{"id":72070,"date":"2025-03-06T10:14:34","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T00:14:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=72070"},"modified":"2025-03-06T12:40:56","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T02:40:56","slug":"when-footy-gets-disrupted-afl-unpopular-opinions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/03\/when-footy-gets-disrupted-afl-unpopular-opinions\/","title":{"rendered":"When Footy Gets Disrupted &#8211; AFL Unpopular Opinions"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AFL Unpopular Opinions - When Footy Gets Interrupted\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YCOtwlOoF4E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>With Cyclone Alfie getting the better of the Opening Round matches in Queensland, it\u2019s not the first time footy has been at the mercy of Mother Nature\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>On the first edition of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/03\/neds-afl-unpopular-opinions-season-2025\/\">Neds AFL Unpopular Opinions<\/a> for 2025, I did a deep dive into the times footy has faced an interruption from over the years and it\u2019s all very biblical as part of my personal favourite segment &#8211; Dylan&#8217;s Delights.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AFL Unpopular Opinions Round 0 2025 - Footy's on, footy's here again.\" src=\"https:\/\/omny.fm\/shows\/neds-afl-unpopular-opinions\/afl-unpopular-opinions-round-0-2025-footys-on-foot\/embed?style=cover\" width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\">From wild weather and rogue animals to streakers, electrical failures, and even games played in sandpits, it&#8217;s all very biblical.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p>And, as it turns out, our own Alastair Lynch (and yours truly) has had a front-row seat for quite a few of these moments.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Mother Nature<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>Cyclone Alfie is far from the first time Mother Nature has gotten in the way of the footy.<\/p>\r\n<p>The 1923 Grand Final between Essendon and Fitzroy was postponed due to a waterlogged MCG, while in 1960, an entire round was called off due to flooding, and not of the Paul Roos\/Ross Lyon variety.<\/p>\r\n<p>Queensland\u2019s first-ever VFL premiership match in 1952 between Essendon and Geelong had to be replayed under lights on a Monday after a Saturday washout, <a href=\"https:\/\/thehickeystand.com\/2020\/04\/13\/long-weekend-the-untold-story-of-how-the-vfl-sent-the-bombers-and-cats-to-the-ekka-in-1952\/\">marking the first night game for premiership points.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p>More recently, lightning delays have disrupted clashes like Melbourne vs. Collingwood in a dead-rubber match in Round 24 last year, Geelong vs. Hawthorn on Easter Monday, and even Buddy Franklin\u2019s first game as a Swan in 2014.<\/p>\r\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Season was never going to end well \u2614\ufe0f <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/aflpiesdees?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#aflpiesdees<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/8WqrAdixEN\">pic.twitter.com\/8WqrAdixEN<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Jo Hall (@Jo_Hall9) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Jo_Hall9\/status\/1826953293005762711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 23, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>Sometimes, the game goes on despite the chaos.<\/p>\r\n<p>Fitzroy famously knocked Carlton out of the finals race in 1971 as thick fog blanketed the Junction Oval, leaving players to rely on sound rather than sight.<\/p>\r\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/uploads.prod01.sydney.platformos.com\/instances\/337\/assets\/fog1.jpeg?updated=1629265542\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>In 1993, Brisbane and St Kilda battled through a hailstorm at Waverley Park, with Paul Peos pelted by ice as he lined up for goal.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The day &#039;Arctic Park&#039; froze over | 2 Minute Tales | AFL\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cSoI6uiWM50?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>And in 2019, a freezing Canberra night saw Hawthorn dismantle GWS, their coach braving the conditions in shorts.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Snow falls in AFL game for the first time ever! | 2019 | AFL\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/D04VvzZKsHE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>Even cyclones haven\u2019t stopped footy.<\/p>\r\n<p>Stuart Dew\u2019s coaching debut for Gold Coast in 2018 unfolded in biblical rain as Tropical Cyclone Nora loomed.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Torrential rain plays havoc in Cairns - Round 1 2018 - AFL\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Jv_nMEiXMlg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>Pre-season matches in Geelong and Mackay have been abandoned due to flooding, while AFLW games at Drummoyne have been repeatedly disrupted by storms.