The Importance of keeping humble as supporters

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

I've had the opposite feedback.

The night after we beat the Dogs in round 1, a couple of non Melbourne supporters I work with commented on how unnecessary and mean spirited we were with our booing of C Weightman and B Smith.

With regards to the Freo supporter raised in the opening thread, I guess it's easy to be magnanimous when your team won. She probably would not have been so complimentary if the scores remained the same from half time to full time.

[layzie 33,794]

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

In 2018 when Zach Tuohy goaled after the siren to sink us, a Collingwood-supporting mate sent me a text saying "Gee, that must sting!" complete with laughing emoji.

I didn't bite at the time, but took great delight in sending him the exact same text when Dom Sheed kicked the winning goal to beat the Magpies in that year's Grand Final.  He didn't take it well.

Absolutely love it

[Fork 'em 6,983]

1 hour ago, Demonstone said:

In 2018 when Zach Tuohy goaled after the siren to sink us, a Collingwood-supporting mate sent me a text saying "Gee, that must sting!" complete with laughing emoji.

I didn't bite at the time, but took great delight in sending him the exact same text when Dom Sheed kicked the winning goal to beat the Magpies in that year's Grand Final.  He didn't take it well.

I got 2 messages after that game telling me how pathetic we are.
Both from Collingwood supporters.

 

[Delusional demon 82 1,197]

12 minutes ago, Beetle said:

I was refused service in the Safeway Niddrie Deli by a chick, Grand Final day 2000 because I had a Melbourne jumper on. 
All I wanted was some ham.

Loving all the stories from demons growing up or living around Essendon in the 80s and 90s - I thought I was alone there . They were simply terrible to us Melbourne supporters. 
And so I don’t ever dish it out to opposition supporters, stay humble and classy and respectful of the opposition, and at the moment I just let my team do the talking and whisper the sound of silence. 

[layzie 33,794]

44 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

This sums me up. I can't hate other teams or supporters because I need them to allow me to enjoy this great game. We should never take this game for granted. Our enemy is not the other 17 teams and their supporters but those who try to prevent AFL from being a success.

I definitely have a competitive dislike for other clubs but at the end of the day I love the game above all. Any opposition fan who buys a club membership and loves the game as much as I do is ok with me. 

[Guest]

19 minutes ago, layzie said:

I definitely have a competitive dislike for other clubs but at the end of the day I love the game above all. Any opposition fan who buys a club membership and loves the game as much as I do is ok with me. 

… Agreed! except if they barrack for Essendon. 

[layzie 33,794]

1 minute ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

… Agreed! except if they barrack for Essendon. 

My last post will self destruct if we get done on QB 😝

[Guest]

23 minutes ago, Delusional demon 82 said:

And so I don’t ever dish it out to opposition supporters, stay humble and classy and respectful of the opposition, and at the moment I just let my team do the talking and whisper the sound of silence. 

It’s hard to stay humble and classy and respectful whilst being slammed into the lockers with threats of having your head flushed in the “sheila’s dunnies” when you’ve just transferred from a Catholic Girls’ College and you don’t even know what “dunnies” are.
 But yeah, I’m well and truly over it now. 

[PaulRB 6,362]

I inadvertently displayed a lack of humility at the Melb vs Hawks final in 2018, and ... loved it.

I usually sit behind the goals at the punt road end, and when we score, will clap and turn around to watch the crowd behind me also cheering, enjoy and savour the moment, while enjoying them doing likewise... but in that final our seats were a single row in a solid bay of Hawks fans ... so when Melksham jagged the goal that killed their run I was on my feet chapping and cheering loudly, I turned around and realised that 500 Hawks fans were looking at me as I eyeballed their misery while cheering loudly.

The first time it happened I was kinda shocked... but the second time was pure pleasure and got a few of them heckling me about the merger, years in the wilderness, etc... 

was awesome.

