Ready to Rumble

There will be little sleep in Brunswick and surrounding suburbs over the next two nights such is the sense of anticipation surrounding the Bras’ opening match of the 2010 season. For instance, a quick straw poll of shoppers in Brunswick’s Barkly Square this morning found that 9 out of every 10 people were either in favour of (or, indeed, excited by) Bras, and couldn’t wait to clap eyes on them.

“I couldn’t live without them,” one woman said, “they provide me with considerable support and comfort.

“Just the merest hint of a Bra, the merest sight, makes my head spin,” one young man said as he absently adjusted his meat and two veg, which were being squashed inside his hand basket by a 2 litre carton of milk.

Well, at 3.15pm on Sunday, the wait will be over when the Bras run out to face neighbours Brunswick City in Round 1 of the FFV Open Age Women’s Metro NW division [at Dunstan Reserve, Brunswick West]. It’s anyone’s guess how the match will play out—let alone mine, oft-bemused coach of the Mighty Bras—but I think it’s safe to say that no matter the outcome we’ll emerge ruddy faced and with a hankering for hot chips and cold beer.

Once again the Mighty Bras will be a potent, or at least curious, blend of youth and (life) experience. Fans of the Bras’ elder stateswomen will no doubt be delighted to see that founding Bras Marian, Deb, Sue (all around 50), Jenna, Jo, Liz and Rosie (all dangerously close to 40) are all backing up again. How do they do it? Do they cryogenically freeze themselves every off-season, next to the chops and fish fingers, to reduce the wear and tear as they wait for the next season to start? Do they wear especially supportive underwear?

No matter, they will at least be ably supported by regulars Jess, Loz, Helen, Bridget, Em and Kate. And Rhi, who is returning to the team after a three-season hiatus which she wasted educating herself for a career as a photographer.

New faces, who are yet to face the saucer-eyed horrors of a competition Hoof, are Merissa, Frannie and Kate P. And standing on the sidelines, itching to get back amongst the action, will be 5-season veteran Jane, who’s waiting for baby number two to drop so she can get back out on the park. The baby is due in June so, knowing Jane, expect her back in…June.

As usual we know next to nothing about the quality or make-up of the Brunswick City team, so once again we’ll focus on ourselves and our policy of enjoying the game and each other’s efforts and company no matter the score. It can be a challenge at times —after all, our last competition match was an 11-1 loss—but, to our credit, it’s a challenge we consistently overcome.

Caarn the Bras!


STOP PRESS: An early candidate for double entendre of the season was heard at our latest training session when I was packing up the balls, cones, etc, and expressing my keenness for the Bras to take their balls home with them rather than give them to me to lug around:
“I came here with two balls and I’ll be leaving here with two balls,” I said emphatically.
Cue considerable mirth.