Tackle the 'Duck!

Yesterday, I attended a 'meet the players' and kid's footy-clinic put on for Melbourne-based supporters of the Sydney Swans (AFL) team ... (formerly South Melbourne) at an oval adjacent to Albert Park lake. My two grand-daughters were born in Sydney and remain firm supporters, even though they did the opposite to their beloved team by moving to Melbourne with their parents in 2004. My job was simply to provide the transport to/from the venue. It was their day for hero-worshipping, gathering of player autographs and, going thru' the clinic routines.

When it came to tackling, a Swans player held a large cylinder-shaped plastic bag which the kids were to run at, then try to grab-grapple to the ground. In addition to the big-time players, the Swan's mascot Ciggy (a largish cartoon character) had wandered up to mingle with the kids. Someone in the crowd (anonymously) yelled out to the kids "Tackle the Duck!" ... which is, of course, supposed to be a SWAN ... not thinking the intended witticism would achieve any response. Oops! Two or three of the pint-sized participants took the command seriously. Down went the 'duck' in a gang-tackle. It was last glimpsed hobbling off the field as the spectator who incited the miniature insurrection, feigned a need to go to his car to escape the chilled morning breeze until the event reached its conclusion.