Special day today

[Jarka 767]

Taking my daughter to her first game of footy, unfortunately for her I've already had years to work on brainwashing her to follow Melbourne.

Can we win?

[Dr. Gonzo 23,683]

Good sttuff mate, hopefully we can put on a show for her but it's really about the event rather than the result at that age. If you enjoy it she will too just hope you're not sitting next to any "loudmouths" if things turn a bit sour for us (hopefully it's not me!)

EDIT: To answer your question, of course we can win today. Well that's what I think before every match.

Edited August 5, 2012 by Dr. Gonzo

[old dee 23,482]

Taking my daughter to her first game of footy, unfortunately for her I've already had years to work on brainwashing her to follow Melbourne.

Can we win?

God I hope so Jarka

If for no other reason we need her for the next 50 years.

A win will set a little concrete

[jnrmac 19,890]

Get her to focus on the pies and coke. A much safer bet. And she might want to return.

[jane02 3,676]

Get her to focus on the pies and coke. A much safer bet. And she might want to return.

Yes - unfortunately bribery works in the form of food and merchandise. My husband got to my daughter first and it didn't take too many hot jam donuts and an ugly stuffed bird toy for her to become a Magpie supporter. Most disappointing day in my life.

It means that I now go to most games on my own.

I hope you and your little girl have a great day. I will be there cheering the Dees on.

[Grapeviney 9,493]

You can have a kick on the ground after the siren today too, if that appeals

[timD 994]

Taking my daughter to her first game of footy, unfortunately for her I've already had years to work on brainwashing her to follow Melbourne.

Can we win?

Dress her in footy gear and sit near women. They will think she is gorgeous and tell her so. She'll be rapt and think the footy is great.

Easy win.

[binman 41,923]

Donuts! Hot donuts! Ridiculously expensive but at the moment the only reason my 6 year old daughter wants to go to the footy

[Nasher 33,607]

My five year old daughter says to me "why do you bother watching? You know they're not going to win.". I wonder how she got so cynical at such a young age, then I realised she was born post-season 2006 - we've been absolutely rubbish for her entire life.

Depressing.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

took my daughter to her second game. In years gone by I may have stretched the truth a little bit when getting home from the footy. She asks if we won I answer of course we did and then my wife asks me later how much we really lost by.

[DeeZee 7,296]

I had a great day today...sat on level two,,right next to Robbie Flower and Todd Viney.

Rod Grinter was directly behind me ,with Greg Healy next to him..

In the next bay was the melb current players ,Jurrah,,watts,Clark etc.

Had a great win,then hada kick of the footy with my son on the g

Got a terrific car spot too !

[This Dangerous 93]

Taking my daughter to her first game of footy, unfortunately for her I've already had years to work on brainwashing her to follow Melbourne.

Can we win?

I've heard that people are more likely to become addicted to poker machines and casinos if the have a big win the first time they try them.

Is this the thinking for taking your daughter to this game?

Because this was completely my theory for making my sons first game vs GWS.

So far it's working.

That being said he enjoys the AFL playground far more than the actual game or snackfood or merchandise.

It's a start.

How'd she like it Jarka?

[Harcourt 146]

took my daughter to her second game. In years gone by I may have stretched the truth a little bit when getting home from the footy. She asks if we won I answer of course we did and then my wife asks me later how much we really lost by.

LOL, nice work mate.

[cowboy_from_hell 2,390]

LOL, nice work mate.

Even did it after 186 I was there and my kids were at the in laws in Geelong. I nearly did my shoulder due to the amount of truth stretching that day. It was my 7 year old Nephew's first game of footy at the G today as well. He is a pies/bandwagon supporter but today after JT marked and goaled he said I quit collingwood go demons!

I had a great day today...sat on level two,,right next to Robbie Flower and Todd Viney.

Rod Grinter was directly behind me ,with Greg Healy next to him..

In the next bay was the melb current players ,Jurrah,,watts,Clark etc.

Had a great win,then hada kick of the footy with my son on the g

Got a terrific car spot too !

