Australian sports culture differs from USC Trojan spirit


Canberra might be the capital of Australia, but Melbourne is the capital of Australian football. Affectionately called “footy” by its fans, Australian football represents the epicenter of sports culture, and Melbourne hosts a sports culture that is quite unlike anywhere else’s.

Throughout the year, Melbourne hosts Australia’s main sporting events including the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Australian Open tennis tournament, International Sailing Federation Sailing World Cup and the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The biggest influence on the city, however, is the Australian Football League.

Australian football is a contact sport where two teams of 18 players, who each wear minimal protection, attempt to advance an oval-shaped ball across the cricket-like field. The rules are quite intricate, as players are allowed to move the ball along the field with any body part but have to perform a “running bounce” every 15 meters. Players can also run while holding the ball, as long as they complete the running bounces and refrain from throwing the ball. Additionally, players can handball to move the ball along, provided that the movement does not resemble a volleyball serve. If a player catches a kicked ball that travels over 15 meters, it is considered a mark; marks are rewarded with free kicks. The objective is to kick the ball through the opposing team’s goal.

AFL’s dominance in Melbourne life is found in the leagues formed throughout the cities and  suburbs. The loyalty runs deep as fans rush the stadiums on the weekends decked out in their colors. Home town, though, is not the main determinant of loyalty. Many fans do not necessarily support the team from where they live; rather, family ties guide fanbases, as the sport is experienced through the bond shared by families.

The loyalty demonstrated by Melbourne fans reminds me of a school tradition that I sidelined myself this semester — USC football. Checking the score online and living vicariously through streams of photos on Instagram and Facebook, I remember those great moments of Trojan pride experienced during the season. I find myself sometimes humming the tune of “Fight On!” while walking around in Melbourne on Sundays, as the 17-hour time difference really throws off the gameday viewing.

I have tried to explain tailgating, sometimes with limited success, to those who have never lived the experience. Limited parallels exist with how tailgating presents itself on campus and leading to the Coliseum. In Australia, the fans are definitely less rowdy and chaotic. Teams serve as a uniting factor for fans, epitomized by AFL gamedays, but the Trojan Family runs deeper than shared pride for a team.

At the University of Melbourne, sports do not play such a large role as they do at USC. The lacking influence of athletics narrows the experience here to one focused primarily on academics. Brilliant navy-colored University of Melbourne seals sporadically cover the grounds, but not to the extent spirit pervades USC. University spirit is a distinctly American trait and is expressly present at USC.

AFL also provides people, especially those living in Melbourne, with uniting factors for family and weekend traditions. Along with football, several other sports are also popular. The Australian Open encourages tennis buzz. Despite taking a backseat to AFL, both soccer and rugby are sports played in this country. Cricket also has a presence in the sporting world. Because Australia is surrounded by water, surfing competitions are extremely popular, especially in the Gold Coast.

The consumer culture surrounding Australian sporting events greatly diverges from the United States. While the Super Bowl has become a spectacle for competing advertisements, the AFL Grand Final has no advertisements throughout the game. The game plays continuously, only stopping briefly for halftime when potentially a couple of ads are run on television. Instead, corporatism appears on the jerseys, as players boast their sponsors on their chests.

Sports like horse racing do not gain much traction until the main event approaches, similar to sports played during the Olympics. The events though, especially the Melbourne Cup, are truly distinctive and reflective of the whole city as sports take on a new form. The Melbourne Cup provides an important fashion event for the city as spectators dress in elegant day dresses with eccentric hats and suits with a required tie.

Aussies are active in the sporting world. Footy is a staple in the Aussie diet, and sporting events are an experience. I have been lucky to  get a taste for how sports are experienced here, even if I miss the Trojan spirit.

Nika Shahery is a junior majoring in international relations and policy, planning and development. Her column, “Aussie Adventure,”
runs Thursdays.