Cheer Cheer, AFL Covid Style

After doing the Aquarium, the kids were talking about what other activities they wanted to do at home. The kids decided that one other activity was to go to the AFL at home. I initially thought that it was too hard to put something together but then when the Swans started to play games again I started to get some ideas.

I used masking tape on the back of a green sheet of felt to make an AFL field. I was initially going to use some teddies as the players but realised that the proportions would be way out. Then I had the idea of using lego men as the players and while finding them came across some ooshies and decided they could be the other team. The goal posts I was going to use skewers but again thought they'd be out of proportion. I then decided to use straws for the goals stuck in playdough that was on plastic lids.

I made some red and white streamers to be like the pom poms that Eliza loves at the games. I decorated many of the kids teddies in Red and White. My favourite one to do was to have Fireman Sam dressed up in a Swans shirt and cap.

Eliza came up with the idea that we could put bottles inside my Rampe socks. I liked that idea, it worked a treat!

I made the Swans banner for the kids to run through on behalf of the Swans. And also made a Scoreboard on the whiteboard so that the kids could keep score of their games.

Some toys had the kids' earmuffs on.

Here is the Stadium crowd and ground.

Then outside I came up with the idea of making a Driver Ave experience for the kids.

There was the handball through the VW car (instead of handball through the wheel into the boot)

There was face painting

The kids could collect their Citibank clappers and face masks.

And Cyggy was there to get a photo with too.

Here is the tour of our SCG Covid experience.

We got the kids ready for the Swans game and then got them into the 'car' at the top of our hallway.

We drove down the hallway and parked the car out on the back pavers. We then started our walk down Driver Ave. First stop was the VW handball challenge. Each kid had a turn at handballing through the window. They got 1 point for going through the windows, and 1/2 a point if it got stuck inside. The kids really enjoyed the game.

Eliza then saw the facepaint and got very excited! I asked each kid what they wanted painted and did my best to create it. Eliza wanted flowers and Issac's number 5, Alexander wanted Aliir's number 36 and Daniel wanted the Swans logo (like the tattoos they get at the game). I did my best effort with it.

Then we had photos with Cyggy before the game started.

The kids then collected their Citibank clappers for halftime and also masks of the players.

Then it was time to enter the stadium. The kids hadn't seen it so it was fun to watch their reactions to the set up.

I especially loved Alexander's reaction when he spotted Fireman Sam.

Eliza's idea of having Rampe socks on bottles

I think they were pretty impressed with the set up.

We set up the banner for the kids to run through on behalf of the Swans. It took a few goes but we eventually ran through and made it rip. They loved it!

The kids then got to play their own little AFL game using the Ooshies and Lego. They each had a quarter to play and then they each shared the final quarter. Daniel started them off. He was great! He gave commentary, was excited and into it.

We put on the highlights of the 2012 grandfinal for the kids to watch too while Daniel played the 1st quarter.

We then had quarter time. Like at the game we put on Sweet Caroline and the kids enjoyed dancing with it.

Then 2nd quarter was Eliza's turn. She didn't want to talk while playing but that didn't stop her getting into it.

Half time break the kids competed in the Citibank clappers challenge. They each help up their clappers and watched the big screen to see who it would end up on. James was awesome and used his iPad to project the kids and the crowd onto the screen. It really added to the experience. It ended up landing on all 3 of the kids. They each got 50c for their money boxes.

We then had Cyggy Dance Cam. Alexander was all excited to have Cyggy come running in from outside. We loved his enthusiasm.

We put on Taylor Swift 'Shake It Off' for the kids to get up and dance along to it. James again was a legend in using the iPad to put the kids up on the screen like you see at the game. The kids loved it.

The kids also got to enjoy lollies during the halftime break, something that they love to do at the actual game.

Alexander then started to play the 3rd quarter. He was right into it too.

Ready for the 3rd quarter

Eliza was keen to record the score on the scoreboard. She did really well with counting on 6 or 1 to the starting number. She also did well with writing the numbers.

The kids then took turns to play the final quarter.

In the kids' game the Swans played amazingly well! We hoped that it would continue into the Swans game that afternoon.

We set up on the couches to watch the first Swans game back this season.

Daniel was excited to use his clapper (so glad that it didn't make a loud sound!)

Wilbur (our highland coo from Ruth and Charlie) was cheering on the Swans (Charlie is an Essendon supporter).

We enjoyed our prawn rolls for dinner time during the game.

And then a special treat of ice creams.

Then it was more snuggles on the couch as we watched the rest of the game.

It was lots of fun setting up the the Swans game and watching the kids again embrace it. I loved doing it with James and having him embrace the technology side of it. The kids had a blast. Unfortunately the Swans didn't win the game but it was a close one.

I again love the way that the kids take the activity a bit further. This time they made drink bottles the next morning for the players using lego. They counted the number of players and made that many drink bottles.

They set up the game again and played it the next day.

Another lasting memory for our family from this time of Covid.

I emailed the Swans to show them what we had done and they were awesome and posted it on their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Pretty cool! They then called me a few days later asking me if our family was going to be watching the next game because they wondered if we'd like to be on Zoom watching it over the TV. What a cool opportunity! But unfortunately the kids would be in bed because it was a night game and James was going to be up in Hervey Bay helping his parents so it would just be me on it and I felt that would be a bit awkward so sadly declined. But it was lovely of them to ask. (And as it turned out I'm glad that I had said no because this night turned out to be the night that Malcolm passed away so I was in tears during the game anyway so wouldn't have been the best to have that broadcast over TV).