Subiaco Oval - Footy - Mar 29, 2009 - Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Sunday 29th March 2009

A short morning stroll takes us to the banks of the Swan River near the apartment.

And the world seems to be out and about in the local parks – One group, catchily named “The French Bulldog Appreciation Society of Western Australia” have set up camp and are having a picnic – though the dogs don’t seem to be that interested – just snuffling around as Bulldogs do – and boy are they ugly beasts – not the sort of animal you’d want to snuggle up to at all. So we give them a wide berth and carry on past the Swan Canoe Club, who are having an Open Day – sausages are on the Barbie – and the Mosman Bay Waterfront Restaurant, who are setting up for lunch (oh what a pity it is too early- or perhaps it is a relief, as we look at the prices!)

There are some fantastic mansions around here – and then as you walk up the street thinking “wow!” – You come across a real hillbilly-house – or a vacant lot! A bit strange!

As we have a property business at home, we always take an interest in house prices wherever we are travelling. And looking through the papers we saw new house builds at really good prices – what a lot you get for your money here! However – we have now figured that a lot of the new house prices are just that – the cost of the house! So what else do you need? Oh yes – the land to build it on!! Damn!

Later in the afternoon we walk along to Swanbourne railway station to catch the train to Subiaco Oval, where we will watch our first live Australian Rules Football!

We only just manage to get on the train as it is jam- packed with folk from Fremantle – not surprising really as it’s the Fremantle Dockers playing against the Western Bulldogs – Woof, woof!

In the stadium we immediately get chatting to the folks in neighbouring seats, who give us the rundown on the basic rules and how the game goes. Oval ball (slightly smaller than a rugby ball) Oval pitch, 4 goalposts at each “end” – kick the ball between the two middle posts (highest ones) and you score 6 points – kick the ball between the outer (smaller post) and the nearest High post – 1 point.

We have great seats just to one side of the goals and the local team do well in the first of four quarters, but fall away in the second and end up trailing badly in the third – so we make an early exit to avoid the rush for the train home.

All in all an interesting experience (at least they allow drink to be bought in the stadium) but not one we’d rush back to at about £20.00 per ticket.

Copyright Neil Tough @ 2009