<\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Sprinklers at VFL Park<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>On a freezing cold Tuesday night back in 1979, the ground fondly remembered as &#8220;Arctic Park&#8221;, the grounds automatic sprinkler system popped out during play drenching the Hawks and Claremont players in the process.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FAFL%2Fvideos%2F2188939921222592%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0\" width=\"560\" height=\"314\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The night series game was broadcast on national television, shutting down play for a few minutes before the Hawks went on to win the match.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Streakers<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Footy has had a few streakers over the years, but no one stands out quite like Helen D&#8217;Amico.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Helen d\u2019Amico streaked across field during the 1982 AFL Grand Final\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PEgi44buFY4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It was the 1982 Grand Final between Carlton and Richmond when the then 19-year-old stripper stopped play in the second quarter paying special attention to Blues immortal Bruce Doull.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>D&#8217;Amico put Tasmania, rather than Brazil on the map.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.api.news\/v3\/images\/bin\/af10f4a8387ec932f520e123e5a6c0b9\" alt=\"Carlton\u2019s Bruce Doull holding onto streaker Helen D\u2019Amico\u2019s scarf after she ran on the field, stopping play for several minutes. Picture: HWT Library.\" width=\"271\" height=\"361\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><br \/>Pigs on the Ground<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>&#8220;THERE&#8217;S A PIG ON THE GROUND! THERE IS A PIG AT FULL FORWARD&#8221;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Was that Sandy Roberts greatest ever passage of commentary?<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It was Round 18, 1993 when St Kilda travelled up to the SCG to take on the Sydney Swans without Tony Lockett.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"&#039;There&#039;s a pig at full forward!&#039; | 1993 | Mars Moments | AFL\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/csRJfAuF_FI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>A Saints fan at the time, opted to bring a pig on to the ground with number 4 and &#8220;PLUGGA&#8221; painted on its side, for which resulted in one of the greatest moments in Australian sports broadcasting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>There&#8217;s more YouTube gold about the pig on the ground with this Sam Newman Sunday Footy Show investigation at the time&#8230;<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"There&#039;s a pig on the SCG\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/q7fz_VL_7hk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Snakes on the Ground<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">In Round 3 of the 2023 AFLW season, a highly venomous red-bellied black snake slithered onto the field at Blacktown International Sportspark, delaying the clash between GWS and Richmond.<\/p>\r\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The snake has been found!<br><br>\ud83d\udcfa Watch <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AFLWGiantsTigers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AFLWGiantsTigers<\/a> LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/f1gWPJjnGg\">https:\/\/t.co\/f1gWPJjnGg<\/a><br>\ud83d\udd22 MATCH CENTRE <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/3RvpXUG2uy\">https:\/\/t.co\/3RvpXUG2uy<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/e0OO9Ig5uH\">pic.twitter.com\/e0OO9Ig5uH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FOXFOOTY\/status\/1702886877500510695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">With temperatures soaring to 34 degrees and the ground surrounded by bushland, the unexpected intruder wasn\u2019t entirely out of place.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Originally set for a 1:35 pm AEST start, the game was pushed back by around 30 minutes as officials worked to safely remove the snake.<\/p>\r\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udcf1 Lissssssssssssssten to the game live on ABC Listen: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rXlJfZQGrM\">https:\/\/t.co\/rXlJfZQGrM<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/SUU3Td3oDg\">pic.twitter.com\/SUU3Td3oDg<\/a><\/p>&mdash; ABC SPORT (@abcsport) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/abcsport\/status\/1702899053774930076?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 16, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>A few months later at the same venue, prior to a pre-season match between the Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions, just minutes before the scheduled 7:10 pm AEDT start, all floodlights unexpectedly went out, prompting players to retreat to their dressing rooms.