The Comeback of the Century

Covid-19 has affected lots of people in different ways, it has left a devastating effect on Australia’s Hospitality industry leaving many without a job, it has even pitted us against each other for the most common of household items (I think you know what I’m talking about). It has also taken something else away, close to Australia’s heart and that’s our Sport!

Being a young Australian I have grown up influenced by my parents in almost all aspects of life, whether it be what kind of music I listen to, to how I tie my shoes but most important to me is my love for sport. I remember getting taken to my first football game by my dad and watching the electric fans get behind this amazing culture that we have in Australia and from there I was hooked, I loved my AFL, I loved my rugby, and even up to now with my newfound love for combat sports.

Its because of this mystical energy that flows through the audience during these games and during these fights that make every goal, every knockout and every grand final so much bigger. But after all this time I feel like a bit of that energy has been lost (maybe people aren’t as invested as what we once were) which is fair enough before these dark times it wasn’t hard to find a channel with live sport on it which is why Australians love it so much, its easily accessible.

I think there is a bit in all of us that can see how important sport is to the country of Australia which is why the loss of sport hit us very hard in this dark time. When it was announced that America was postponing the NBA season I thought it was ridiculous, I could see that this Covid 19 was a treat but I didn’t see why cancelling sport would make a difference and I wasn’t worried, I thought no way will this virus ever touch the sacred sports that us Aussies hold so dear to our hearts.

When the AFL announced that they were going to play in empty stadiums I was a little upset (what good is a sport without that electrifying audience) but I was happy that It was still here, that was until the next week when they postponed it for good. I was hit just as hard as most footy loving Aussies around the country, we had been waiting all year for our game to return and it had been taken from us just as it was beginning.

I believe everything happens for a reason and the fact that all these sports have been cancelled for a bit, in my eyes can be seen as a good thing. As with everyone sitting at home biting their nails waiting for all sport to return, there is that electricity that builds up inside of you waiting to be unleashed and I believe once these sports go back the crowds and energy that will be launched with it will bring some of the most intense fights, thrill-seeking matches and some of the greatest sports we will ever witness. It will truly be the Comeback of the Century.

Or maybe I’m just going mad in isolation, interpret it how you want.

Written by Jack Scanlan