I was born in Perth, Western Australia in March 1970.
Being born in Perth means two things: Australian Rules football and beer!
Until the age of 20, I didn’t know any better, I wasn’t exposed to anything else in fact, in WA at the time, there WAS nothing else. The West was making an impact ‘over East’ with the home grown heroes, West Coast Eagles. Despite the nay sayers, the Weagles kept winning. I even knew some of the players. Went to school with them. Very easy to relate too, very easy to get excited about.
At 20, I joined the Royal Australian Air Force. For 12 years I wore the uniform of my country. In the downtimes I discovered Rugby – as the waterboy for the base team and the Air Force National team and I discovered Bundy Rum.
2005 was a special year in my life. Out of the Air Force, working for the Public Service. Married and with a daughter. Going thru the motions – Rugby all but forgotten. Then on the news – something from the West. A Super Rugby team was coming to Perth.
That night I spent hours searching the internet trying to find out everything I could about this new Rugby Team. I sent emails, I read forums. I found likeminded Western Australians. I called RugbyWA when they announced expressions of interest in Memberships. They didn’t have a “interstate member” option. I can’t say I changed that, and I can’t say I was the first Interstate member – but I was involved.
RugbyWA brought out a T-Shirt. Blue, Black Swan logo on the front – “Get on board, or get out of the way” on the back. My order was placed that night. The thing about the Western Force – it was my reminder of where I came from. Sure, I lived in the western suburbs of Sydney, but I was from WA. I got my first Western Force Jersey for Christmas. It was love at first sight.
The first match was announced – Feb 2006 vs Canberra Brumbies at Subiaco Oval. I was there, I flew over for the weekend, took my Dad and my cousin to the match. When Nathan Sharpe lead the team out I thought my heart was going to explode out of my chest. When Scott Fava crossed for the first try I had a tear in my eyes.
Yes, we lost that first game. But I couldn’t be prouder of my team.
Later that year we drew with the Crusaders, and at 3am, sitting alone, in the dark watching the broadcast from South Africa, we defeated the Cheetahs for our first ever win. I cried. I love Rugby.
The next year, I was (again) in front of my TV watching the Force with my 5-year-old daughter, Zoe: she is a Force fan, too. Subiaco Oval: time is up. Force have just scored a try against the Hurricanes. Kick to come. Cam Shepherd kicks the conversion and the place goes nuts. On the broadcast, the crowd went beserk. At my house, on the other side of the continent, Zoe and I were bouncing off the ceiling. Rugby is Family.
Over the years the Western Force highlights were few. But memorable. Travelling to Wagga to watch Force v Tahs in an ARC match. Being in Canberra at a Brumbies match the day after the recruitment of Matt Gitteau. Wearing my Force Jersey. Beating the Tahs in Sydney. Beating the Crusaders in Perth. Taking Zoe to a pre-season match in Sydney, Zoe meeting Nathan Sharpe, James O’Connor, Richard Brown and David Pocock getting autographs and photographs. Nick the Honey Badger Cummins put the Force on the news for all the right reasons. He worked hard and was just naturally funny. Its hard not to forget his try and then him shaking hands with some young members of the Sea of Blue. And then a year or so later Cummins scores a hat trick of Trys against the ‘Tahs in Perth.
You know, sometimes it’s hard to be a fan of the Western Force. But the good times more than made up for that. Yes, it could be said that the good times are few and far between. But we are playing in the greatest provincial rugby competition in the world, up against the best players in the world.
If it was easy, the magic would be lost. It’s not supposed to be easy.
The Western Force are my team.
They have brought me joy and sadness for 12 years. Tears and heartache. A way for me to bond with my daughter. It’s given me the opportunity to watch amazing feats, in person or on TV, and meet players and administrators from all walks of life.
My name is Simon Powell.
I am from Western Australia.
I don’t watch Aussie rules, I don’t watch cricket.
I love Rugby Union.
I am a small part of the Sea of Blue.
Please don’t take away our Western Force.
