How You Became A Melbourne Supporter :)

[Wizza 170]

Hey all, just wondering if anyone has any interesting stories on how they became a melbourne supporter. My whole family support collingwood so thank God my uncle grabbed me when i was young enough to be influenced and took me to watch Allen Jakovich ( I was hooked from then on)

[Guest delicious jurrah coffee]

the day i was born.

[WonnaJurah 5]

when i was born my uncles present was a dees scarf n beanie.So i guess i was born a demon n never looked back

[Spaghetti 264]

Born into it. My grandfather actually played a couple of games for Melbourne in the 40s, so what choice did I have

[Adelaide Demon 0]

Vague recollections of a bloke called A. Jakovich playing on the TV when I was about 5. And there was no team from Adelaide in the newly-formed AFL. So Demons it was. I remember loving the jumper and the colours too. Not a hard choice really.

[furious d 447]

When I was a little kid dad had me and my brothers all decked out in Carlton jumpers. Mum decided to win one back for the Dees so she targeted me being the youngest.

Melbourne played a pre season praccie match at our local club's ground at the time, mid 70's, as we were in their zone. She bought a Melbourne towel and got Robbie Flower to give it to me before the game.

Worked a treat, I've been hooked ever since.

[The O 39]

I converted from being a Hawks member to the Dees after the 1987 semi, after watching Jim Stynes run over the mark at the MCG. As we are/were family friends with Barry Richardson who had brought him over to AUS, I felt a personal attachment to the forgettable incident and have never looked back. Changing to support the Dees certainly caused plenty of abuse considering almost all of my 36 cousins, my brother and sister support the Hawks.

Edited September 10, 2009 by The O

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

Allen Jakovich ( I was hooked from then on)

Proof positive of the importance of players like Jurrah.

My mothers side had a pies player a couple of generations back.

But my Dad follows the dees, and so do I.

[The Backyard Charizard 1,178]

No funny story with me.... The old man was a Dees supporter so I guess I was born into it...

His story is quite funny though....

His whole family are one-eyed Colling%^* supporters.... When the old man was about 5 his mother and father took him to watch Collingwood V Melbourne at the MCG... I'm guessing it would've been about 1956-57... They had decked him out in a Pies scarf and beanie.... The old man had always had a fascination with fire trucks since he was old enough to crawl... He used to take this little red firetruck everywhere with him.... When they got to the ground for the big battle of the giants, he sat down at the fence with the oldies and watched Collingwood run out onto the ground... Everyone around him were cheering and going crazy like those ferals do...

Then the Dees ran out.... The old man saw the red on the guernsey and all the red 'n blue floggers being waved.... Legend has it that he took his scarf and beanie off (much to the grandparents disgust) and starting waving his firetruck in the air....

There was nothing they could do.... "Firemen, Firemen, Firemen" he screamed....

You little beauty!!!

Thank god for firetrucks!!

Demons for life him and i.... and there aint a godamn thing anyone can do about it!!!

Go Dees!

[Fugazi 53]

Whole family is Melbourne. Had no choice and glad of it!

[rusty_corner 0]

Was an essendon supporter early on till my cousin had the wisdom to take me to a few melbourne games.

Seeing players like Lyon, Schwartz, Farmer etc. I was hooked

[#MYHEARTBEATSTRUE 27]

Dad... he probably would of kicked my out at the age of five if I did not follow his/my beloved Dees!!!

[True Believer 1]

Dad... he probably would of kicked my out at the age of five if I did not follow his/my beloved Dees!!!

was the (baby) neighbour of John Beckwith

[Skipper3 7]

Was taken by family friend to the Melb v Nth Mel Elimination Final '87.

Went the next week with my dad to Melb v Syd Semi Final.

Hardcore Demon from then on.

Member since 1989 .

[Viney Vidi Vici 120]

Basically since I recognised colours my Grandma started waving red and blue dressed teddy bears in my face. This has been a common theme for all her children and my cousins. We never really had a choice! At every christmas, easter, birthday, family meal that I can remember she'd get us kids to sing 'Its a Grand Old Flag' with her at some point. Now she's entrusted me to do the same for my 2 year old nephew.

[praha 10,329]

Born.

[dazzledavey36 49,142]

when i came to australia when i was 8 years old and i member dad and my uncle harrassing me to choose between the bombers ( my uncle) or the mighty dees! (dad) i chose from the heart very very proud to become a melbourne supporter!

[rpfc 27,611]

This thread intimates that I had a choice?

