A Great Game of Footy!

The footy game had it all.

The setup was epic - the two form teams finally facing off against one another. The game itself didn't disappoint. Huge hits. Monumental clashes. A war in the true sense of the word. The men in their trenches doing everything they could do to secure victory for their side.

An inspired comeback that almost came to fruition. And at the last, a battle scarred player literally putting his body on the line, throwing himself into the line of fire and coming off second best to try and save his team. It had it all.

The game I speak of was not a Rugby League game, my first winter sporting love.

It was the code of football I have often ridiculed and dismissed. It was the code I have often labelled as "girly", "stupid" and (no offence intended) "gay". I have called it "Aerial Ping Pong" and likened the play to pigeons squabbling over bread at the park. I am talking about Australian Rules Football.

Wow. I have admitted that I enjoyed an AFL game.

Now I will never relinquish my love of Rugby League, and still will watch it over the Melbourne code any day. But I do have new found respect for AFL. Yesterday's clash between St Kilda and Geelong was an exhilirating ride. It was everything sport should be - dramatic, unpredictable, hard fought and hard won.

Watching Harry Taylor throw himself at the ball to try and deny Michael Gardiner at the death echoed the heroics of some of League's biggest hits. Geelong's ill-fated comeback after being down early made me reminisce about the 1998 League prelimary final. The scrambling to claw points bit by bit, whether by grace or trying to win ugly, also struck a chord.

Has the AFL converted a new fan? I won't go that far. I am Sydney-bred and my love of League is more than just a winter pastime, it's part of who I am. For me the greatest rugby league games are still the most epic battles of all.

But I will think twice before "dissing" AFL so candidly next time, and may just flick my TV set over to Channel Ten on 26 September.