How and why did you become a Melbourne supporter?

[Sir Why You Little 34,658]

Hey was that v North at Arden St? My first trek out there and we were up 7 goals to nil before we got into the ground.

South Melbourne

[Bobby McKenzie 2,192]

I started following after the 1956 GF (I was 4 at the time) like most kids I wanted to support a winner, but unlike most kids (a fickle bunch) I have been a loyal supporter ever since... neither parent was an AFL follower - my dad was from Sydney and a St George supporter (ended up sort of following Essendon) and my mum ended up following St Kilda purely because I had won some player's autograph during a clinic at my school and gave it to her as I didn't want it tainting my collection of Dees items.

So like me you are one of the lucky ones with the mighty Dees winning 6 flags in your lifetime thus far. I was around for the 1948 premiership although very young. 7 flags for me. BUT it's been a long time between drinks!!!!!!

[baysidedave 246]

Bloody technology!!!!

Before the meltdown, I'd just asked people to give their stories as to how they came to be MFC supporters, and it was great reading to those of you who had already posted. Parents, friends, grandparents, location, rebellion all having been reasons.

Keep putting your stories up, and any other anecdotes of supporting passion. It's both fascinating AND good therapy, and a distraction from the frustration of Sunday's stinking debacle.

So keep them coming!

My whole family is Demon supporters, the old man started us and that was it, all of our kids are demon supporters too

[michael collins 49]

What a great thread - really interesting reading.

I learned to hate Collingwood before I barracked for Melbourne - my grandfather would be in a rage if they lost - nobody dared speak until about Tuesday, and I hated Collingwood for how they made people behave and how blind and ugly their supporters were. Still do.

I started supporting Melbourne in 62 or 63, probably 62. Melbourne were very much the toffs, and we were fairly poor, and I guess I saw the MFC and MCC as having everything you could ever want. I eventually got the RDB boots, and I remember him on TV explaining how to tie your boots with the laces at the side. As the club's fortunes faded, you are sort of committed - changing clubs is like changing religions - almost impossible. But there was still some pride in being a Melbourne supporter. MCC membership wasn't going to happen, I'd be a fish out of water, but the club still stood for something. It had a stable administration, didn't change coaches every season, didn't have players getting into strife - it was a club you were proud to be a member of, even if it wasn't winning.

Melbourne had doctors and lawyers playing as well as plumbers. I think RDB insisted everyone had a job or was studying. The club inspired loyalty. I had a mate who was a Collingwood supporter - he used to go to Melbourne games with me to watch Robert Flower play. I used to admire Melbourne players at the Brownlow count - set up each time to be beaten by a vote or two on the last call. Never anything but sportsmanship shown.

I remeber the Galahs tour. One strange aspect of Gaelic football is that instead of bouncing, you are allowed to kick the ball to yourself as you run. Easy when you grow up with it. But to see Robert Flower run flat out down what passes for the wing there, toe-tapping the ball like he'd been born to Gaelic football, was just awesome. I saw David Schwattz, in a hard-fought Melbourne-Hawthorn game, pick a flattened Shane Crawford up by the jumper (in one hand mind you) and set him on his feet, grinning with the fun of playing football. He seemed then to be the spirit of sportsmanship, and of how Melbourne played the game.

I think of the characters who've come and gone - Stan Alves, Stretch, Glen Swan with his 8 goal game, spalding. Parke, Dillon, Diamond Jim, Darren Bennett, Alan Johnson., Tassie Johnson (we could use him now - geez he could do a drop kick) David Schwartz Big Jim RIP, Big Max - only 6'2" I think but rucked his heart out. they are almost like family.

A good friend of mine fell off the perch a couple of years ago - as they wheeled him out of the church they played the "Grand Old Flag" and the whole church clapped in time - the Melbourne supporters sang. .What a send-off.

It bothers me now that those club traditions are rocky - the administration is shaky, the coaching is unstable, the players' loyalty is wavering. I know its a business now, but for me, if Melbourne fold or merge, I'm gone. I'd rather see Melbourne playing in the SE Suburban League than in Darwin or Tassie.

[waikikkamukau 62]

Loved watching this bloke go around in the 80's!

Silky smooth!

Edited May 13, 2013 by waikikkamukau

[Older demon 2,175]

Born in 55 just in time to start our premiership run to a Mother who barracked for Melbourne, just like her Mum who barracked for the D's and my great grandmother who also barracked for the D's.

I have as a family memento Grans 1929 membership card. A time when there were 18 games and the draw was called "engagement". Every game has a notch showing she went to every game and she also like to tell us that somewhere in there was a relative married to Ian Johnson the cricketer. I always wanted to play for the D's but my ambitions exceeded my abilities so I contented myself with supporting them

I eventually got into the MCC and signed both kids up at birth and got them Melbourne junior jumpers. Thanks to my late father my son converted to the Kangaroos and my daughter defected to Collingwood when her favourite player Shane Woewodin was shipped to the woods. She went with him and to seal the deal her step dad got her a Collingwood jumper.

I fear I will never see a flag in my life time and I can only vaguely remember 1964 listening on the radio. I have seen 2 grand finals and in both we were smashed but like Robbie Flower I live in hope.

