Target acquired, conversion in progress...

[ignition. 1,425]

G'day again all,

We are approaching the cusp of the 2014 season and I am curious if anyone else has plans, no matter how big or how small, aiming to convert a friend or family member into the MFC fold.

Each and every year I have attempted to do so, within the last few (eventhough it's been very hard) I converted my partner from Carlton (get her to pick a favorite player and teach her the song, it was as easy as that) and a friend of a friend from GC (gave him the MFC sob story regarding the "curse of Norm Smith" and he liked the concept of supporting the underdog and he is done, I do owe him a trip to a game though).

This year I have two in mind, firstly my best mate who I have slowly hacked away at the last few years and secondly a friend I have grown up with since birth every summer.

My best mate:

As a child he never really had much of a team, was kind of Essendon and kind of Richmond only becasue he liked the scarfs. Through high school I had him untill he met the dark side at the age of 19... his girlfriend and soon to be fiance'. She is an Essendon supporter and so he then went back, although neither never really watch the footy or follow it. Since I have taken him to a few games in the MCC and we always have a pretty good time despite the losses. All I need now is some solid performances from the club week after week and he will be a convert.

My beach mate:

This ones new but should be easy. Originally a Fitzroy supporter who loves his sports. Doesn't attend the footy much but this year just got his MCC membership, we are already set up to go to the MFC games. My plan is if he goes to the MFC games overtime he will follow, I don't care if he supports Brisbane on the side, given enough time and hopefully fun he will convert.

So please share your targets, tactics and thoughts. I will load up a few pictures in the coming weeks in scarfs and what not, a few frothies should do the trick also.

Cheers

[jazza 1,323]

never ever contemplated this

had to put up with other supporters rubbish and mates ribbing for so long

allready told them before chrissy,

no bandwagon jumpers,this should be our new motto

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,533]

Be careful with your best mate. If you succeed you may destroy his relationship with his fiancee. Of course, you may think that's a side benefit.

[hardtack 10,149]

I'm considering donning a brown suit, dusting off the old bicycle and going door to door with a copy of the club charter in my hand.

[Red N Blue Society 165]

Great work Ignition!

Very positive post!

Theres alot of people out there who like footy, but just havent been to a game with supporters who have genuine passion like us hard suffering fools!!

They follow just like dopey Sheep the clubs like Essendon because their mates do...no other reason period.

Just show them an Allen Jakovich highlights Tape..Or Wiz Highlights..or The Ox...Or DUBLIN JIM!!

Once they go to a Demons game(Especially with a win) and see the forward line on offer this year they will be salivating at the thought!

[mdemonski2 403]

I've converted an Irish mate, wasn't too hard with him enjoying the game from his Gaelic background and the story of our Jimmy.

He is now a member and rusted on supporter!

[Sir Why You Little 34,913]

Well done ig.

I bought a mates new daughter an MFC scarf before she was born and placed it over her during her first sleep.

She is now into year 2 of membership.

But i want the club to show me real improvement on the grass before i do anymore recruitment.

It is too hard to sell [censored] & really why should we?

I have noticed that people are no longer laughing at the word Melbourne since Roos was announced.

Good start.

[Rocknroll 938]

Mine is a few days in the brewing, Wifey is about to pop with the a little demon!

Hopefully the kid is tall good overhead and will end up playing CHF for the dees circa 2035

[Bedraggled Dee 336]

Tally so far

3 x mates kids all now demons for life

2 x cousins from the UK departed with scarves and traning singlets

Currently working on a single mate and will give him a membership scarf and take him along to0 a couple of games this year.

[jazza 1,323]

Mine is a few days in the brewing, Wifey is about to pop with the a little demon!

Hopefully the kid is tall good overhead and will end up playing CHF for the dees circa 2035

make sure of these things rocknroll

1/starts using both sides of the body in early childhood

2/does yoga and stretches the hammies from birth until draft day

3/teach him to hate every other club{dont tell the mum}

4/is there any height in the family?

5/send him to a private school{fill out entry form now,dont tell wife}

6/dont let him read demonland

7/teach him to handle a tackle and not sook

8/no beard

9/no tatts

hope to see him in 18 years

good luck

[hardtack 10,149]

make sure of these things rocknroll

1/starts using both sides of the body in early childhood

2/does yoga and stretches the hammies from birth until draft day

3/teach him to hate every other club{dont tell the mum}

4/is there any height in the family?

5/send him to a private school{fill out entry form now,dont tell wife}

6/dont let him read demonland

7/teach him to handle a tackle and not sook

8/no beard

9/no tatts

hope to see him in 18 years

good luck

No tatts? You just eliminated three of our best - Jones, Howe and Clark.

[jazza 1,323]

No tatts? You just eliminated three of our best - Jones, Howe and Clark.

thought by 2032 tatts would be out and laser treatment scars would be the norm

[Demon_Tingles 211]

Trying desperately to convert my fiance into a demon. Is a Richmond supporter YUCK. However a few times this year I had her kitted out in MFC Membership scarf and also a jumper. Now all I need to see is some improvement and make my task easier.

[jazza 1,323]

Trying desperately to convert my fiance into a demon. Is a Richmond supporter YUCK. However a few times this year I had her kitted out in MFC Membership scarf and also a jumper. Now all I need to see is some improvement and make my task easier.

take her for long walks

after a tigers game,get an ordinary pizza

after dees game get her a top meal at a cosy restaurant

when dees are on telly and winning,get her a cuppa and say i love you

when tiges on telly,offer her a foot massage and run her a hot bath

be cool every time the dees win

pretend your tired and have a headache when the tiges win

last resort let her make her own mind up

[McQueen 17,864]

I got my West Coast supporting Mother-inlaw on board for the beginning of Neeld's reign (of terror) with all the postivity that was going on at the time with his blank canvass yada-yada... She coughed up for two seasons of the worst on record and now we finally have Roos and some decent recruits in the club she's refusing to go ahead with it this year. Can't blame her to be honest.

