AFL

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The Last Weekend in September

Published September 29, 2025 by helentastic67

The Last Weekend in September

Once again, it’s that time of year when this weekend just passed, Australians gathered to yell at their televisions or went to an oval to yell at the outcome of two leading teams pitted one against another. Once a year I try to do a sporty post for people that way inclined. Don’t know if anybody here is bothered? But Hellonwheels don’t do sport. Not really interested. 

When I was young, I was dragged to Little Aths, short for Little Athletics in my hometown to run sprints and other sporty things. I was pretty good at running and even high jump. I had my own technique of running hell for leather at the matt and at the last second throwing myself headfirst over the bar landing on the back of my neck in a roll. Alas, at some point my interest or skill waned. Not sure which but being dragged to this torture ceased. 

Meanwhile, I’ve stated before my interest in the AFL is rather low. The grand final was this Saturday just gone. My team who shall remain nameless has not won a grand final since the mid-90’s. Shame! Shame! Just disappointing.

Alas, my interest to sit through a game even on TV is zero and the end of the season I want my team to not be on the bottom. Collingwood not to be on the top and the cup to stay in Victoria. Because I’m old school and am loyal to a time when all the teams existed in Victoria from the days of it being called the VFL. 

You can get some history here…….https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorian_Football_League

A few years ago, a new favourite carer started on my usual Friday shift. It was halfway through the day, we realised our teams were to face-off that night. Causing me to state “That’s it! We can’t be friends no more” and we have roasted each other about it ever since.

So, repeating.

1) Carlton cannot be on the bottom.

2) Collingwood cannot be on the top.

3) And the Cup stays in Victoria with the exception of rule Number 1.

And for the last two years the Cup has ended up out of state. 

Since having a new Pies friend Pies is the team mascot for Collingwood. I’ve occasionally sent the text to previously mentioned carer now friend. “Go Pies!” And have been rewarded with a row of these “🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕” Followed by an equally succinct row of these.”😭😭😭😭😭😭”

You can do your own research. It’s a serious game the only safety gear being a mouthguard. 

One of my carers reports there’s a bar on Chapel Street that won’t serve a particular drink on account of a certain football team that frequent that location and those boys don’t mix well fuelled by Long Island Iced Tea.

What? You get everything here at hellonwheels.

I also revisited a childhood favourite which I haven’t revisited for about 10 years as it was not as good as I remember and that was a lunch of what my older sister fondly called “Little Boy’s!” being the classic footy franks or saveloys. Very inappropriate nickname but amusing. Good in little bread rolls with sauce, I guess it’s the same as hotdogs.

What can I say? In Australia this is how we do it. You’re welcome. 

New Carer

Published December 4, 2023 by helentastic67

New Carer

So, as per usual I’ve had a few new carers recently. One has picked up my Friday shift, so I’ve got a new Girl Friday.

We got along instantly like a house on fire. She is close to my age which is rare and good to have some variety for sure. She has a long red plait hanging over her shoulder with petite features making me want to refer to her as Elsa from Frozen and I haven’t even seen it.

All was well, in my first 8.5-hour shift with her when we got on the topic of football. We were doing so well. Our teams were playing each other that night and she’s a Magpie’s supporter, that’s the team mascot for Collingwood. It was nice knowing you.

Over for the last weeks of the season I made several early morning texts to her, the morning after, along the lines of “I’m your face!” When Carlton beat her team. It’s OK, I knew she could take it. The game was on.

I suggested if our teams faced each other on grand final day and her team won I would get a tattoo of a Magpie on my butt! (it would be my first) and tiny. I suggested if the Blues, (yes, the Carlton mascot) won she had to get a Huge Blues tattoo across her upper chest on the left, it’s fine. She laughed. Stating “not a huge one?”

I continued to mention I would get started designing our tattoo’s. Could have been a limited release. Alas, no tattoos were undertaken. That’s the right term.



Football and Hangovers

Published November 12, 2023 by helentastic67

Football and Hangovers

About seven years ago, a regular Monday carer, let’s call her Monday. Turned up to work on Monday after her team the Bulldogs had won the Grand Final on the Saturday. She stood at the kitchen sink preparing herself to do the dishes, I had reason to ask if she was still hungover? She replied she was still “Dusty!”

This is not what the kids are calling hungover these days.  Monday’s tattoo was on her upper back just below her neck where she had gotten a Bulldog tattoo. She already had tattoo’s so not a stretch.

I used to have a younger (25-year-old) carer that was a Richmond supporter. She would tell me all about the start of the season and how swell her team was expected to go and she and her family would travel to the Punt Road, Richmond Oval to watch them practice. I would have to remind her I didn’t need to know. Lord love her.

Her team won the Premiership, I think one year I had her and we were lucky enough to run into my people. I like my people to meet my people. I mention previous carers all the time. They are so much a part of my life when their lives take them away from me the stories, I share keep them present.

Aussie Rules

Published November 5, 2023 by helentastic67

Aussie Rules

You may have been around long enough to read me express my thoughts on Aussie Rules Football and that is, I have little interest in it, except to say at the end of the season I want Carlton to not be on the bottom of the ladder, Collingwood not to be on the top. And for the Cup (the trophy if you like) to stay in Victoria or interstate.

Until 1990, it was known as VFL, and all teams resided in Victoria. Yes, I just asked Google! And then after teams started to merge with others in other states around Australia. So, with the exception of my last preference that the Cup remain in Victoria I definitely would prefer Collingwood doesn’t win.

Carlton, a very common team to be followed by Italians was not doing well until mid-year and suddenly, they were in with a chance.

I honestly thought my father might have had something to do with this from, you know, up there. What! It could happen and the weeks of the Semi-Final’s, they fluffed it. I didn’t watch it at all but again, consult my carers and google for the long and short answers. I love that my carers do watch it and have an interest.

So, if you read my last post, you would have caught their line that the “Most Hated Team” won. I know people that love them. However, they have had the culture of being “One-Eyed!” And racist and homophobic, etc, etc. need I say more?

Apparently, after the win this year Smith Street Collingwood was one big party. A celebration. Locals I know in that area lost their voices and were very hungover the next day. It wasn’t me hungover so I’m with it.