Standing on the terraces at the Penguin football ground whilst savouring a late afternoon pastie from the canteen, i couldn’t help but think about the comparisons to doing the same among the outer at the MCG.

There is of-course the usual abuse hurled at the men in white (or any other colour it would seem now-days); the smell of hot pies and chips emanating from the nearest food-outlet; the cries of ‘BAWL’ from fans when an opposition player is wrapped-up; or the sound of leather on leather after a mad dash down the grandstand wing.

Heads are bowed after another massive defeat for East Devonport.

I glanced at a nearby rubbish bin, overflowing with empty VB and Boags Draught cans, and realised that this was one comparison that i couldn’t make. Sure the bins would still be overflowing at the ‘G’ or at the Telstra Dome, but with plastic cups and pizza boxes.

The deafening roar from the crowd when a goal is scored is replaced by the sound of car-horns from around the boundary line. The interchange benches or dug-outs of today have more seating than a small school-bus, at Penguin there is barley enough room for interchange players and an assistant coach.

A couple of club trainers share a smoke and chat about their Sunday plans; kids of all ages mingle behind the northern goals in anticipation of retrieving the match footy after a stray shot at the big sticks.

A section of the crowd view the action at Penguin.

It’s community footy Tassie style and there is plenty of passion on both sides of the fence.

The shadows were creeping across this picturesque ground, the size of a postage stamp, on Tasmania’s north-west coast. It was late into the third term and Penguin (nicknamed the Two-Blues) was dismantling a shabby East Devonport by more than 100 points.

East Devonport coach, Scott Matheson (on crutches), lays down the law to his charges after the game.

The East Devonport Swans had recorded their first win in two years last week against, some would say, an unlucky Wynyard. The club song had been sung with more gusto than an end of season footy trip’s rendition of Cold Chisel’s Khe-Sahn!

Another improved showing by the boys from Girdlestone Park was expected.

Penguin, were equal on points with East Devonport with one win a-piece, and were finding it difficult to put together four quarters of football. However, against a team with the majority of its players barely old enough to drive, let alone spear a pass lace-out from fifty metres, the Two-Blues scored at will and won convincingly by 102 points: 23.20.158 to 8.8.56.

The Swans fought the game out and had eleven scoring shots to five in the final quarter. Their coach Scott Matheson, injured and on crutches, assembled his young charges in the middle of the ground after the game.

The sherrin floats goalward at Penguin Oval on Community Football Weekend.

The sun sank slowly behind the grandstand, volunteers who would later share beers with the Club President, finished their game-day duties. The Penguin players filed off their home dung-hill and into the sheds. Players threw down tape that had patched sore thumbs and dodgy knees, and a few turned and gave a curious glance over the shoulder to see the huddle of Swans on the cricket pitch.

A few hours later the victors would celebrate a home win with a mock beach-party in their clubrooms. The lads from East Devonport returned to the other side of the Mersey River, boots in hand and optimism dented. There would be no club-song in the change-rooms that night.

Cars are never too far away from the action at Penguin's Pirtek Oval.

They could take something out of the last quarter however, and next weekend continue their role in community footy and bring hope to their supporters in the terraces once more.

Scores: Penguin –            6.7   12.13   18.20   23.20.158

             East Devonport – 0.0   2.1       3.2        8.8.56

Goals: Penguin – G.Creedon, J.Ling 5; C.Webb 3; K.Gorrie, R.French, B.Dicker 2; C.McDonald, C.Carpenter, N.Ling, C.Mann 1.

      East Devonport – G.McLachlan 4; B.Stubbs 2; S.Rundle, J.Aherne 1.

Best: Penguin – R.French, J.Ling, C.Carpenter, T.King, C.Mann, D.Wooley, C.McDonald, N.Good.

   East Devonport – C.Triffett, S.Rundle, D.Applebee, G.McLachlan, S.Borlini, Z.Ivory.

Reports: D.Vincent (East Devonport) for allegedly striking Jason Ling (Penguin) in the first quarter.

Umpires: M.Clarke, S.Ralph.

Weather: Fine

Attendance: 350 (estimate)

10/05/2008