90 Minutes, 90 Emotions?

So the first game of the season and the CCM is on soon and I am going to test the idea of 90 minutes, 90 emotions as sprouted by the A-League marketing department.

I normally prepare my weekly blog on a Thursday night, this means I am normally going to be talking about the coming games and leave the post match comment and opinion to Julia. But tonight with the Mariners kicking off the season I get to comment on the game as it unfolds before me (well on the Foxtel telecast as I couldn't get time off for a run to Melbourne). I am looking forward to this great roller coaster ride tonight, I just hope that it is a reverse roller coaster, it has a big rise at the end not a drop.

So let me take you on my 90 minute ride (well maybe 95 with a bit of time before the game, at half time and after the final whistle). Every comment is as recorded in the 90, I won't change them to save face later (much).

Excitement, a few minutes before kickoff now, the pre-show is unfolding and the excitement levels are high. I do not think I have been this excited about the start of an A-League season for at least the last 11months. I have even gone to the medicine cupboard and cracked open the Dencorub to get that authentic football dressing room smell....
Ashamed, of the over the top season opening voice over shtick. Every single TV station does these naff voice over, classical music backed, highlight piece. They are getting old Fox. Why do Australian television stations go in for this stuff.
Hopefully, the first ball of the A-League season has been kicked by the Mariners and now I feel the expectation of a season with so much possibility. This is like the arrival of a new family member or pet, they could be or do anything.
Disgusted with the first poor refereeing decision of the season, less than one minute into the season. Chris Beath must be made of marshmallows if that is a yellow card. Let's get serious if that is a card there will be a hell of a lot of red this year. Beath will have to play Santa at the referees Chrissy party with the amount of red he is going to hand out if this is the standard.
Anxious. Jess V saves us luckily. Man this had better not be the way this season rolls out!
Relief that we have made the five minute mark without going down a goal PHEW.
Impressed with the volume and unity of the Heart fans so far when singing and chanting at the ground.
Expectant, that was a long ball up the guts. The MV and Sydney FC fans are going to make all sorts of stupid comments about the Mariners style and route one method again.
Ecstatic, the Mariners skipper and goal scoring machine (that's his second) gets the first goal of the year. This is how it should be. This is the emotion we want to feel all year, come on Mariners.
Tension, as the Mariners fight along and try to defend the lead and build on it. That one goal lead is never enough
Frustrated, with the touch of some of the CCM players. I'm looking at you Kwasi, Hutch and Simon.
Sadness, seeing Heff and Beauchamp playing for the Heart and also not seeing that safe presence at the back with no Vuke's. Losing players is always a little downer, seeing them play against your team is worse.
Content as the half time whistle blasts away that the Mariners have played a good half of football given that this is the first half of real football for the season. Sure they could have played better, sure they were a little disjointed and had a few long balls but this is the first 45 minutes of the season. They will get stronger (I hope).

So let's do the half time analysis here the first 45 down and the score is 13 (emotional score not the game. If you want game scores go look up the match report guys). So we are a little bit behind after the first half but hey I think the game can lift.

Anger, Fox show an AFL and Rugby League ad during half time of the football. What makes them always want to push the other codes, I have no problem with them advertising other sport telecasts but not advertising the code itself.
Dread, the Fox commentators are talking up the Mariners game and Graham Arnold's great coaching. Now we are going to struggle or lose for sure.
Impressed, Matt Simon has just put through a beautiful ball for Kwasi who just didn't quite latch on to it.
Comfortable with the back four so far this season. They look like they are really settled and in control so far.
Uncomfortable with the back four. Why is it the moment I wrote the last comment the back four fall apart and almost give up the first goal of the season.
Tense, as the game develops into an arm wrestle in the middle third of the match.
Surprised, that the A-League would allow Heart such a huge advantage in this season. The ball disappears into the heart uniform. Camo footballs who would of thunk it.
Concerned, that the Mariners are not treating the ball with more respect. It is very hard for the team trailing to win if they don't have the ball at their feet.
Shocked that the commentators are coming up with tri-syllable descriptors in commentary.
Frustrated that Beath reaches to his pocket the moment a Mariner goes near a player but a Heart player has to make a League tackle before they go in the book. Is he refereeing by reputation do you think?
Scared that Daniel McBreen has Matt Simon's old number 2. That was the number that he failed to score with year after year. Is the number 2 cursed?
Worried as Jess VanStratten grimaces in pain with every kick and action he has to do.
Anxious with the four minutes added on, that seems excessive and they are dragging out forever and ever and ever. Come on. blow full time, will you, ref?
Happy that the Mariners have put in a good strong effort and have shown they could be a strong team if they continue to improve as most teams will in a season.