PERFECT STORM
Atmosphere electric as on-fire Matildas rock GMHBA Stadium despite lightning delay Wild weather hits event-packed weekend for Geelong.
THE stadium boss at Kardinia Park fears major events at venue may be “jinxed” by bad weather, but it didn’t stop the Matildas from turning on an electric performance there for fans yesterday.
The Australian women’s national soccer team defeated China 5-1 in front of 6338 people at GMHBA Stadium to wrap up their two-game international series in Victoria.
A soggy start to the day evolved into a steamy, humid afternoon only for lightening to holt the action-packed contest seven minutes before half time.
A sea of green and gold filled the Moorabool St side of the stand with patrons visibly excited anytime the ball was near the boot of star forward Sam Kerr.
But there was an overwhelming sense of deja vu for Kardinia Park Stadium Trust CEO Michael Brown who said wet weather had robbed the event of “a couple of thousand people” — not unlike Geelong’s first international T20 cricket blockbuster in February.
“I just think we’re jinxed,” he said. “We see a lot of AFL here which is a fabulous sport and does really well but when we get a chance to bring other sports you just want to have nice weather to showcase them.
“When the option came earlier this year (to host a match) we had to push and push as say ‘don’t forget about us in Geelong, we’re really keen to have you’.
“It’s taken us a lot of work to bring these teams here but sadly we just want one nice warm afternoon to cap it off.”
A crowd of 10,904 saw the Matildas defeat China 3-0 at AAMI Park on Wednesday night and Mr Brown had hoped a similar sized crowd would turn out for the Geelong match.
The region’s ‘walk up’ rather than pre-purchase mentality meant it was easy for fair-weather fans to stay home.
State Government funding from the Regional Events Fund and the Significant Sporting Events Program were used to secure the series, along with support from the trust and City of Greater Geelong.
“To have the number six ranked team here and probably the world’s best player here is brilliant and it speaks volumes that the government of Victoria recognises that Geelong is a place that needs major events,” Mr Brown said.
A group of flag flying, drum beating, chant leading fans in the back rows of the upper level helped lift the atmosphere to an international standard yesterday. Julian Farrell said the ‘active support’ group follows both the mens and women’s national teams.
“We’ve been going to the women’s games for the last few years and it’s an area where we’ve got to put a lot more effort in as these girls put in a lot of effort for us,” he said.
“This is a big chance to be the best team in the world. It’s the least we can do to get behind them, wave some flags and support them.”
Comedian Dave Hughes travelled from St Kilda to attend the match with his son Raff. “We had Sam Kerr on the radio last week because my son thinks she is the best player in the world so we got him on the radio with her and she invited us to the game,” he said. “I’ve not seen a game (at Kardinia Park) since it’s been redeveloped but it looks good, I like it.”
“I just think we’re jinxed. We see a lot of AFL here ... but when we get a chance to bring other sports you just want to have nice weather to showcase them.” KARDINIA PARK STADIUM TRUST CEO MICHAEL BROWN ( pictured right)