Finals

 Pie stands closed. A cleaner at work along concrete decks. Cold wind through empty entrances. Bruisers in bronze. Ghosts of [finals] past framed on club walls. Dark oval of serried seats and shadows. Where’s the September streamer crowd crossing the park? Jolimont for members, punters, footy mums, one-eyed larrikins- all the fans bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, scarved for action. That first view coming up the ramp of green sward. Lift of stadium sky. Wild cheering cheerful anticipation. Your own team streaming onto the field. Heroes and heartbreakers. And the umpires, needing a visit to the optometrist. The overwhelming roar at the bounce.

A photograph of the Melbourne Cricket Ground from the Frankston train at 20 to seven on Monday morning the 26^th of April this year. At that point in time Collingwood still had a ghost of a chance.