There's a particular kind of silence that falls over a room just before a penalty kick. Everyone watching knows what's coming. The commentator knows. The goalkeeper knows. Yet nobo

A few minutes before kickoff, the same ritual plays out in group chats around the world. Someone asks where the match is being shown. Another sends a link. A third warns that it is

There is a particular silence that falls over a crowd just before a free kick. It is not complete quiet. There are still voices, shifting feet, the rustle of jackets in a cold stad

For many AFL supporters, the season begins before the first bounce. It begins when the fixture is released and they discover who their team will play, where the big games will be h