Fans are the lifeblood of football. Football is the lifeblood of fans. You could describe the relationship as destructively co-dependent or mutually satisfying, depending on your mood. In the end it doesn't matter much. Like all great relationships there are good and bad times.

Every true fan knows the moments when the journey is taken in the form of venous blood; the oxygen has been sucked out of you and you're being carried along by the memory of past glories. Venous blood is dark red, not blue as some believe, but for Adelaide fans the tinge of blue is usually the recent memory of another defeat by Victory.

This year however, Reds fans are rushing along in the aterial stream. Bright red and lifegiving, pumped and flowing. Twelve games in and we're still on top. One loss, four draws ands seven wins. Football rarely gets better than this, a fact proven by Friday's loss, which left us sad but undeterred.

It was a game. We lost. It hurt. We're still at the top of the table and still eight points clear of Victory with a game in hand. That's the reality.

More importantly, we have a team worth celebrating and a coach we love. We have a great home ground and the most loyal fan base in the league. We have the best football team in the best competition this country has ever seen.

Our pulse is strong.

The long weekend

It's Groundhog Day again. We go to Melbourne. The ref makes 'interesting' calls. There's a flashpoint and it changes the game. We lose the plot. Victory lift. We lose. Same as it ever was.

Let me say that it was a great game of football, befitting a great rivalry. It matters to both sets of fans. Both sets of players. It's a game that shows us how far this league has come.

The Wallabies broke a ten game losing streak against the All-Blacks on Saturday night. That meant something to many Aussies and their joy was all the greater for the length of their sorrow. The Reds' day will come. It will be sweet.

In the meantime can we not play on Friday against Melbourne please? It makes for a bloody long weekend of grief.

That tackle

When I first saw Surat Sukha take out Matthew Leckie on the screen at the pub I was sure there was no malice in it. I still believe that. Seeing the replay made me think about it again however. There's no malice - and there's no responsibility.

Surat has had to toughen up at Victory. He's a fine player but the Victory backline plays hard. His leader is uncompromising. As Surat saw Leckie about to go past him he probably realised that he was going to be left behind and embarrassed. He made a desperate, reckless lunge for the ball. He hit the player. As a result, a young man with a bright future is badly injured and will miss two months play. It could have been a lot worse. It could have ended his career.

"Shit happens". "That's football". "He shouldn't have been there".

There are lots of ways to look at it. I doubt that I'll change anyone's mind but I don't think it's acceptable to care more about a tackle you're pretty clearly not going to make than the human being who's very likely going to suffer as a result of your decision to follow through. I don't think it's acceptable to try and make that tackle with a swing that would have put the ball into row 40.

I don't think Surat meant it but he chose not to care what damage he might do. He's not the first but he made a choice. It's his responsibility. Don't tell me you don't have time to think in those instances. I've played more than enough football to know that the mind works faster than the legs. He took a risk and it paid off badly - for Matthew. At least he's had the courage to express his remorse.

Do I think he should be vilified? No. Do I think he should have been penalised by the match review panel (MRP). Yes. Three or four weeks would have sent a message to other players not to do the same. Did I expect the MRP to do anything? No. They are, to my mind, a running joke.

And Paul Reid's aggressive lunge in the second half? Cynical and unnecessary. I thought he'd be sent off. I wouldn't have complained.

It's been fun

This is my 65th blog. That's retirement age. My first one went up on October 26, 2008 - just over two years ago. Between then and now there have been real highs and lows. There have been great conversations and some mighty arguments. I'm grateful for all the kind comments and for every thoughtful or funny reply. I've enjoyed being part of the 442 team. The blogging journey has made my support of the Reds more real and more communal.

All the blogs are there at http://au.fourfourtwo.com/aleague_archive.aspx?team=adelaide&type=blogs if you want a journey down memory lane. Two years is a long time in football!

But it's time to depart - at least from regular blogging. KA has left the door open for me to blog if and when I feel the urge but I won't be back each week. If at all. I'm sure Kym will fill the gap well.

God bless you all. Go the mighty REDS!!!