<\/p>\r\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING | Power outage and snake disrupt AFL practice game in Blacktown<br><br>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/7vDJP0CeYp\">https:\/\/t.co\/7vDJP0CeYp<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/xvmemGovnx\">pic.twitter.com\/xvmemGovnx<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Real Footy (AFL) (@agerealfooty) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/agerealfooty\/status\/1763121245296677214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 29, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<p>Adding to the night\u2019s oddities, a baby red-bellied black snake (quite possibly a relation to the snake that was at the AFLW match from earlier) was spotted on the field before the match, requiring removal by a snake catcher, who later gave this statement to the media<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Snakes on a Plane- THE line\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/amYzBQMT4VI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<h2><strong>Lights Out\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>During a St Kilda v Essendon game on a Saturday night at Waverley Park back in 1996, the game had to be stopped early in the third quarter because the light towers went out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The players went off the ground and told the lights would come back on in 15-20 minutes, they didn&#8217;t.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1996 - Lights out at Waverley\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CI836KkUoPw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Malcolm Blight who was hosting the Channel 7 broadcast that evening addressed viewers from his cigarette lighter and fans invaded the ground, started a bonfire and ripped off a goalpost.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.api.news\/v3\/images\/bin\/d84f66e04e70bdad22039c2750a787c1\" alt=\"Footy fans making off with a point post after the lights went out at Waverley Stadium in 1996. Picture: Optus Vision.\" width=\"503\" height=\"283\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The game would resume the following Tuesday night to complete a quarter and a half of football, with teams allowed to make changes to the side &#8211; Essendon brought in James Hird and won the match.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"1996 Essendon vs St.Kilda match news report\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-oLUEJpLl28?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Some 27 years later, Brisbane was dominating Melbourne under the Friday night lights at the Gabba\u2014until the lights suddenly went out, best summed up by James Brayshaw &#8220;OH NO&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"INSANE scenes as lights go out in Brisbane v Melbourne game\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZGiKGfKW3Go?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>With just 12 minutes left in the game and Brisbane leading by 40 points, a partial blackout struck the stadium, reportedly due to a fire in one of the light towers.<\/p>\r\n<p>The unexpected power outage halted play for about 35 minutes, leaving players, officials, and fans in limbo.<\/p>\r\n<p>Under AFL rules, the game had up to 60 minutes to resume before being abandoned.<\/p>\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Blackout during AFL clash casts light on Gabba upgrade for 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games | ABC News\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MOkzEWSH7jI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<p>When play finally restarted, Melbourne came out firing, piling on five quick goals and putting a serious scare into the Lions.<\/p>\r\n<p>But despite the late surge, Brisbane managed to hold on, sealing an 11-point victory in one of the most bizarre finishes in recent AFL history.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Scoreboard on Fire<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It was Round 22 ,1999 and Richmond was hosting Carlton in what would be Tiger coach Jeff Gieshan&#8217;s final game in charge.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>As Richmond ran out onto the ground, flames engulfed the grounds electronic scoreboard on top of the old Ponsford Stand.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">On this day in 1999&#8230;The <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@MCG<\/a> scoreboard caught fire prior to the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Richmond_FC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@Richmond_FC<\/a> v <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarltonFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CarltonFC<\/a> match: <a href=\"http:\/\/t.co\/bQnYXHs4Id\">pic.twitter.com\/bQnYXHs4Id<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Melbourne Cricket Ground (@MCG) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MCG\/status\/372169152938516480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 27, 2013<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Within a matter of minutes, the fire destroyed 20 percent of the scoreboard, and fans in the Ponsford Stand were evacuated onto the arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rd 22 1999 - the entire pre-game broadcast of the MCG scoreboard fire. Richmond Carlton AFL Football\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CK-AYl86AcE?start=387&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It took a crew of 30 firefighters and almost 20 minutes to put out the blaze, which was deemed to be an electrical fault.