On the night of July 24th 2010 I ventured out into the cold with my Essendon-supporting brother to go to North Melbourne vs Essendon at Etihad Stadium. Why...? Cos my grandparents irritate me so had to get out of the house pronto.

Off we went. On the train all the way to that carpark stadium. We walked over the bridge and passed all the drunks and homeless people... and I realised that those exact people were actually going to the game!! They were Essendon supporters I was about to flick a gold coin donation to!!

We had some Nando's and downed our meal in 5 minutes flat so that we could get in in time.

Me and the bro sat behind the goals at the non-Lockett end on the 3rd level surrounded by Bummers. 30,330 were at the game. Can we compare this to North's home game vs Melbourne at Etihad please??? 35,000.

So... Essendon lead for 90% of the match. 90%!!! And guess what...? Regardless, their supporters had a real crack at the umps for EVERY single free kick against them!! Every one of them! No joke. It was putrid and their supporters are a real rabble.

I sat. And I sat. Looking pretty disinterested and really hoping for North to win as I hate Essendon AND I tipped the Roos. Essendon whine and they moan and they abuse and they swear in front of their 5 year-old kids...!

And then they win and say "up yours" to the opposition giving high-five's to those of their own team.

Going to this game gave me a real insight into the surroundings of a crowd not involving Melbourne... and let me tell you how happy I am that I'm a Dee and how much better us Dees supporters represent our footy club in the way we go about it. I held my head up high as I walked out of Etihad knowing that the Melbourne faithful distinguish themselves at the highest end from Essendon whom must all live very sad and frustrated lives. It made me proud to say the least.

Our supporters have teeth.

Our supporters can withstand being in the doldrums without kicking up the biggest stink since the one I let rip at my nanna's 70th.

Our supporters are far distinct from homeless fellow's.

The MFC doesn't have to put up with Etihad as their "home ground"... thank heavens!!

Our club will play fair.

This is why I love Melbourne. Essendon was my experiment for the night and it didn't bode well for them. Rabble. Nutcases. Headbangers. Frustrating to sit near.

I invite them to a Melbourne game not involving Essendon. Assure them they'd be shocked to realise that not all footy supporters are like them... and that some, in fact, can show passion without ruining Etihad/MCG furniture.

*I need sleep*

My son got us some tickets to the Essendon/Melbourne game a couple of years ago, Danners last gig and he didn't realise that they were in the heart of the Essendon area, we sat in front of the Grog Squad as they call it. It was one of the worst experiences I have ever had, they are feral. At one stage when we got to the front one of their supporters, in a wheel chair, got so angry he rammed his chair in to my son's seat. There was nothing you could do except sit there and cop it.

You're right about the outcome they were [censored] themselves when we got to the front but when they won it was all bravado like we were never going to get beaten. The only people they abused more than us were their own players, they are rabid and love to eat their own.

Mind you nothing's changed, I used to go out to Windy Hill when I was a young kid and they were just as bad then. Some people mistake all the abuse as passion, if that were true they would support their players not abuse them and if that is what passion is, I'm glad we are passionless at Melbourne.

. . . my grandparents irritate me . . . so had to get out of the house pronto.

. . . I let [one] rip at my nanna's 70th.

Edited July 24, 201015 yr by Chook

At one stage when we got to the front one of their supporters, in a wheel chair, got so angry he rammed his chair in to my son's seat. There was nothing you could do except sit there and cop it.

Actually I would have turned around and asked the gentleman politely not to kick my sons chair.

I had a running arguement with one at our game against them. I usually start out pretty well controlled and lose it about 1/2 way through the 4th quarter, well this idiot had me going off my tree about 10 minutes in. Swearing around my kids, spilling beer all over the place and just being an idiot. When they got a roll on the 3rd, he rose to another level and at three quarter time got another beer turns around to me and says "Jack Watts is the worst number 1 pick in history isn't he?"

I just about punched him in the nuts. I made mention that he doesn't watch the game very well and left it at that. Suffice to say, he was gone about 10 in the 4th which [censored] me off a bit. I wanted to let rip...........

You sound like an dreadful snob Deezman. The socially elitist attitudes are why I am sometimes embarrassed to be a Dees supporter. There are all sorts of people in the world. Making generalisations about groups in society can be a dangerous thing.

Edited July 24, 201015 yr by btdemon

You sound like an dreadful snob Deezman. The socially elitist attitudes are why I am sometimes embarrassed to be a Dees supporter. There are all sorts of people in the world. Making generalisations about groups in society can be a dangerous thing.

Too true. I wouldn`t be too harsh on Deezman, it was midnight and he`d probably had a few.

Ironic though it is, I watched 2 sets of Dees fans nearly come to fistycuffs only 2 weeks ago at the Dees v (u guessed it) Bombers match. I was barely 1 metre away with my 6 month old son. Was disgraceful.

There are all sorts of people in the world. Making generalisations about groups in society can be a dangerous thing.

True, it's not just Essendon supporters it's the public in general.

Oops, I just generalised.

There are plenty of ferals that wear MFC colours in the Olympic Stand. It is why I refuse to socialise with any strangers sitting around me.

You sound like an dreadful snob Deezman. The socially elitist attitudes are why I am sometimes embarrassed to be a Dees supporter. There are all sorts of people in the world. Making generalisations about groups in society can be a dangerous thing.

As I made mention... Essendon were simply an "experiment" and I think all the bigger clubs are the same - Richmond, Collingwood and Carlton etc.

Of course there'll be some Dees supporters who are just as bad but, in GENERAL and as a whole, Essendon supporters are a whole lot more disgusting and feral in their behaviour. I'm simply so glad I don't have to sit with those kinds of supporters each week!!