With the Western Bulldogs making the AFL Grand Final, their first (he writes for the 50th times this week) in 55 years, there’s a sudden and quite noticeable upswing in interest in the humble inner-western Melbourne suburb of Footscray.
And why wouldn’t there be! It’s a magnificent suburb. Thoroughly underrated. There’s great food, a major hub train station, a thoroughly multi-cultural population, the best Savers in the city by a freakin’ mile, the astonishingly beautiful Footscray Park, and one of the best pubs gettin’ about at The Reverence Hotel. It’s brilliant, and it deserves all the extra attention it’s getting this week, and then some. West side, truly, is best side.
But it also has a very delicate hierarchy, finely tuned and diligently maintained over generations, that must be observed, respected, and upheld at all times.
Unlike the rest of Melbourne, Victoria, and Australia, Footscray is its own self-sustaining monarchy; the suburb ruled over by a kind and loving King.
And who is the King of Footscray, you may ask?
Franco Cozzo.
Franco Cozzo is King of Foot-a-scray.
For those not savvy to his majesty’s eternal glory, Franco Cozzo is a benevolent and beloved king, generous to a fault, who watches over the good citizens of Footscray occasionally blessing them with a grand-a sale.
Now advanced in years, King Franco is seldom seen in public nowadays. But the mighty Bulldogs, champions of the realm, finally breaking through to reach the AFL Grand Final has brought Cozzo out to survey his kingdom once again.
His Royal Westness held court earlier today at his regal furniture store castle, sitting atop his mighty throne, waving a Bulldogs scarf and cheering the team on as passing motorists paid tribute.
Witness him! As captured by loyal subject Victoria Wilson and posted to Facebook a short while ago.
HE’S SITTING IN A REGAL CHAIR IN THE DOORWAY OF HIS STORE, YOU GUYS.
Such a beautiful man with such fine, expertly crafted furniture. A better representative of the good people of Footscray you will ne’er see.
Long live the King. And COME ON FOOT-A-SCRAY!
Photo: Victoria Wilson/Facebook.
