It has been pointed out to me that I hadn’t posted a blog after Hawthorn’s Round 16 game against St Kilda. I think it only right that I clarify the reasons for this.
Extremely disappointed after the team’s second half fadeout, I decided to drown my sorrows at one of the local watering holes. Staggering out in the early hours of the morning (literally as it was 12.05am) I decided that the quickest and safest way home would be to drive. I’d heard all these stories about stabbings in cabs and felt that it was only a matter of time before a driver took his revenge on an unsuspecting passenger.
Despite drinking enough to put the late Oliver Reed to shame (when he was alive as not sure how much drinking he is doing these days) I felt I had enough wits about me to dodge the booze buses on the way home. I managed to do so although had less success avoiding the odd parked car on the side of the road. Let me make it clear that there were no other passengers in the car other than the two other people traveling with me. While this may sound like a contradiction, I can assure you that even if these passengers were in my car neither of them were Alan Didak. But then again, I was so drunk I couldn’t really tell you who was in the car so let’s just forget the whole passenger thing.
If not for the countless witnesses and police report, I would have been able to keep this story away from the prying media. So, instead, I have decided to be proactive and come clean about my indiscretion. The leadership group (which comprises of my wife and children and chaired by myself) decided that my punishment was to not post a blog after Round 16 and to miss the Round 17 clash against Geelong. Devastated by this I spent 10 days in Fiji reflecting on my misdemeanour. This period of reflection proved to be profound and not having to drive meant that I was able to drink myself silly without any more consequences.
I hope that having cleared the air regarding this ugly incident that my story will help others avoid making the same mistake.
Anyway, with my penance served, I headed to the MCG on Friday night to see the Hawks tackle the Pies. The weather was a lot cooler than I had enjoyed, sorry, endured the week before. In spite of the cold, Hawthorn came out blazing and a six goal to one first quarter set the tone for an eventual nine goal win. Buddy kicked a lazy 8.6 and while there was plenty to drink to I avoided the temptation.
Hopefully the Collingwood players weren’t too disappointed with the loss. My only advice would be, boys, don’t go drowning your sorrows afterwards because you don’t know what that might lead to. You might even end up finding yourself banished to some far-flung sun-drenched place like I was.