Bill Shankly, best known as the former manager of Liverpool in the English Premier League, once famously said: “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.”
We do take this game seriously, don’t we? Who else ‘white knuckled’ our loss to the West Coast Eagles on Sunday? I know I did.
Serious as this game may be, sometimes we all need to loosen the lid on the bottle of our emotions and let some pressure out.
It’s the human condition. If we don’t laugh, we’ll cry and all that.
The Western Bulldogs podcast ‘Freedom in a Cage’ is the place to laugh, cry or throw the odd sky hook to ease some of the tension in those shoulders.
LISTEN HERE TO THE FIRST TWO EPISODES OF 'FREEDOM IN A CAGE', STARRING BOB MURPHY & ADRIAN BROWN.
In the ‘cage’, when looking at the lighter side of the game, we take it very seriously.
I’ve come to know a few things in life since I hung up my football boots at the end of last year, and one of those things is that there is relaxation and then there is caravan park relaxation.
It might be something to do with the angles of the fold out chairs. It’s only when we reach such zen levels of calm that we can begin to see the greater meaning to life or football.
That is where the spirit of the Freedom in a Cage podcast resides. We literally hit ‘record’ from inside the football club, but metaphorically it’s more like the Footscray Caravan Park.
Spiritually, it could be from anywhere you want it to be.
Sitting alongside me is Adrian Brown, or “Adi”, as he is affectionately known. Adi was the creator of the award-winning Western Bulldogs documentary ‘Outsiders’.
Adi may have a history as a Kangaroos supporter, but his Bulldog leanings are obvious. I vouch for him, he’s one of us.
Like the old adage goes, Adi is interested and interesting. He loves Steven Kolyniuk’s goal against the Magpies in 1990 for instance.
I suppose in years gone by, Adi and I would’ve chatted about footy at the local pub or by the water cooler in the office, but with both of those traditions now distant memories, we chat about the things we love about the game via a couple of microphones for your podcasting pleasure.
If you have ever wondered about the magic of Allen Jakovich’s seven games and seven goals as a Western Bulldog or wondered what AFLW star Libby Birch said as her cut forehead spurted blood “like a fountain”, this might just be the place for you.
We have had Luke Beveridge reflect on his selection in the Greek team of the century, Monique Conti told us what it was like to be the best player in a Grand Final and we heard Marcus ‘The Bont’ Bontompelli select his ultimate Bulldogs basketball team.
This is a podcast for the fans and you can get involved if you like, by sending your questions on Facebook & Twitter to us by using the hashtag #FreedomInACage or e-mail us here.
After a slow start to the year on the field for the men’s team, it’s good to come together, take a knee and wonder aloud, which Bulldogs player has taken the greatest mark of all time? Send in your suggestions ahead of Thursday's podcast.