[RalphiusMaximus 5,993]

I inherited Melbourne. Waaay back around 1960 or so, Melbourne tried to recruit my Dad. Sadly from my perspective, he turned them down. While I don't get to claim that my Dad played in a premiership for the Demons, I've grown up loving the club as if he had.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Basically I was just taken to games from a young age, the support came down from my grandma to my dad. I've always been obsessed with footy, I come from a big family, and my family's support has wavered throughout time, so for a few years I didn't go to that many games and probably wasn't quite as emotionally invested or fanatical about seeing every match, but my support got stronger as I got into my teenage years (2007-)as I was able to attend games regularly and have been to almost every game in Melbourne since. But, to be honest I've never really thought about how or why as I don't recall making a conscious decision and to me to the support really feels like it was just always in me, and if I said I supported another club, brought their merchandise and cheered at their games, which I've fantasised about in the past, I'd still be a Melbourne supporter. And that's fine with me

[biggestred 4,342]

this thread should be called "how and why are you STILL a Melbourne supporter?"

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Married into it. Being a pom I followed soccer and played Rugby but my wifes family are rabid demons. Father in law has been a paid up member continuously for 60+ years. His brother funeral went off to the sounds of a grand old flag and a sea of red and blue ties. Never stood a chance.

[Retrospective 104]

My fathers family was involved with the Ngallo Demons Footy Club in the Mallee back in the olden days....The Club was in the Pinnaroo league then the Mallee league for a total of 90 years.

Folded in 2000 when the club could no longer get a list together.

Hope that is not an omen

[Bimbo 911]

Like so many others, my old man encouraged me into it. At least I can faintly remember the 1964 Grand Final which is something to boast about. Graeme Wise was for some reason my favourite player.

The old man is now well into his 90's so I suppose I can plan for another few re-builds.

[The Reverend 1,718]

In 1960, at the age of eight I decided to defy the family tradition of following Hawthorn. I was tired of trudging down to Glenferrie Oval with my grandfather only to see them beaten week after week. Who was winning pretty consistently at the time? Melbourne. Off with the hand-knitted Hawthorn jumper and on with the red and blue.

Have I regretted the decision? Not until last Sunday!

Will I quit the Demons? Never!

[The Reverend 1,718]

Loved watching this bloke go around in the 80's!

Silky smooth!

Thanks for this. Made my day. We could use some of that Flower magic right about now.

[old dee 22,944]

In 1960, at the age of eight I decided to defy the family tradition of following Hawthorn. I was tired of trudging down to Glenferrie Oval with my grandfather only to see them beaten week after week. Who was winning pretty consistently at the time? Melbourne. Off with the hand-knitted Hawthorn jumper and on with the red and blue.

Have I regretted the decision? Not until last Sunday!

Will I quit the Demons? Never!

We started the same year Rev.

I followed in Dad's footsteps.

There have been many many years since 1964 I have wished Dad followed Hawthorn.

But I cannot change I am Red and Blue till the end.

I hope I get to the end before the Dees.

Right now I think the Dees might win the race.

[DeeZee 6,779]

Im a 30 year consecutive member , my uncle started taking me when I was five, we were a power house back then.

Hardly missed a game since 1967

I love em so much.....these days i can hardly bare to watch. Especially this year, they finally broke me the buggers.

[Robbie57 1,991]

I love throwing TV's out of windows but couldn't play the drums.

[Redbeard 497]

My whole family were brainwashed into passionate supporters by our dad. Legend is my older sister's 2nd word after mum was "Jacko" due to dad sitting the highchair in front of a footy card of Mark Jackson stuck to the fridge.

I know I was a member in 84 as dad has the old holepunched membership card but I don't remember anything until later in the 80s. My badges were of Strawbs, Dave Williams, Rod Grinter,Sean Wight (had 27 on the back of my first guernsey, still a hero) and of course Robbie Flower. Dad used to happily point out that I had matching glasses and ears of my hero. I still have my autographed copy of Robbie's biography. A couple of years ago at fed square before the walk to the G I got a photo with Robbie and it's still dad's wallpaper on his phone.

I rememeber cold days at Waverly and Princess park as a kid going to see the favourites like Chopper Lovell and Allen Jackovich and watching the 2's before the main game, I miss that.

I'm overseas this year so won't get to a game, bought a subscription from the afl so I can stream games live and watch the replays, think I might be better off just reminiscing.....

[The Song Formerly Known As 6,479]

My father (R.I.P) raised me to be nothing but a devoted Melbourne Supporter from birth.
I was blindly passionate all of my life as I grew up cheering on the likes of Lyon, Viney, Stynes and co. as a kid.
26 years old now and although the club is in disarray, my love will never wane.
The day we finally again make finals and then (dare I say it) perhaps actually win a Grand Final I will shed 3 tears of joy:

One for the club and all its inhabitants, as it would mean it has finally turned itself around and made the MFC relevant, respected and proud again.

The second for myself and the supporters for all our loyalty, love and unwavering support through so many tough years.

And the third and final tear for my beloved father, who is no longer with us. For he is the reason why I support this club, and he himself sadly never was able to witness the ultimate success within his lifetime.

Go dees, and may we now with Peter Jackson's influence be put back onto the right path.

Edited May 14, 2013 by The Song Formerly Known As

[Lordweaver 235]

none of your business!