[radar 1,865]

3 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

One of the things that astounds me is how many posters on Demonland describe how they "hate" particular clubs. I just don't get it.

How many times, honestly, did you stand in the terraces at Windy Hill?

[Demon4Life 603]

There were some very angry, ugly, miserable melbourne supporters sitting around me last week who ganged up on a couple of freo supporters for enjoying the second half too much. The freo supporters found it amusing until something one guy said got under on of their skin, and he got real angry  accused the Melbourne supporter of being racist and looked ready to throw some punches before he and his friend were escorted out by security. I had brought a friend for her first ever afl game and was mortified. Horrible behaviour from the Melbourne supporters even before they angered the Dockers supporters. Truly embarrassing and shameful

[Bring-Back-Powell 14,817]

2 hours ago, Demonstone said:

In 2018 when Zach Tuohy goaled after the siren to sink us, a Collingwood-supporting mate sent me a text saying "Gee, that must sting!" complete with laughing emoji.

I didn't bite at the time, but took great delight in sending him the exact same text when Dom Sheed kicked the winning goal to beat the Magpies in that year's Grand Final.  He didn't take it well.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

16 minutes ago, PaulRB said:

I inadvertently displayed a lack of humility at the Melb vs Hawks final in 2018, and ... loved it.

...

The first time it happened I was kinda shocked... but the second time was pure pleasure and got a few of them heckling me about the merger, years in the wilderness, etc... 

was awesome.

That's how it starts. Of course everyone thinks they can stop whenever they want, but pretty soon you're mouthing off at underage North supporters on a tram just to feel normal. By the time you're putting Nathan Jones' dad in a headlock it's too late for you.

Even "chewy on ya boot" is a gateway sledge. Direct your chiacking and catcalling in a socially constructive manner; in other words, at the umpires (eg "how long is it ump" after each goal.)

Please take a tartan rug and a thermos of tea, or a cheeseboard, to every match as a reminder of where you've come from, to stay grounded.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,752]

20 minutes ago, radar said:

How many times, honestly, did you stand in the terraces at Windy Hill?

I clearly had a sheltered upbringing as I never attended matches at Windy Hill, Western Oval (as it was called) or Victoria Park. And I expect I'm a better person because of it! 

[DeeZone 9,824]

I have a soft spot for a number of AFL clubs but never when they play us, I always strongly disliked Essendon after the 2000 Granny and WCE after 2005-2006 for their blatant cheating this has mellowed some what but I always enjoy beating them just that bit more. Footy is tribal and I also went a bit over the top during that 2018 final against the Hawks I should have felt foolish but nah I loved it.!!

my grown daughters were a bit mortified but seemed to understand the years of frustration coming from me.!!

Edited June 3, 2022 by DeeZone
Adding humility

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

Just now, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

I clearly had a sheltered upbringing as I never attended matches at Windy Hill, Western Oval (as it was called) or Victoria Park. And I expect I'm a better person because of it! 

It's character building. Or was. So much hostility funnelled from so many toward so few. Some days you were fearful to even clap a goal scored by your own team.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

3 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

I have a soft spot for a number of AFL clubs but never when they play us, I always strongly disliked Essendon after the 2000 Granny and WCE after 2005-2006 for their blatant cheating this has mellowed some what

AH-OOGAH! AH-OOGAH! FAKE MELBOURNE SUPPORTER ALERT. ACTION STATIONS.

 

3 minutes ago, DeeZone said:

 but I always enjoy beating them just that bit more. Footy is tribal and I also went a bit over the top during that 2018 final against the Hawks I should have felt foolish but nah I loved it.!!

CANCEL ALERT. RESUME NORMAL STATIONS.

[dl4e 5,851]

1 minute ago, Mazer Rackham said:

It's character building. Or was. So much hostility funnelled from so many toward so few. Some days you were fearful to even clap a goal scored by your own team.

This is true but some away grounds were worse than others. There is no doubt that Victoria Park was the worst of them and by a country mile. 

