Ryan sits in one of the press boxes at the Gabba. The other reporters in the box are working away on their computers. Their keyboard clicking lightly was just being overheard from the noises of the crowd, slightly muffled by the glass. The fans in front and slightly below are nervous and excited. Lights leave no part of the field in darkness for the night to claim.
"With that last goal, Collingwood has drawn even." Ryan thought as he was handwriting his game notes.
The timer counts down. Thirty seconds left. The score 12.8 (88) to 11.14 (88).
The umpire bounces the ball in the centre of the field. Ruckmen jostle each other as the ball goes up. Brisbane taps the ball backwards. The Brisbane rover picks up the ball. He offloads the ball via handball before being tackled.
Ryan could see the play that Brisbane was trying to pull off.
The forward move to catch the kick. One of the Brisbane forwards speccies the ball off the Collingwood defender's back. He lands on his shoulder with the ball.
The clock ticks down.
He backs up from the mark and prepares to kick the ball. Placing his mouth guard in his sock. Spins the ball twice. The crowd waits with bated breath. Running forward, he kicks it.
Time slows to a crawl as the ball leaves his boot. Every pair of eyes was glued to it. The ball flips end over end, racing through the air towards the goal. It wobbles in the air. Will it, won't it?
It hits the big post. Brisbane scores a behind—the final siren of the game sounds. Ryan breaths a sigh of relief, almost an audible sigh of relief from the Brisbane fans as well. In the same breath, the Brisbane fans start to celebrate wildly.
The Brisbane Pride's theme music begins to play through the stadium speakers. Fans of the Brisbane Pride are singing loudly and proudly.
Brisbane Pride players celebrate with each other as the players on the bench storm the field to join in on the celebrations. As the celebrations die down a bit they shake hands with the Collingwood Blackbirds.
The on-field reporters try to probe the players for an on-field interview. Ryan and the other reporters in the box continue working. Finishing ideas that they had to stop to take others during the game.
After awhile the room thinned out. The crowd slowly began joyfully leaving the stadium. Ryan and one other reported still there.
"How good was that game?" The other reporter asked, his voice startling Ryan.
"A close one." Ryan replied, "Could have gone either way. Especially with Lynch getting knocked out at the start of the third quarter really set Brisbane back."
"Agreed. I don't know why the umpires didn't send off McCallum."
Ryan searched his notes, "McCallum was in the air going for the ball. A tribunal will definitely have a look at that, but the umpires would not send someone off for that." Ryan sighed. "I don't like it either. What's done is done, Bryce." Closing his book and putting it into his bag.
Bryce just shrugged being unable to argue against that point.
"That second quarter, though." Ryan snorts disapprovingly. "Both teams give up a total of seven fifty-metre penalties."
"Both teams will be looking at that situation for sure." Bryce agreed from the doorway.
"They better be. That is something they don't want to repeat. Especially the Pride as they have the preliminary finals next week."
"That is for sure." Bryce finally fully stepping through the door into the hallway.
Bryce continued, "The Pride almost ran away with the first quarter…"
"Almost a master class of control there. The use of the centre and wings." Ryan gave a chef's kiss gesture.
"Excellent usage." Bryce nodded.
Bryce and Ryan continue talking as they walk to the lift.
"Have you heard about the fatal crash last week?" Bryce asked pressing the down button for the lift.
"Yeah, I was almost asked to report on it as I was the closest one to it." Ryan lamented.
"What?" Bryce yelped in surprise.
"Yep, but another reporter was stuck in traffic and called it in." Ryan pauses for a moment. "That accident reminds me of how I lost my leg," he rubbed his hand against the socket of his prosthetic through his pants' leg.
"Wait. You lost your leg?" Shock and surprise cross Bryce's face at that revelation.
"It's not something that I mention a lot. I don't like the sympathy or the 'you're such an inspiration' that many people say." Ryan spat as the lift doors opened.
"Sorry to hear about that, man, but hey. You hide it well."
"Bah", Ryan waved it off and pressed the button for the main concourse.
They ride the lift down in awkward silence. Ryan moves his weight off his prosthetic.
Trying to break the silence that he caused. "So... Who do you think the Pride will face in the Preliminary finals?" Bryce asked awkwardly.
As they walked Ryan took a moment to think. The cool September air blowing through the concourse causing Ryan to shiver. He zips up his jumper in response.
"Probably the Hornets but the Redwings have been looking good all season." Ryan finally answering.
"The Redwings have been." Bryce replied.
Exiting the stadium they walk along Stanley Street towards Coorparoo where their cars are parked. Navigating through the raucous crowd celebrating their team's victory while buses trying to take people home. Police coordinating traffic.
The crowd thinned rapidly as they walked along the street. As they walked the street distant cheers of fans were heard.
"Brisbane have been on form, you think they can win the premiership this year?" Bryce asked at out of nowhere.
"Tough to say. Missing Lynch will hurt the a lot but from what we have see not too much. The Geelong, the Wedge Tails, Redwings and Hornets all look strong this year. As we know from the season being close." Ryan commented remembering the season.
They walked across the park to the carpark still thinking and talking about who could be in the Grand Final.
Hopping into their cars. Ryan settled himself in his car. Putting on his music.
Bryce called out through his passenger side window, "Be careful on your drive home, Ryan."
"Cya, Bryce. Take care."
Ryan drove off turning up his music his mind wandering to the game and the upcoming battles the Pride have ahead. In the back of his mind the crash from last week creeps its way forward. As well as what is life could have been if it had not changed then.