Aker at the Tacca

What a great day at the TCA. After a blizzard of publicity about the poor facilities awaiting our latest mainland import at the "quaint" TCA ground on Hobart's Queen's Domain, a crowd of over 2000 turned up to be treated to a reasonable game, some great skills, some old fashioned biffo and a howling northerly.

Aker impressed me - his skills were on another level to many on the ground. His second quarter receive in the centre square and delivery to a team mate in the goal square was smooth as silk. He knew how to play into the wind - and that didn't come from his local knowledge. He largely got on with the game rather than get distracted.

The crowd impressed me too. I spent the first quarter with AFL Tasmania's Talent Manager Nick Probert, the second with our very own Minister for Infrastructure and lots more, David O'Byrne and his two daughters who were white with excitement- about their imminent birthday! Just before half time, anxious to grab the best spot for first serve at the half time bar in the Den I met up with the ubiquitous Dean Parry - telling tall tales and true of his trip to the ground and the parking prowess of his mentor, Dr Brian Morey.

After a quick cooling refreshment at half time I met some of our brightest young political activists (some of whom were) at their first TSL game, Mr Henry Pill, bemused by his recent elevation to fake mimicry in the twitter sphere, Mr Matt Nesham, Mr Kester Takayama, Ms Lisa Caswell and Mr Scott Bacon MP (certainly not at his first TSL game) Later local raconteur Mr Paul Munting joined our small group on the terrace.

Why is all this important? Because this was local footy at its best. A spectacle, the opportunity to share thoughts with friends, former students, political friends and rogues from these parts. Afterwards in the Den we purchased tickets in the meat raffle, discussed the ethics of local restaurants charging minimum seating fee and the next big day at the Tacca - Good Friday when Hobart will take on and cut down to size North Hobart, who will be exhausted from the bus trip up the hill.