Katrina Dee Fan

it was one of many in that time. I still have in my deepest darkest memories being teased by my grandfather in the aftermath of the 87 prelim. I was staying at my grandparents' house in Camberwell while my parents were in Queensland, and as soon as the game ended, I did the whole dramatic thing of running off to my mother's childhood bedroom, closing the door and throwing myself violently on the bed in full wail mode. I could hear Pa laughing at me and Grandma telling him off like he was a school bully. I was 16, it's the first time I remember crying over a football game. Growing up a Melbourne supporter in the 80s with Hawthorn supporting relatives is not all it's cracked up to be :)

Ah, there you go, I must have missed that! Still, there were some weird matches in 2020, thanks to the 'rona :).

I was making it more about the WCE supporters' response from the incident, the way they carried on about it was that Brayshaw deserved it. The way they cheered when it was replayed on the screen after it happened. The way they still talk about it on social media. It was despicable behaviour from the fans.

Someone needs to gag Barrett. He comes up with more hairbrained ideas than Eddie Everywhere. Two idiotic ideas one one week from Barrett, first the idea of the SA showdown at the MCG, and now this. He's got no idea....

Correct me if I'm wrong, I think that was the last time we hosted WCE at the MCG. I know it's been a while since we've played them on our home turf.

The most satifying thing about this is the fact we haven't lost at this ground since Round 1 2020. And we did something at that ground that WCE can never do, and that's win a premiership.

Yikes, at least in the women's toilets we had those kind of black half seat things. No proper mirror, though, just a sheet of metal bolted to the wall that distorted the reflection so much you thought you were at Luna Park. I do have some happy memories at VFL Park (could never get around to calling it Waverley), beating WCE in the elimination final in 1988 is up there, as is beating Carlton in the Prelim that same year. Plus the 1987 and 1989 night grand finals.

I get that. I have respect for their supporters, though, they go through hell in that town. The media over there are so WCE happy.

Oh, jeez, I feel for you. Reminds me of my 1988 GF experience. All my mum's side of the family are Hawthorn supporters. After the game, we were dragged to, get this, Glenferrie Oval. I was a miserable 17 year old in Hawthorn with my older brother and dad all wearing red and blue, surrounded by hoards of poo and wee in celebratory mode. Pure torture. My cousin had a tape recorder playing "happy team at Hawthorn" again and again - he was so lucky that thing wasn't thrown on the train tracks.

Or even before that, Chris Lewis biting Todd Viney. And them still defending it. I have a long memory. In so many ways it was far worse than their defending Andrew Gaff's punching Andrew Brayshaw. It's why I don't understand why some Demonlanders hate Freo more than West Coast - WCE supporters are the Collingwood of the west. I think it's why it hurt when Hunt went to WCE.

No, you're not the only one. MCG is our spiritual home, and Gosch's Paddock is just a hope, step and jump away from it. I disagree though that the south east is not the heartland of supporters. My dad grew up in Brighton, when he grew up the kids were either Melbourne or St Kilda supporters in that area.

Fair enough. Things are open to interpretation. To me it read like "you're making too many banners, in my day it was on special occasions." If that was not what was intended I apologise.

We do have the amazing Suzanne that makes the smaller banners this traditional way (albeit with a more modern sewing machine!) that we hold up within the cheer squad. I'm amazed each year with what she comes up with!! You can see some examples here from the grand final. And yes, they do get wet....!

I have to say I agree, some clubs have opted using a plastic backing and re-using it week by week but I don't think they look as good. As far as the banners are concerned, I particularly like what Richmond and Hawthorn do, their banners always look fantastic. Some cheer squads are hampered by their clubs' rules and things, Brisbane for example do apply big restrictions on their cheer squad which I know they find frustrating. We're lucky we have a very supportive club who does give us autonomy to run as we would like, and we have a very good relationship with the club. And yes, for the most parts, cheer squads are supportive of each other. There are a couple of exceptions, which I (won't delve into here!), but on the positive comradery for me special mention goes to some of the interstate cheer squads who are so helpful when we visit them, helping us get access to parts of the ground, lending equipment if we're short, etc.

See if this works.....nup, Google Dice ain’t playing ball. Soz!!

We do indeed love making banners, I look forward to our Thursday night weekly banner making session. I did make a video a couple of weeks ago showing how we make them, I'm trying to upload it here but it's telling me the file is too big....

I can't think of another sport that enables supporters to volunteer their time to do something like this for the players, but still, it's Demonland, gotta find something to whine about, hey....

No, nothing has been announced. The draft is happening on Monday, that's the only definite atm.

The sisters will be coming over once they've played their championship match on April 15. Sinead hasn't left Australia from last season, she's currently playing for Casey Demons.

The girls loved them! I know that Sinead and Blaithin were stoked when told they could keep them!

This is the news I was waiting for!!! Blaithin and I were getting in Aimee's ear to play for Melbourne during the Best and Fairest, so I feel confident to say I played a role in getting her. Cheeky mode off :)

This is the best!! See you at the G, IHW!!!

Is it just me, or is anyone else in shock that Gold Coast has lasted longer than Brisbane Bears?

Just saw on the MFC socials. The day has finally come!! I'm in happy mode right now!

Yep. Apart from Daisy retiring, all of the remaining 22 from the premiership team is still at the club. Maggie didn't play in the grand final.