Melbourne’s extraordinary full-on embrace of America’s game

It started on the train. NFL gear everywhere.

Super Bowl Monday can be a bit like that, but that’s often people taking a sickie hoping like hell they don’t get caught by the boss as they head to an event somewhere.

Today was different. A full-on embrace of America’s Game. Jerseys and caps of every stripe and colour. NFL fans outnumbering poor, old office workers by 10 to one.

Post the Richmond Station exit was an experience unlike any big sporting event the MCG has seen. Long queues to enter the precinct, but quiet, orderly and with a sense of excitement.

When it comes to the NFL, it is taboo to use the ‘S’ word, as in ‘steroids’. So, let’s just say that once inside the ‘precinct’ but outside the stadium, it was like AFL Grand Final day with some sort of performance enhancer.

People everywhere and vibed for a great day out. And given some of the ticket prices, they’d want to be. But who knew so many people could enjoy a beer - or several - so early in the day.

Once inside, the MCG was transformed. Forget all the ‘rectangular stadium is better’ nonsense. As it has proved for soccer and the rugby codes, the ground suits gridiron superbly. Great sidelines from everywhere other than the bottom few rows of level one. Footy’s 50-metre arcs were still faintly visible across the 15-yard line at the Ponsford Stand, but this was a clean NFL field in every respect.

But it does beggar belief that the MCC has full confidence that the field could be converted back to AFL ready in 30 hours. And even though they dodged a bullet with Hawthorn’s win last week leaving the ground free of any footy this weekend, they were going to stage the exercise in any event.

There is next year to think about.

To accommodate the 53-man squads, they had to reopen a few parts of the MCG that don’t see much action, such as the dressing rooms underneath the Shane Warne Stand, used by the 49ers.

And when they emerged about 45 minutes before the game for a warm-up, they were greeted like the home town heroes they have become. ‘The ‘Faithful’ travel everywhere to supporter their team, that is well documented, but the time and effort they put into embracing Melbourne surely played its part.

The reception for the ‘home team’ Rams? Tepid.

The pre-game ceremony was the perfect blend of two cultures. A Welcome to Country, cheerleaders, house music, AC-DC and large flags on the playing field. Lots of them. The Star Spangled Banner received a warm applause; Cody Simpson and Advance Australia Fair, a huge ovation.

And then for comic relief, we had Eddie McGuire tossing the coin. But fair play to Ed. Wearing his Melbourne Major Events hat, he has played an enormous part in bringing the NFL to Melbourne.

He should take a bow. And so should everyone involved. Melbourne sparkles at major event time. But the first NFL game took big time sport in this city into another stratosphere.