Sydney Kings v Melbourne United Semi Final Game 3

Here we are, Game 3. The winner goes through to the Grand Final.
There is definitely some uneasiness in the crowd before the game.
Which Sydney team will turn up? The one that went onto forming one of the greatest ever fourth quarter comebacks in Game 1? Going 18-2 in the last few minutes to steal victory. Or the Game 2 Sydney which headed to Melbourne and were down by a massive 50+ points during stages of the game?
Only time will tell, and the 8000 fans in the arena and many more at home will have to wait til the final minutes to know.
Both teams came out strong, no slow start this time for the Kings. They couldn’t afford to be.
Melbourne’s a tough team, full of stars. No bigger than Chris Goulding. Watching him play makes you think you should’ve spent more time in the driveway.
When he is on it’s more art than sport. The man can shoot!
By the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarter there’s nothing in it. No crumbling from either team when it’s game 3.
I’ve been to many sporting events over my 3 decades in photographing sport, but the noise that the Kings fans can produce when the games on the line is up there with any home crowd I’ve seen.

The pressure they put on Melbourne is insane, trying to keep my own nerves calm so I can shoot well in the dying few minutes in one of the ultimate challenges as a photographer. You feel the crowd, the noise and the pressure of the players.
Trying to keep your cool in amongst the madness is not easy, but you breathe, focus on the score, see whose winning, keep an eye out for the star players, follow the ball the best you can and fire at will when the game is decided.
You’re always going red or black when you’re shooting sport, trying to put the odds in your favour. You never really know which team, which players or which angle will give you the best pictures. But through some, research, thought processes, experience and a little bit of luck you can jag the best pictures possible when the madness goes down.
When it comes off you are King of the World!! But if you miss it you’re the joker in the circus.
Kings win by 2, Bogut and his men are off to the Grand Final, greater glory awaits. And a little bit for me too!

Til next time!

Chris