I don't remember a conscious decision.

All I remember are cold days at Waverley, cold days at the G, Garry Lyon, Allen Jakovich, Damien Gaspar breaking his foot while kicking out from a behind in the twos...

Sorry, laughing now...

What were we talking about?

It wasn't really a decision to go for the Dees, but it was an easy non-decision.

If that makes sense.

[whelan45 202]

When I was about 5 I was riding a tandem bike with my neighbour, he was stearing on the front and I asked him who he went for in the footy. He replied Melbourne and asked me who I went for? I had no idea and as he was older I thought he was pretty cool so I said Melbourne. Been a fan ever since.

[Salems Lot 2,389]

Proud 4th generation demon supporter. Started going in the very early 70's with my Mum and 2 brothers. MCC Members, thermos, travel rug, the whole shebang. In fact, my grandparents split when my Mum was little and she lost touch with her Dad after that, the only time I ever saw him was from a distance - him sitting in the old Smokers Stand on match day - bizarre!

My first favorite player was Glenn Honey. He never played in the ones but we used to watch him play in the twos. He was pretty ordinary but I remember that he had a great beard. Ah the joys of watching footy as 7-8 year old.

My 5 year old (fifth generation) has no choice in the matter, comes most weeks and was one of the few supporters who was upset after the siren at the Richmond Game!!

One of my earlier memories is of seeing a player take a place kick for goal (a la rugby) at the lakeside oval. Not sure how the count down clock would have dealt with that one!

Since we are in the off season, why not add in some of your earliest memories

A last one of mine is the pall of cigarette/pipe smoke that used to hang over the seats on those wintery afternoons in the 70's.

P.S. One last one, the players getting dressing gowns to wear at 3 quarter time, when did that stop?

Sorry, I have gone off on a bit of a reverie here but I am sure that there are plenty of other posters out there

[Mousey 47]

Good Stories

Well i lived in Perth when i was a little kid, so didnt know Rugby league only AFL. Never supported the eagles but watched them a lot when i was 6-10 and never pledged my heart to them.

Moved to Brisbane in 95, in 1995 i was in grade 5 and was watching a game where Melbourne was playing.

I was immediately drawn to the cool jerseys and logo they had. I continued to watch with my old man who is a Blue supporter. Robbo took 2-3 screamers in the one game and i was EXCITED and AMAZED! My old man said you like the dees do ya? I said who is number 24? He said Robbo.. He was born in Tasmania where you were born...i smiled....slowly returning my head to the TV and was from that day on a Dee supporter!

Can tell ya it was tough being an AFL fan let a lone a Demon fan in Brisbane while going to school Gayfl this, League is the game to love, afl is for [censored] etc etc. Times have changed a bit

Supported them ever since and not missed a game on TV or here in brisbane/gold coast since 98..

Unfortunatly never been in the financial position to travel to melbourne and go to a game at our home ground the MCG.. but planning on making the debut next year:)

Dees are my life and will always be the case

[grant 10]

My mum follows the Dees, dad follows the Pies.

When me and my brother were born they flipped a coin each time to decide on which team he will support..and thus the endoctrination began. Same will happen with my future kids as my long standing partner agreed to the old coin flip (she barracks for the Dons).

Being a demon is Fate not choice! :D

[Reality Bus 17]

grew up in north hobart, home of the north hobart demons (garland's old club). i used to go every week as a 5 year old to north hobart oval to cheer on the dees. it was only natural that i would follow north hobart's victorian counterpart in the national comp.

[tarzan16 40]

well i came to melbourne 7 years ago from ireland, my girlfriend and her family are all massive demons fans as her grandfather played for the dees in the 30's, Eric "Tarzan" Glass(hence my handle Tarzan 16), a tough uncompromising footballer, so i was under pressure for a start, but i wanted to make my own mind up, even though i was leaning towards the dees anyway. i was at a richmond v collingwood game and said screw these 2, no chance of supporting them wankers. i was walking through the old members ath the G and noticed that the 1952 B&F was a man called Geoff McGivern, my surname is McGivern, so that was it, sold. he looks like my Great grandad too. so from then on i have been passionate about the red and blue since. long story but i love telling it

GO DEES

Edited September 10, 2009 by tarzan16

[Demonised 1,215]

Very young in '64, needed a team to support and when the Demons won the flag I thought they were the obvious choice. Get with the strength, years of success ahead, that sort of thing. Hasn't quite turned out that way, but no regrets. We're the best.