West Coast celebrate another victory at home
Copyright: Allsport
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Balls and All.....

Football, Witchcraft and Flying Saucers
by Matt Harrington, Radio Sport 927
9 May 2002

Something sinister has happened over the pre-season. Eddie McGuire, David Smorgan and other AFL Presidents are right, someone or something has it in for teams travelling interstate. A spell appears to have been cast, making it nearly impossible for teams travelling interstate to win

After more than a decade of trips to Perth, Adelaide, Sydney or Brisbane, AFL clubs had finally come to terms with the rigors and inconvenience of interstate travel, and were able to win away on a more regular basis. The cauldron of 40,000-to-50,000 screaming opposition fans, which saw visiting teams melt and self-destruct at the sight of an airport in the early days, had no longer offered a threat. Any team could win on the road. Last season, the away team won more than 44 per cent (30 from 68 games) of matches outside Victoria (excluding local derbies). Clubs had come to terms with the evolving game, with teams on the right track to perfecting their travel arrangements, for optimum performances. But suddenly that has changed. A spell has been cast for sure, it is the only explanation, or perhaps the Martians, Sheeds was talking about, are back.

Just one team, the Kangaroos in Adelaide against Port Power in round one, has managed to return home with the four points in the first six rounds. The home team has won a staggering 93.75% of matches outside Victoria. There is no doubt interstate teams have improved - all are in better form this season - but not that much, remembering four interstate clubs played off in the 2001 finals series.



Port Adelaide celebrate another victory at home
Copyright: Allsport
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Fifteen wins from 16 starts is an unbelievable cross-border dominance. Is there really a spell, or is it psychological? Could strong early season form from the interstate clubs have impacted their opposition on a sub-conscious level? With the travelling teams' anxiety levels nearing boiling point before they even see a plane, they are using excuses such as air travel, injuries and the different weather conditions as cop-outs to poor performances. Or maybe, the home team has decided to lay claim to its territory. With a strong parochial home crowd, have the hosts have now learned to harness that emotion, raising their arousal levels for an optimum performance on a more regular basis? Perhaps it's a bit of both

Football is definitely played between the ears. The clubs' lists are so even, excluding injuries. Anyone can beat anyone on any given day. It just comes down to attitude. The interstate clubs are full of confidence and give the impression that they are invincible at home, so it will take a mighty team to break down the widening mental barrier between travelling and victory during 2002.

Why is the home ground so fiercely an advantage this year compared to other years? Who knows, it's a mystery which may only be explained by witchcraft, or Martians in flying saucers.

Balls and All.....this month
• The Greatest Show on Earth Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002
• Mind Games Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002
• Racing's New Frontier Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002
• Defining Moment Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002
• The Sleeping Giant Matt Harrington, 23 May 2002
• Unfulfilled Potential Matt Harrington, 21 May 2002
• Time To Act Matt Harrington, 16 May 2002
• Football, Witchcraft and Flying Saucers Matt Harrington, 9 May 2002
• Changing Dimensions Matt Harrington, 3 May 2002