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The game was delayed by 40 minutes with Richmond recording an 11-point win.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Death Valley<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In the early days of Docklands &#8211; then known at Colonial Stadium, the city wing of the ground looked like a Sandpit during a Friday night match between North Melbourne and Brisbane.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\r\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Flashback: Round 14, 2000 - North Melbourne v Brisbane\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g8_L2XSaCC0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The surface was deemed so bad that the following day&#8217;s clash between St Kilda and Hawthorn had to be moved to the MCG for fears of player safety.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/resources.afl.com.au\/photo-resources\/2020\/03\/05\/e5a24d4a-5077-40c4-8877-87dafe11e30b\/1182451.jpg?width=952&amp;height=592\" alt=\"Marvel Stadium turns 20: We rank the top 20 moments\" width=\"410\" height=\"255\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>At the time, a young Craig Hutchison was a sports reporter for Channel 7 and referred to the ground as &#8220;Death Valley&#8221;, which didn&#8217;t go down well with the network at the time and he was suspended for using the term on air.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/6w4FzXKPaKU\/hqdefault.jpg\" alt=\"Craig Hutchison 'Hutchy' 2001 Channel 7 (broadcaster) - YouTube\" width=\"284\" height=\"213\" \/>\r\n<figcaption><strong><em>Young Hutchy circa 2000. <\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Teams Plane Doesn&#8217;t Land<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>It was in the 2012 pre-season when St Kilda was meant to play Essendon in a practice match in Wangaratta.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Rather than taking the 2.5 hour bus trip to get to the ground, Essendon thought it would be a great idea to fly into the regional Victorian town.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Problem was, the wild weather meant the Bombers couldn&#8217;t fly into the Wangaratta air field and the game was cancelled, with the Saints opting to play an intraclub match in front of the locals.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\r\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/content.api.news\/v3\/images\/bin\/d40e9368953b717d34aba865a292bb15\" alt=\"Young Saint Tom Ledger slides for the ball at a waterlogged Wangaratta.\" width=\"466\" height=\"261\" \/><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Covid<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n<p>The COVID era in footy brought unprecedented disruption, with games played in eerie silence as empty stadiums replaced packed or heavily reduced crowds.<\/p>\r\n<p>Teams were forced into isolation hubs for months, sacrificing normal routines and family time to keep the season alive.<\/p>\r\n<p>Players and staff lived under strict protocols, adapting to a constantly shifting landscape.<\/p>\r\n<p>Fixture chaos became the norm, with games rescheduled at short notice and clubs playing \u201chome\u201d games in unfamiliar, neutral venues.<\/p>\r\n<p>Despite the challenges, the season marched on with Richmond winning the 2020 Grand Final and the Gabba and Melbourne breaking it&#8217;s 57 year drought over in Perth. Let&#8217;s never deal with that again.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\ud83c\udfa7LISTEN NOW &#8211; NEDS #AFL UNPOPULAR OPINIONS<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>\ud83c\udfa7<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">LiSTNR &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3IwuIMK\">https:\/\/bit.ly\/3IwuIMK<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">APPLE &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nYHE1jdK13\">https:\/\/apple.co\/3D3KviU<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">SPOTIFY &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/spoti.fi\/36BM6QP\">https:\/\/spoti.fi\/36BM6QP<\/a><\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":72072,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,598,344],"tags":[29,9778,6767,3311,1329,3568,9999,8786,36,7740],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-72070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-afl","tag-afl-2025","tag-alastair-lynch","tag-aussie-rules","tag-australian-rules","tag-dylan-leach","tag-history","tag-neds-afl-unpopular-opinions","tag-special-interest","tag-tom-rockliff"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"06\/03\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=72070"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72070\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/72072"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=72070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=72070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=72070"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=72070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}