Please, can we just get a WIN today, I muttered to myself quietly while crossing fingers and toes in the O’Reilly Stand in the seconds prior to the opening bounce. I could feel my receding hairline marching further south in real time and I was sweating like it was 44 degrees, rather than the pleasant 16 it was. After 5 years of annual pilgrimages taking my young family up from Melbourne to the SCG for a match, we had a 0-5 win loss record, which we were now labelling the Dodson curse! Today couldn’t be 6 in a row could it?

In all the matches we had attended in the previous 5 years we were expected to win by the tipsters yet somehow the Dodson family had carried a wicked curse 800km via the Hume Highway every single year. Another loss again this year and I suspect Tom Harley and the executives at Swans HQ may request that Paul Kelly wait for us in Wagga Wagga next year and forcefully stop our further progress up north with one of his signature bone crunching tackles. 

Why was a win so important? Don’t get me wrong I know footy is a fickle beast and you have to take the good with the bad, however, after 5 years of seeing my primary school aged kids with tears in their eyes at the final siren, I just desperately wanted to let them experience singing the song with 35,000 other Swans fans. As a parent you would do anything for your kids.    

Being totally honest, when the fixture was released late last year I had analysed it in more detail than those mathematicians at Champion Data trying to find our best chance of a win in season 2024. The Kangas it would be - No disrespect to this great club but we are at different stages of development in our lists and I decided we SHOULD win this one. At least that was what I thought in December, but the Kanagas had played great footy in the last few weeks and we had hit a few hurdles. Too late to cancel the Bondi Junction accommodation so ahead we pressed with trepidation.

Following your football club as a family creates so many memories and it is fantastic to share a passion. That being said I did give the rest of the family very little alternative options. In 2017 When Harry was 3 he did ask me if he could go for Richmond given they had just won the premiership. I simply said that was fine, however, Dad only goes to Swans games so if he EVER wanted to go to the footy then he would have to make his own way to the ground. Harry and I are glad he stayed solid. We make the trip to Sydney each year as a family and it’s a real highlight on our calendar.

Spirits were high pre-game with my little cygnets. On Friday we ducked into Swans HQ to do some birthday shopping and Jack purchased a Bobblehead of Nick Blakey. To Jacks surprise, and quite possibly the Lizzards as well, upon exciting the giftshop Jack ran into him. Before Nick could mutter a g’day he had said Bobblehead thrust towards him for a photo and signature. To Jack that simple Bobblehead toy is now worth $1 million dollars rather than the RRP of $19.95. Young Harry even got a high five from Errol Gulden in the pre-match and is now refusing to wash his hand until he is 18.  Awesome memories for the kids to interact with their heroes.

Thanks to the Swans generous sponsor Duro-Tuss we took FULL advantage of the free commemorative t-shirt offer pre match. There were 10,000 shirts available in the promotion and we may have pushed the limits of the 1 shirt per patron rule, suffice to say we now have enough shirts to kit out our own football team! At least we will be promoting the brand strongly when we return to Melbourne and won’t suffer any colds for at least a decade.

It was a tight opening to the contest which did little to settle my anxiety. The Kangas had set up well behind the ball and the Swannies were a little cautious with their ball use. At least that’s my in-dept football analysis based on all the knowledge gained from my ‘glittering career’ with the Mangoplah-Cookardnia United Goannas Under 19s team.

At the quarter time break I considered a quick prayer or perhaps a few ales to settle the nerves, however, I got caught up joining 35,000 people in a rendition of Sweet Caroline. Great fun, but apologies to Neil Diamond for the quality of my performance.

After quarter time the game broke open and in an instant the Swans slammed home 7 goals. It was a joy to watch. The anxiety was gone and I could simply sit back and enjoy the show.

From our seats in the front row of the O’Reilly stand you could witness the brutality of the hits and the reflexes of the players who have but a split second to make decisions. A great reminder of how tough a game it is.

Whilst we get great support from the loyal Swans fanbase in Melbourne when we attend games, naturally we are in the minority. It’s a great feeling to sit back in close to a full house of Swans faithful in full voice.

In a flash the game is over and we run out convincing 79 point winners. Mills and Parker return to the fold and we have solid contributors across the ground, sprinkled with a dash of brilliance from our superstars. A great performance.

I feel like jumping on top of my chair to have my Paul Roos ‘Here it is’ moment in triumph like when he raised the Premiership Cup in 2005, but I wisely determine that the other 35,000 people will not be familiar with the Dodson family Holy Grail of an SCG Victory. Only the four of us know the significance. 

Mrs D, Jack, Harry and I belt out the theme song arm in arm. It is a precious memory. You get busy in life with the mundane things and time flies too quickly. Moments like these are not forgotten and will be re-told for years to come.  

Then it is onto the field for kick to kick. I am arguably more excited than the kids as I TRY and turn the clock back and pretend like I’m David Murphy patrolling the SCG wing with grace circa 1986, rather than the reality of being 46 and struggling to touch my knees let alone my toes when stretching for a loose ball. Footballs are flying everywhere and we do well to avoid getting Sherrin imprinted across our foreheads. There is joy on faces in the crowd from ages 8 to 80 than I can see.  

What a day. No more anguish, two happy little cygnets and I can inform my accountant that the 12k spent on cumulative Sydney Holidays over the last 6 years has returned a sound dividend. Where would you rather be? Great Times. Great Memories. Priceless.   

The Dodson Curse is broken! Cheer Cheer the Red and The White.