Armed with a remote, Foxtel, a TV and a couch, you could very easily sit on your backside all weekend and watch every game of AFL.

The coverage is great, there are cameras all around the ground and there are experts telling us what is happening and what the teams should be doing to get better. Overall it is a great package.

As great as it is however, nothing can replace going to a game.

Even before the ball is bounced, the excitement and anticipation of the crowd at a game is contagious. Each club’s supporters, feel both confident and hopeful that their team will win on that day.

The players’ warm up on the ground allows you to see what the players really look like in person. Are they bigger or smaller than they look on TV?

The teams run out through the banner, the crowd roars, the club song is played and everybody is in full voice, proudly representing their club. Try standing up and singing in you lounge room, it is not the same.

When the game starts it becomes clear the amount of vision you miss and your restrictions when watching on TV.

Example One: A fight breaks out in the backline while the ball in bounced in the middle and your forward line is in a strange set up. You are able to see all these things happening by simply moving your eyes down the field. A TV screen only gives you one aspect.

Example Two: As a young footballer you idolise Warren Tredrea and want to see what he does so that you can emulate that in your own games. At the game you can watch him running, watch him lead, how hard he works, all the things that you cannot see on TV.

Example Three: The ball is in the backline and your team wins the turnover. At the game you can see that Kane Cornes is running free on the wing. When he gets it you have already seen a hard lead by White. You get up from your seat as White kicks it long to Ebert running back to the goals. You could see this passage developing in front of your eyes, feel the excitement and anticipate who was going to get the ball.

At the game your emotions fluctuate as the game does and by the end you are either filled with pride for what your team has done or share in the disappointment of a loss, either way you feel part of it and feel something.

Leaving the ground, the crowd murmur is filled with expert theories on what just happened and why the game was won or lost. Physically and mentally drained, now is time to go home, put your feet up, grab that remote and relax.

True supporters buy their club memberships and go to the games, not only to help their club but for themselves. They want to feel the emotions of the game, display their team colours and not waste their weekend on the couch.

mahns