounds had mainly standing room, VFL Park was miles from the action, too long a ground and not much undercover seating in a bleak outer suburb of Melbourne. The MCG was the old park bench style of seating with 30 to 70 year old grand stands. The SCG is an attraction in itself to go along to the footy. One of the most famous stadiums in Oz, right alongside the MCG.
clipper
Guest
It sure beats the ANZ stadium. Pity they did away with the hill and replaced it with a mish mash of seating, and no cover on the top deck.