She’s been a bloody rough time for the great state of Victoria.
No one can imagine what our mates down south have had to endure, and no matter what your take on what’s occurred, we can all celebrate the fact that the good people of Melbourne can finally GET ON THE BEERS!
https://twitter.com/HarryMalcolm2/status/1320589689934344192?s=20
Being the resident Victorian (they are allowed one) in the Neds Brisbane headquarters I felt it was necessary to remind our dear blog readers and colleagues that while it’s been a bloody rough ride for anyone in Melbourne and Victoria, the big V still rules supreme and what we need right now to celebrate that Melbourne is BACK is a healthy dose of chest-beating state pride.
Because what EJ would want right now would want is for us to STICK IT RIGHT UP ‘EM!
(1)
Vixens ✅
Richmond ✅
Storm ✅
Despite all teams having to vacate their homes in order to play this season, Victorian teams still dominated and took out the championship titles in Australia’s dominant sporting codes.
In the Super Netball, the mighty Melbourne Vixens got it done.
In the all-Victorian Grand Final played in Queensland, Richmond won their dynasty premiership.
And in the Rugbah-Leeg Melbourne Storm did what Melbourne Storm does by winning yet another premiership.
(2) US VICS INVENTED FOOTBALL.
The greatest sport in the world, Australian Rules Football was invented by Victorians for Victorians.
While it might have been taken up by other states, they were all granted the very generous offer to join the superior football league in the late 1980s/early 1990s.
In one of the most generous acts ever graced by the VFL, they renamed the competition the AFL but at the end of the day they should be grateful to even be playing in the league.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eecRoMUX6hE
(3) VICS DO IT BETTER
Despite the Australian Cricket Teams long-standing policy of selecting players from New South Wales, it’s a scientifically proven fact that Victorians AKA- Vics do it better.
Six out of the past 12 Sheffield Shields have been won by Victoria.
The greatest Cricketers to ever grace the pitch are Victorian.
Aaron Finch – Victorian.
Ellyse Perry – Victorian.
Shane Warne – Victorian.
Merv Hughes – Victorian.
The late, great Dean Jones – Victorian.
Bill Lawry – Victorian.
(4) THE SPRING RACING CARNIVAL
You can have all your cute little race meets like The Everest, it’s adorable and good on Peter V’Landys for having a go but they’d trade it all for one day of the Spring Racing Carnival.
(5) VICTORIA HAS PUBLIC HOLIDAYS FOR FOOTY AND RACING.
Go on, admit that you’re jealous.
Lock it in, Eddie.
Because the Grand Final Friday public holiday is enshrined in law and here to stay. pic.twitter.com/8MmygLnSQq
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) September 27, 2019
(6) VICTORIA HAS A GRAND SLAM
An actual grand-slam.
Not some cute little hit and giggle for a couple of days.
The real stuff.
(7) THE STORM
Another year, another Melbourne Storm premiership title.
🏆Your 2020 NRL Premiers!🏆
Melbourne Storm lift the Provan-Summons Trophy once again!🏉#NRLGF #9WWOS #NRL #NRLPanthersStorm pic.twitter.com/rIOvaT0TQf
— NRL on Nine (@NRLonNine) October 25, 2020
Gus Gould and friends can cry into their Bathwater, I mean Tooheys New.
Even when the Sydney Rugby League establishment took away their premierships and made them play out an entire season for no premiership points – Melbourne Storm still won matches.
The two greatest Queenslanders to ever play Rugby League – Billy Slater and Cameron Smith have chosen to remain in Victoria, for good reasons.
Oh, and the Storm just went and won themselves another three premierships purely out of spite. Glorious.
What a team, what a win! The magnificent Melbourne Storm claim their third premiership #NRLGF https://t.co/3WPnFGX5iA pic.twitter.com/9iNfuBrXG6
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) October 1, 2017
(8) MELBOURNE HOLDS THE STATE OF ORIGIN RECORD.
Where is the record for the biggest crowd in State of Origin Rugby League history?
Lang Park? Nope.
Homebush? Nope.
The MCG – 91,513 witnessed Rugby Leauge’s spectacle in a proper stadium with some actual atmosphere.
Last night's biggest ever #StateofOrigin crowd cements Melbourne as Australia's sports capital http://t.co/e1EvtXhVuC pic.twitter.com/IrQ3mw7jhD
— Herald Sun (@theheraldsun) June 17, 2015
(9) 25 YEARS LATER, ADELAIDE IS STILL BUTT-HURT ABOUT THE GRAND PRIX
25 years on and Adelaide still hasn’t gotten over losing the Grand Prix to Melbourne.
Perhaps it’s set a precedent for how the Crows have fared since losing the 2017 Grand Final to the Tiges.
(10) MELBOURNE HAD THE OLYMPICS BEFORE IT WAS COOL
Melbourne hosted the Olympic Games in 1956, 44 years before Sydney.
Ahead of the curve, as always.
(11) THE MCG
Ever since Perth and Adelaide actually decided to make an effort with their stadiums, they think they are so good.
And let’s be honest, ANZ Stadium at Homebush is a vast concrete wasteland.
Don’t get us wrong, we’re incredibly grateful for the people of Queensland and the Gabba for hosting the Grand Final on a one-time-only basis, but football is coming home in 2021.
Other cities can have all the shiny new stadia they want, but nothing will compare to the prestige and beauty that is the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
They should consider themselves lucky we even let them play on it.