When Victoria’s CHO Prof Brett Sutton was sending his warning against grand final gatherings he acknowledged the day as one that “many Australians, indeed Victorians have been looking forward to – some people for 57 years”.
For the latter cohort of fans, Saturday night couldn’t have gone better, even for those who were bound to share the joy with anyone outside the household virtually.
Breaking a 57-year premiership drought, the Melbourne Demons won the Western Bulldogs by 74 points.
And what a game it was, leaving hearts in throats for fans of both sides.
The tide of the game was seemingly turned in the Bulldogs direction at the end of the second quarter. But the second half saw the Demons turning their 19-point deficit into winning the Bulldogs 140 to 66.
And while footy still lags behind soccer in popularity when it comes to the Greek community, you’d be surprised how many are passionate fans.
Social media were on fire Saturday night with several Greek Australians celebrating the historic win.
For others though the result came as bitter as frape sketo.
The reason? Well, Western Bulldogs need not much introduction for older Greeks. The team has had a strong Hellenic fan base owing to its geographical roots, with Yarraville (just next to Footscray) being a Greek stronghold in Melbourne’s west.
And don’t forget that their coach, Luke Beveridge is a Greek Australian. His maternal grandfather, Alec Nicolaou, migrated Down Under from the island of Samos.
Want more? Greeks have a flair for the underdog, and any AFL enthusiast knows that the Bulldogs have worn the tag again and again with 2016 being a recent example having won the flag from 7th and this year’s Grand Final being no easy ride either.
But surely a 57-year ‘curse’ would qualify the Demons too for the underdog tag.
Who are you with really? Send us photos of your Grand Final night to editor@neoskosmos.com.au