The footy season

It's that time of year when Australians close the back door to keep the drafts out, pop the telly on, find a cold beer in the fridge and settle back in their favourite comfy chair to watch the footy.

And what a season it will be.

On one hand we have a team that has won the past four grand finals - skilled, cocky and sure of themselves. Their captain has kicked countless goals on the run. He's been without fear getting in and under to get the ball out to his midfielders. Their backs have been solid and reliable with the ability to turn defence into attack.

Yet our team has been building quietly for a few years now. We've picked up a couple of excellent young draft picks, we've got a talented midfield that is young, fit and with the one key attribute every winning team needs - they can read the footy; they have vision on the run, they can see when to drive it straight through the corridor or to hold play up, waiting for the rush of onballers to come streaming past to carry the footy forward.

And our defence is a unit. Big, rangy, tough. Willing to run back into a pack with the flight of the ball. No fear.

And me? Well I play centre half forward. I've kicked a couple of bags full and I can bust a pack, giving our crumbers the chance to snap one on either foot. I say modestly I'm pretty good when we've got the wind behind us and we're in front. But I'm even better when it's wet and windy, the scores are close and we've got a sniff.

And I'm young and still developing.

Compare that to the team we're up against. Highly experienced but getting a bit slow. They can still pick up plenty of touches but their decision making is not as good as it was. They keep turning the ball over and our strong young side makes them pay, driving the footy deep into our forward line.

Yep. The footy season is back and I can't wait for that one day in September (or maybe October. Or November. Or December). Our chance to take the flag. Whatever the conditions, we'll be there. Standing strong. Focused. Skilled.

Better for the experience of the season and with that little extra vision and fitness to bring us home in front at the final siren.