First game i have been to with the G parking open. I knew it was our day when that happened.

Edited August 5, 2012 by cowboy_from_hell

[Jarka 767]

I've heard that people are more likely to become addicted to poker machines and casinos if the have a big win the first time they try them.

Is this the thinking for taking your daughter to this game?

Because this was completely my theory for making my sons first game vs GWS.

So far it's working.

That being said he enjoys the AFL playground far more than the actual game or snackfood or merchandise.

It's a start.

How'd she like it Jarka?

i like your way of thinking!

She enjoyed it, bought her a flag to wave but after the first goal she said 'you wave it daddy' /sigh. at here age she has no idea what's going on but she enjoyed the experience, although she was more impressed by the birds standing on the ground than the football itself...

[General 35]

Took my little girl (4) to her first game today too, a win was nice. It was about my sons (6) twentieth game, his first win too poor little guy.

[demon bazza 14]

Aren't Demon supporters lovely people taking their young ones to the footy, congratulations to you all it makes me feel good (my kids are now in their early thirties). The club is in good hands from a supporter base when you read this topic.

[ChaserJ 4,643]

Yep, was there with my little girl (4). It's become a regular ritual for us and good daddy daughter 'hang out' time. Gives mum time out too.

She loves singing along to the song at the end of the game, and has been lucky enough to do it on 4 occassions in the last couple of years and now had 2 kicks on the G. Hopefully much more singing (post game) to come.

[dpositive 1,649]

i like your way of thinking!

She enjoyed it, bought her a flag to wave but after the first goal she said 'you wave it daddy' /sigh. at here age she has no idea what's going on but she enjoyed the experience, although she was more impressed by the birds standing on the ground than the football itself...

Jarka did you follow TimD's advice which I thought was fantastic.

[rpfc 28,045]

As a former kid (aren't we all) and junior cricket coach I can tell you that there are kids that just follow teams because of Buddy and the showy players, but when I have a chat to the kids about why they follow certain teams I have unfortunately heard that they didn't want to go to Richmond, Melbourne, and Carlton (when they were crap) games because their parents just sat there yelling and tearing strips of players. I am glad to read a thread like this in such a trying year.

Winning is great, but having a good time at the footy with their mum/dad is all they really want.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,644]

Get her to focus on the pies and coke. A much safer bet. And she might want to return.

On the first read through I thought you wrote,

"Get her to focus on the Pies and Cloke. A much safer bet. And she might want to return."

Thought you were thinking Cloke would come to Melbourne and then your daughter would transfer her support with him.

[Jarka 767]

Jarka did you follow TimD's advice which I thought was fantastic.

well, sadly no as I had already left for the game prior to that post.

As ChaserJ has said, it's a great chance for some daddy time, you just have to make it fun for them to want to come again.

[H_T 3,032]

well, sadly no as I had already left for the game prior to that post.

As ChaserJ has said, it's a great chance for some daddy time, you just have to make it fun for them to want to come again.

Absolutely. We haven't had much to cheer about in the last 6 years and my three are still little Demons through tough times.

Merchandise (sometimes), and food (particularly the 'hot donuts' after the game) have become positives of the day at the footy and there's nothing like it for the kids waving their flags after goals.

Agree, you've just got to make it fun for them....and sometimes that comes at a cost. 'Kick on the G' makes it all the more enjoyable and I would hope the club and MCC decide to have 4-5 'kick on the G' initiatives per season. It makes the experience all the more enjoyable for them.

[Outside fifty 967]

Having walked down this road some time ago my advice is simple. Make it fun. Don't get angry and keep the treats coming. As binman said Hot jam donuts are the go. The lava hot jam will keep them occupied for hours. As soon as the kids see the match affecting you in a negative way they will want out. Celebrate the good things and laugh at at the rubbish. You'll end up laughing a lot.

[Allus Monk 568]

Yep, did the same with my 6 and 4 year olds yesterday. Took my Dad as well so we had three generations together. A great day.