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

6 minutes ago, dl4e said:

This is true but some away grounds were worse than others. There is no doubt that Victoria Park was the worst of them and by a country mile. 

Funnily enough I never had a bad experience at Victoria Park, apart from the usual intimidation, and found Windy Hill the most sinister.

But footy supporters are funny creatures. I remember wandering out to the Western Oval one day when the Swans were kicking Fitzroy behind. This was when both teams were terrible. I had imagined (ha! ha! poor fool) some kind of solidarity between two downtrodden supporter groups. Nuh! The Swans were giving it to the Roys like it was at Vic Park with Collingwood 20 goals up on Carlton. God almighty, the air trembled with suppressed violence. And all for a match that meant jack all.

[Demon Disciple 12,119]

It’s hard for me to dislike Freo, given what they did for us during last years finals over in WA.

Edited June 3, 2022 by Demon Disciple

[Sir Why You Little 37,033]

19 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Funnily enough I never had a bad experience at Victoria Park, apart from the usual intimidation, and found Windy Hill the most sinister.

But footy supporters are funny creatures. I remember wandering out to the Western Oval one day when the Swans were kicking Fitzroy behind. This was when both teams were terrible. I had imagined (ha! ha! poor fool) some kind of solidarity between two downtrodden supporter groups. Nuh! The Swans were giving it to the Roys like it was at Vic Park with Collingwood 20 goals up on Carlton. God almighty, the air trembled with suppressed violence. And all for a match that meant jack all.

Windy Hill was worse than Vic Park 

(Personal experience). Essendrug Supporters wanted to kill you. Filth Supporters just thought about it. 

[dl4e 5,851]

16 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Funnily enough I never had a bad experience at Victoria Park, apart from the usual intimidation, and found Windy Hill the most sinister.

But footy supporters are funny creatures. I remember wandering out to the Western Oval one day when the Swans were kicking Fitzroy behind. This was when both teams were terrible. I had imagined (ha! ha! poor fool) some kind of solidarity between two downtrodden supporter groups. Nuh! The Swans were giving it to the Roys like it was at Vic Park with Collingwood 20 goals up on Carlton. God almighty, the air trembled with suppressed violence. And all for a match that meant jack all.

It is funny that as I found windy hill to be okay but the sort of place you got away from in a hurry after the game. Twice when I was a late teen I had filth supporters who had reserved seats in the stand behind where their cheer squad was and I had the delightful experience of attending the filth supporters stand. One of the games was against south melbourne where I saw the south coach being spat on at half time by these vile animals. Could not believe it and is still clear in my mind.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

58 minutes ago, Demon4Life said:

There were some very angry, ugly, miserable melbourne supporters sitting around me last week who ganged up on a couple of freo supporters for enjoying the second half too much. The freo supporters found it amusing until something one guy said got under on of their skin, and he got real angry  accused the Melbourne supporter of being racist and looked ready to throw some punches before he and his friend were escorted out by security. I had brought a friend for her first ever afl game and was mortified. Horrible behaviour from the Melbourne supporters even before they angered the Dockers supporters. Truly embarrassing and shameful

Hi D4L. There's a very small group that stand in the concourse under the Olympic Stand at the Punt Road end that fit your description to a tee. I know a couple of them and they were responsible for the fight that broke out on the terraces down at Geelong the other year. Thankfully people like them make up a very small minority of our supporter base. 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,367]

There's nothing wrong with a nemesis in sport but taking it too far can eat you up and poison other parts of your life if you're not careful. 

I'd rather eat my own vomit than watch or read anything about Celtic but I'd never abuse someone who has the misfortune of supporting them. That's what their priests are for. 

[BDA 22,743]

8 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

There's nothing wrong with a nemesis in sport but taking it too far can eat you up and poison other parts of your life if you're not careful. 

I'd rather eat my own vomit than watch or read anything about Celtic but I'd never abuse someone who has the misfortune of supporting them. That's what their priests are for.