Few things bring as much delight these days as writers from other fields of sport discussing football, writing about it, giving it oxygen - because it speaks to the heart of how football is now a mainstream sport, central to the national dialogue.

That's the reason why I was thrilled to see my old mate, Richard Hinds, a fine writer of general sport and great bloke as well, write about the game again yesterday, albeit with some obvious inaccuracies.

Therein lies the scourge of the general sports writer: it's impossible to be an expert at everything, and one can be badly exposed if they venture too far into unknown territory.

And Richard, you're now in outer space, my friend.

I'm thrilled to hear that Richard likes the game, or so he professed, but liking and understanding are different matters entirely. The core issue at play is that of passion, one that we in football love to see discussed, because wherever one travels around the globe, it's well accepted that football stands alone.

This is not to denigrate fans of other games. Far from it. I know that a Collingwood, Bulldogs or Waratahs supporter has immense love for the game and their team and I respect their passion, but we are talking here about the expression of such, the experience of attending a match and how intensely a crowd is involved in the action. Having attended State of Origin and Wallabies games over the years and having lived in Melbourne, I have a fair idea about other codes, but for others to even contemplate drawing comparisons with my game, one would need to travel the world.

So why don't we, Richard?

Would only be right, wouldn't it, to educate yourself if you're intent on writing about football?

Let us venture, then, where no AFL writer has gone before. Abroad.

First we'll see the Super Clasico between Boca Juniors and River Plate at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires, then skip across to Rio to see the great Flu-Fla, Flamengo versus Fluminense, over 100,000 Brazilians with an exuberance unseen in this country.