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Shakespearean rivalry shattered by Walsh tragedy

Expert
15th July, 2015
3

When footy takes a back seat, we see the unrivaled strength of the football community.

Competitive sport is divisive and so it invariably takes some form of tragedy to galvanise adversaries.

And while Carlton fans may despise Collingwood, and Cats supporters may begrudge Hawthorn, there can be no greater ill-sentiment than the one shared between West Coast and Fremantle in Western Australia and the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide Power in South Australia.

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When two teams occupy the one state, loyalties are of Shakespearean proportions, where the Montagues and Capulets of the state harbour such vitriol for one another that things can only end in tragedy.

Yet, it will be another tragedy of entirely unimaginable proportions that will galvanise two warring families this weekend.

Phil Walsh’s untimely death has galvanised Adelaide and Port Adelaide to such an extent that the Power’s catch phrase of “never tear us apart” now seems more befitting of the bond both clubs share through their respective coach and past assistant coach.

Indeed, Walsh’s enormous impact on the football landscape of South Australia means that the two clubs will now always be connected.

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It seems befitting, then, that fate has intervened and aligned the stars for the timing of the Showdown at a time when both clubs need all the support they can gather.

It will be important for the players, staff and fans of both clubs to share their collective grief for a man who gave so much of himself to the Adelaide football community that he was known to get up at 2am to start work by 3am for the love of the game.

Football will once again have the opportunity to showcase the transcendent nature of sport and build upon the stunning scenes from last week when West Coast defeated Adelaide in the Crows’ first match since Walsh’s death.

Given the stage of grief the players were in, the Crows ability to engage in a game of footy against West Coast was truly remarkable. But what was even more remarkable was the respect shown to the playing group at the end of the match.

The West Coast players and crowd’s gesture to applaud the Crows off the ground affirmed the powerful and cathartic role sport can play. So, too, did the tears shed by the Adelaide players as they left the field, the reality of Walsh’s death weighing heavily.

Amid the Essendon drugs saga, the culture problems at the Gold Coast Suns and the off-field discretions of players such as Tom Liberatore, the AFL’s triumphs often go unheeded.

While Phil Walsh’s death is by no means a celebration, the AFL’s response to the tragedy has been first rate.

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The decision to cancel the game between Adelaide and Geelong showed that the players’ welfare was being put first. And the Cats’ class to accept the decision and take the two points without a murmur was superb.

But it was the players’ post-match tribute of linking arms as brothers, and not as foes, that will stand forever in football folklore.

A different kind of showdown awaits.

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