Footy Cards

Early on a Saturday and we bound down the stairs
Ya can’t get us up on any school morning
Rummaging for prizes in the cereal box
Down the creek we’re yabbying and flipping river rocks

Later on we vote on who’ll approach the old man
For a shiny silver platypus we’re holding out our hands
Down to the Milk Bar at a serious trot
Two packets each of footy cards at ten cents a pop

Now the footy cards are flicking
As the swap meet has begun
The smell of musk sticks and Scanlan’s gum
“Hey, I’ll trade ya a Dempsey for a Quinlan”
As he snaps the ‘lacca band
But you’ll never get McKenna from a Magpie fan

Next morning at the oval, our boots are hanging ‘round our necks
The Mighty Bloods will take the field again
We ain’t won a game since we don’t know when
But there’ll be Boon Spa & Four & Twenty pies at the end

There’s one more of kick to kick up in the goal square
Kids are shouting ‘Jezza!’ taking speckies in the air
There’s drop-punts and torpies flying everywhere
Thumpin’ off the boot, the Sherrin slappin’ into hands

Sunday night is always dinner by the open fire
There’s baked-beans & cheddar in the jaffle iron
Countdown is on now and everybody knows
You’re for Skyhooks or you’re Sherbet but you can’t be both