Goal, OUCH, No Fair

June 1, 2007 7:42 AM

Australian Rules football is a tough fast game (previously), and there is no tougher place to play than on the “Gravel”. The home ground of the Tasmanian Queenstown Crows has recently been inducted into Tasmania’s Football Hall of Fame for a very good reason. Y’see, unlike the lush manicured grounds of other clubs, the Crows have a distinct home ground advantage- their ground is covered in… gravel.
posted by mattoxic (18 comments total)

Jesus Christ. I'm not saying I'd like to play on a waterbed, but what the hell, people.
posted by quite unimportant at 8:07 AM on June 1, 2007

Actually, I take that back. I would very much like to play on a waterbed.
posted by quite unimportant at 8:09 AM on June 1, 2007

Wow. That aerial shot looks positively Roman. As in "ancient ruins".
Bloody hell.
posted by Thorzdad at 8:16 AM on June 1, 2007

The areal shot also mentions a "blood rule" for Aussie rules football. I too am a bit curious how that works out on this ground.

*shudder*
posted by Bugg at 8:23 AM on June 1, 2007

Just remember, it's not about whether you win or lose, it's just about having fun that matters.

I remember reading about a soccer team somewhere in Ecuador that had an undefeated record at home for many seasons in a row because their home field was at a riduculously high altitude (even by Ecuadoran standards). This is worse.
posted by psmealey at 8:25 AM on June 1, 2007

You can work it up field, miss the hole you're aiming for and take a behind leaving you bloodied and raw. Only in Australia.
posted by vbfg at 8:28 AM on June 1, 2007

Bring a toothbrush, indeed.
posted by NationalKato at 8:47 AM on June 1, 2007

I can imagine rucking in that mess. Or going up for a mark and landing head first into a pile of gravel... holy shit.
posted by subaruwrx at 8:48 AM on June 1, 2007

There's a Whiskas & kitty litter/gravel joke in here somewhere. Anyone?
posted by imperium at 8:58 AM on June 1, 2007

The Blood Rule.

A player who is bleeding or who has blood on himself or his uniform is required to leave the ground, at the request of the umpire and have the problem seen to. The player will not be allowed to return until the bleeding has ceased and any blood has been completely removed. This player can be interchanged off the ground, or the umpire can call a halt to play while the player is seen to. The first option is that most commonly used.
posted by empath at 9:23 AM on June 1, 2007

Oh man, I've been to Queenstown. It's beautiful, in a freaky environmental destruction kind of way. You drive for hours in the middle of nowhere through lush forests in an isolated, quiet part of Tasmania. On and on through ancient forests, then you come down a hill and look down into a giant slag pit. Nothing but mines, and gravel, and dirty, and industrial waste.

The town's pretty much a shithole. The gravel playing field makes a weird sort of sense.
posted by Nelson at 9:25 AM on June 1, 2007

I remember that place! I lived with my uncle and aunt for a couple of months in Queenstown back in the mid 80's. Absolutely beautiful, once you're out of the dead zone. Friendly people too, but like most small towns, you're the Outsider. Loads of great history there too.
posted by mdoar at 9:52 AM on June 1, 2007

Footy rocks. Go Roos!
posted by spock at 10:22 AM on June 1, 2007

It is a good thing the Aussies have always been on our side in our wars because if they ever went against us we would be riding kangaroos to work instead of driving. Bastards are tough.
posted by Iron Rat at 11:50 AM on June 1, 2007

I remember first seeing ARF when ESPN came on the air in the late 70s and was desperate for anything to broadcast.

My brothers and I loved it and would emulate it out in the backyard. It's a miracle none of us had any compound fractures.

/My fave is the white-coated officials and their cool goal signal
//Never knew where any of the team were from
posted by darren at 7:39 PM on June 1, 2007

Sorry couldn't resist, here is a short clip of Essendon vs beloved Bulldogs. Catching a ball on the fly is called marking
posted by mattoxic at 5:26 AM on June 2, 2007

if they ever went against us we would be riding kangaroos to work instead of driving

Holy god. Now I want yet another war to start up so that I can welcome our Aussie overlords. (I kid, I kid.)
posted by ntartifex at 6:45 AM on June 2, 2007

darren: the abbreviation is AFL (Australian Football League). You may also refer to it as Aussie Rules.
posted by jacalata at 10:40 AM on June 2, 2007