Scott kick started the debate for the affirmative team, stressing that how could football possibly be the same with a woman on the AFL Tribunal, Fitzroy extinct and the introduction of the blood rule. Scott finished her argument with the analogy - that football had changed and that isn’t necessarily for the better - just like Melanie Griffith’s face after all her face lifts!
Fox FM breakfast compare Bartram, hit back hard for the opposition saying that the menu at the football is exactly what it used to beer - pie, chips and beer. She also believed football is what it used to be because it is still okay to litter at the game despite this being unacceptable behaviour any where else in Australia and for some reason there is still only two toilets at the football for 80,000 people!
Dr. Turf was quick to respond to Bartram’s argument and said how could football possibly be the same when there is no reserves match like there was in the 'good-old days'. ""We love our rituals and that is what we miss. What ever happened to beer in a can, where you could open it like a normal human being and five donuts for one dollar. Remember when everyone could smoke at the footy, not just John Elliot,"" Dr. Turf commented.
Watson stated a strong claim for the opposition that football is exactly what it used to because some things never change such as - the runner always gives water to the player that kicks a goal, Windy Hill is still windy, beer is the preferred drink of footballers, even though James Hird has tried to introduce red wine, and men who have trouble remembering when their wife's birthday is or what night to put the bins out, have the ability to remember football scores from a game 30 years ago.
Lane had the tough gig of stating her argument after Essendon's golden child had finished his speech. ""Football ain't what is used to be - just look at all the naming rights to grounds. AAMI Stadium, Telstra Dome, Skilled Stadium and Optus Oval - whatever happened to Windy Hill, Princess Park and Victoria Park? Football is now up for sale and it has sold its soul,"" Lane said. Lane capped off a strong case for the affirmative team.
Cherry finished off the opposition teams argument with a simple statement. ""Football is what it used to be because there is always a winner, a loser or a draw and there is always that one day in September that will remain sacred forever,"" Cherry said.
Both teams performed well and put forth strong cases. It was a tough decision to determine the winning team, so the debate moderator Jane Clifton called on the audience for help. An audience ‘clap-o-meter’ resulted in the debate being announced a draw – a fitting result considering the quality of performance from both teams.
The debate was not the only highlight of the EWN Grand Final Luncheon. Port Adelaide’s Jenny Williams was awarded the Football Woman of the Year. Click here for more information about the Football Woman of the Year announcement.
