I ventured to Parramatta Stadium on Friday Night to watch Parra Power take on the Breakers.
A few Spirit types mixed in with the Rowdies to give the Stadium some atmosphere.
The Quasi Dunkerley family, that species David Attenborough would find so interesting were also there. You know, half Breaker half Spirit.
Power must be so desperate to attract a crowd and have resorted to the most unusual step to create their own atmosphere, that is apart from the pre recorded "Power XX Power XX" chant emenating from the loud speakers.
Located in the temporary stage at the northern end of the ground was a jazz band.
For a minute I thought they had arrived late when they started their 'gig' at the beginning of the game.
And for a moment I thought I had been transported in time to the Don Burrows Supper Club at The Basement.
Every few minutes throughout the game they would start up a new jazz rendition which was greeted with disrespect from the travelling Rowdies, with jibes and chants such as "rent a crowd rent a crowd rent a crowd" and "shove the band right, shove the band right, shove the band right up your #$%&".
The official crowd of 4,004 seemed to be somewhat overstated and Power officials must now feel quite comfortable in counting by two's.
The Breakers defended for much of the game but did enough to take full points from an under strength and disappointed Power side.
Full marks to the 30 or 40 travelling Rowdies who made the noise of a couple of hundred and must has sung just about every song in their repertoire.
A particularly good rendition of Volare Oh Oh(sp) ? by substituting the word Newcastle, reverberated around the ground.
In the end it was all a bit like watching the Titanic.
The Power went down (or out) but the band played on.
FOOTNOTE:
Maybe the beer tent at Olympic Park could start serving Chardonnay and offer a transfer fee to Parramatta Power to buy the Jazz band.
If that doesn't boost the Carlton crowds then at least the music would compliment the alcohol being consumed.
The Power match program stated that the club is advertising for people to start a "Vocal Supporters Group". So far they have about 12 people interested but are desperately seeking many more.
Well, the sooner thay start singing, the better.