I’m eight years old and wake up in a fluster at 6am on the morning of Saturday, the 26th of September 2009.

I’m awake earlier than usual for a Saturday but I can’t sleep. It’s Grand Final Day and my first where I’m old enough to go and see over the heads in front of me. Before I could see, Dad would always make sure to switch seats to give me the best view of the MCG.

I haven’t and won’t eat today. The biggest stress in my eight-year-old life is football and today’s the most nervous I’ve ever felt.

We hop into Dad’s Ford Escape and drive up Church Street Brighton. We talk about how we could win – or lose. I prepare myself for both accordingly (it’s crying either way. I’m eight! You can’t blame me!)

My short legs trail behind my Dad and Aunty Penny’s as we stride into Middle Brighton Station. Almost every football memory I have in the MCC begins at Middle Brighton Station on cold weekend afternoons.

I am terrified of losing my Dad, so I cling to his ‘27’ windcheater that he tells me represents Andrew Bews and we push our way from the warn-down platform into the tight air of the carriage…..

READ THE FULL STORY ON MCC BALCONY BANTER HERE:

https://www.mcc.org.au/whats-on/blogs/september-2021/my-favourite-final—2009?month=&category=