First the Lions, then the Broncos, and finally the Roar. These are heady days for the now-undisputed Sports Capital of Australia.
There’s something in the air, and it has nothing to do with pollen count. That smell is the smell of anticipation, of nervousness, of confidence, and of impending victory. Touch wood.
For the first time since 1997 – when the Brisbane Strikers won the National Soccer League and the Broncos won the inaugural, and only, Super League grand final in a result that may or may not have resulted in a disastrous gastrointestinal event in Engadine – Brisbane is dominating multiple football codes.
Unlike 1997, though, this is all happening at once. Two primarily maroon Brisbane tribes are preparing for battle, both coming up against enemies in black .It’s not just a bunch of players running after a ball on a field. Sport is so much more than that. It’s a catalyst for social cohesion, of inclusion, of togetherness. One’s never truly alone when one shares the joys and heartbreak of sport with thousands of fellow fans.in a way our political discourse would suggest was impossible.
Speaking as Celtic manager last year, after yet another derby win over arch-rivals Rangers, Ange Postecoglou –“We had 60,000 in tonight and I’m sure a lot of them walked in with some problems in their life,” the now-Tottenham Hotspur manager said.That’s exactly what the Broncos, Lions and Roar have done for their legions of fans this season, win or lose in their respective finals.