Let's just hope that by the end of this season she's got reason to jump back on board with us.

[Demon_Tingles 211]

take her for long walks

after a tigers game,get an ordinary pizza

after dees game get her a top meal at a cosy restaurant

when dees are on telly and winning,get her a cuppa and say i love you

when tiges on telly,offer her a foot massage and run her a hot bath

be cool every time the dees win

pretend your tired and have a headache when the tiges win

last resort let her make her own mind up

Already do haha although I have had trouble with the bolded one

And I cannot let her make her mind up there can be no last resort. It may have to be a brainwash technique. Leave youtube on the TV and replay all Melbourne's victory's on there while she sleeps.

[Wunders 392]

The girlfriend haha - her family is st kilda and collingwood and i've put it simply, its melbourne or im gone (not really gone, but there is no way she is going for anyone else)!! Go Dees!

[Satyriconhome 10,010]

with a topic heading of "Target acquired".....I started to get flashbacks

I had to post with the No Tatts comment, what can't get into the Members with them, they are welcome at Etihad

[Rocknroll 938]

make sure of these things rocknroll

1/starts using both sides of the body in early childhood

2/does yoga and stretches the hammies from birth until draft day

3/teach him to hate every other club{dont tell the mum}

4/is there any height in the family?

5/send him to a private school{fill out entry form now,dont tell wife}

6/dont let him read demonland

7/teach him to handle a tackle and not sook

8/no beard

9/no tatts

hope to see him in 18 years

good luck

Nice list, gotta make sure if the tackle is right first, if not dees have a women's team.

[Deeoldfart 7,820]

Tally so far

3 x mates kids all now demons for life

2 x cousins from the UK departed with scarves and traning singlets

Currently working on a single mate and will give him a membership scarf and take him along to0 a couple of games this year.

Mine is

• wife: ex B'dogs but tickled into submission. Now hard to imagine anyone more passionate about the Dees..
• 3 kids: they had no choice but absolutely Dees forever.
• 4 grand kids: no choice like the kids. Still little tackers but they love the Dees to death and I can't wait till we string together some wins for them;
• 2 daughters in law and one son in law. One ex NM but now Dee for life. The other two are passive supporters (ie. on and off members) but I'm working on them. A few wins will help!
• best mate and his son (ex P'matta rugby league fans but now AFL followers and Dees for life)

[DeeVoted 582]

make sure of these things rocknroll

1/starts using both sides of the body in early childhood

2/does yoga and stretches the hammies from birth until draft day

3/teach him to hate every other club{dont tell the mum}

4/is there any height in the family?

5/send him to a private school{fill out entry form now,dont tell wife}

6/dont let him read demonland

7/teach him to handle a tackle and not sook

8/no beard

9/no tatts

hope to see him in 18 years

good luck

U R 2 funny jazza. lol

I'll go with the no tatts concept as well. By 2035 or thereabouts, something else will be in vogue. A few prems to our name by then I hope.

PS: Ig good thread. At gunpoint an option?

Edited January 9, 2014 by DeeVoted

[jane02 3,465]

My rescue dog came to me last year from the shelter with a Collingwood rug and chewable football - once he settled in they went straight to the bin. My little Demon girl dog of 14 years went to heaven in November ( I had her cremated in her Demon dog rug) so I signed up the rescue dog for a Melbourne pet membership this year. I got this very ordinary looking plastic dog tag from the club in return. My husband also signed him up as a Collingwood member and in the post this week arrived a Collingwood dog lead (good quality) and a travel water bowl that folds up. I know the mutt loves me the best but the comparison was ridiculous.

I am a midwife and at the private hospital that I work at, the new mums are given a goodie bag and inside amongst other things is a Collingwood baby jumper and details of how to sign the newborns up to be Collingwood members! They really have it all well covered.

I will however keep trying to convert those I come across. My BF is a life long Essendon supporter and disgusted by everything going on with them so I am working on her.... It would be nice to have someone to go to the footy with.

[daisycutter 28,684]

My rescue dog came to me last year from the shelter with a Collingwood rug and chewable football - once he settled in they went straight to the bin. My little Demon girl dog of 14 years went to heaven in November ( I had her cremated in her Demon dog rug) so I signed up the rescue dog for a Melbourne pet membership this year. I got this very ordinary looking plastic dog tag from the club in return. My husband also signed him up as a Collingwood member and in the post this week arrived a Collingwood dog lead (good quality) and a travel water bowl that folds up. I know the mutt loves me the best but the comparison was ridiculous.

I am a midwife and at the private hospital that I work at, the new mums are given a goodie bag and inside amongst other things is a Collingwood baby jumper and details of how to sign the newborns up to be Collingwood members! They really have it all well covered.

I will however keep trying to convert those I come across. My BF is a life long Essendon supporter and disgusted by everything going on with them so I am working on her.... It would be nice to have someone to go to the footy with.

some good observations there sue. you should forward post to club

got a lol a collingwood trying to attract privately health insured mums. now that would be breaking the mould

[highroller 112]

UK mate up the road came over and went for Melbourne - his wife he married here was a Dee anyway but he was also an Aston Villa fan and the Dees were the closest thing.

[daisycutter 28,684]

UK mate up the road came over and went for Melbourne - his wife he married here was a Dee anyway but he was also an Aston Villa fan and the Dees were the closest thing.

lol, just as well he didn't look at the brisbane lions colours/emblem

Edited January 9, 2014 by daisycutter