Paula didn’t know how to respond. She knew Dan had been a good footballer when he’d played but he’d not shown much interest in the local footy through the winter. He watched the AFL games on TV but this was different. His eyes were shining and with that silly grin on his face she could tell he’d had a few more beers since she’d seen him last.

“It’s great,” she said lamely.

“Great? It’s bloody terrific.” He threw an arm around her, drawing her in close as they walked towards the clubrooms. “Tom played a terrific game. I lost count of how many times he won the ruck.”

The warmth of Dan’s body and his enthusiasm rubbed off on Paula. “He’ll be pleased,” she said.

“Pleased! I think even our quiet Tom will be more than pleased. He’ll be ecstatic.”

Dan pushed open the door to the clubrooms and a blast of noise and warm beery air hit them as they manoeuvred their way into the crowd. Paula stuck close behind Dan, her hand in his, until they squeezed their way into the corner where Jane was sharing a table with other people. It was the group they’d been standing with earlier in the day. James perched on Jane’s knee trying to reach the glasses on the table with his chubby hands. Andrew leaned in close to his mother and gave Paula a little smile.

“What would you like to drink?” Dan pulled out the chair Jane had been guarding.

“Juice will be fine.” Paula spoke in the direction of Dan’s ear. The noise was so loud it was hard to hear.

“Coming through.”

She looked up as Bruce shouldered his way through the crowd, his arms raised above his head with several drinks clasped between his hands. He put the glasses on the table, then offered Dan one of the beers.

“Dan, don’t worry about a drink for me yet,” Paula said. The crowd was packed tightly between them and the bar. “I can wait till the next round.”

The men stood next to them and talked football. Jane was chatting to the woman beside her and Paula watched the crowd. The tables she could see were occupied by women and children. Most of the men stood like Bruce and Dan, waving their beers at each other as they relived the game. The room was charged – full of people talking excitedly and celebrating.