Why are we waiting?

September 24, 2012
by Rodney Olsen
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What are you like at queuing? We’ve recently seen queues for the iPhone 5 at outlets around the world.

Here in Perth we’ve seen people camping out for the latest land releases and parents in Sydney are queuing from 3:00 a.m. on enrolment days to secure a place for their children in before and after school care.

They arrive in the middle of the night with deck chairs, blankets, beanies and flasks of coffee while they wait to be first in line when the care centre opens its doors on enrolment day.

It is a nightmare being played out across the city, with the popularity of cheap before- and after-school care soaring, especially in parts of Sydney where there has been a surge in the birth rate and where parents believe their children receive a gold-plated service. – News.com.au

I must admit I’ve queued overnight a few times but it was many years ago. (I’m sure there’s a line in there about being young and foolish.)

I think I did it two or three times for concert tickets. If I remember rightly I queued overnight for Joe Jackson tickets a couple of times and once for Clannad. I also stayed overnight on the pavement outside Subiaco Oval once many years ago to get a good viewing spot for the WAFL Grand Final in the early eighties. That uncomfortable night was well worth it to watch Swan Districts take the flag.

Have you queued for anything? How long are you prepared to queue for something you really want? What has caused you to wait in line and for how long?



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Swans Grab the Flag for 2010

September 20, 2010
by Rodney Olsen
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I need to apologise to my radio listeners for sounding a little croaky on air today and to the people in the rows in front of me at Subiaco Oval yesterday who may now be coming to terms with some kind of permanent hearing loss. I yelled myself hoarse as I experienced an absolutely thrilling game of Australian Rules Football.

It took them 20 years, but Swan Districts Football Club finally grabbed another premiership. The last one was back in 1990.

The Swans played an amazing game to overcome Claremont, the most dominant side of 2010. Despite only losing two games this season, having an extra week’s break before the big game, and being red hot favourites for the win, the Tigers fell just short of taking the 2010 flag.

In a game that saw the lead change six times in the final quarter, Andrew Krakouer was a standout player with 40 possessions and four goals that saw him be the clear winner of the Simpson Medal. It was Krakouer who kicked the final score of the match, a goal, to win the game for the black and whites by just one point.

There was a crowd of almost 25 000 at Subiaco yesterday afternoon and by the sheer volume of noise coming from the crowd it would seem that the majority were backing the Swans. There was certainly a roar from the crowd whenever Claremont hit the front, but whenever the Swans got the better of them, it was almost deafening.

I cannot describe the feeling of elation as the siren blew and the Swans theme song started playing across the ground. I do wish that it hadn’t been such a long time between flags but I guess that just made the victory a little sweeter.

Swan Districts 14.16 (100) – Claremont 14.15 (99)



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Swans ready to take the flag

September 14, 2008
by Rodney Olsen
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SwanDistrictsFCLogo.jpgNext Sunday afternoon I intend to be at Subiaco Oval.

For the first time in 18 years, Swan Districts will be playing in a Grand Final.

I’m sure that most people would be picking Subiaco to grab their third Premiership in a row, but win, lose or draw, Swans have had a remarkable year and taking the flag for 2008 is certainly not out of the question.

With a mid-season form slump that saw them lose several games in a row, no one would have predicted that the mighty black and whites could have lifted so well to place themselves in this year’s Grand Final, but after beating West Perth yesterday by ten points, they’re ready to fight for the ultimate prize in the WAFL competition.

The Swans led at the first change by six points, but trailed by 27 points at half-time as Adam Campbell fired up at full forward to try and put the game out of the Swans’ reach.

However, the ‘comeback kings’ of season 2008 controlled the majority of the second half to claim a 15.14 (104) to 14.10 (94) victory in front of 5556 fans at the Arena in the first preliminary final played away from Subiaco Oval since 1934.

Swans, the only team to have beaten the mighty Subiaco this season, will take on the Lions in the WAFL grand final next Sunday, September 21 at Subiaco Oval. – WAFL Website

I’ve only ever been to one other WAFL Grand Final. That was back in the early eighties when WAFL footy was still huge in Western Australia. I slept on the concrete outside the gate to ensure a good seat. When the gates opened thousands of people flooded in to stake their claim. I got a seat one row back from the fence which is where I sat all day to watch Swans win a Premiership.

There won’t be a full house at the game next Sunday but I certainly intend being there. It’ll be a lot more civilised as I wander up to the gate with my numbered ticket and then make my way to my seat, but I can assure you, victory will be just as sweet.

Swans will certainly go into the game as the underdogs but I’ll be hoping for a massive upset and big celebrations after the game.



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