Comments on: Won’t somebody think of the football babies?

By: afoxrussell

afoxrussell — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:40:19 +0000

I guess if you don’t live in Victoria you’ll never understand. In Melbourne if you don’t follow footy you’re treated like some sort of leper.

By: Heathdon McGregor

Heathdon McGregor — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:31:14 +0000

Dear Robert

May I suggest the book Fever Pitch as it describes from the inside that feeling you describe. It is about Arsenal and England but the themes are universal.

By: Robert Lukins

Robert Lukins — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:38:52 +0000

Dr J. Cash’s article was the perfect evocation of the unclutchable, unreasonable hold football has on Melbourne’s suburbs and their families. Having permanently travelled from Brisbane (yes) to Melbun a few years ago, I have found my healthy support for the Lions ferment into a defended, blood-based following in the meantime. It gets in ya, it really does, like proper rock ‘n’ roll. I look forward to my predilection for maroon, blue and gold festering, cementing, and eventually, with hope, contaminating the hearts of my daughters-to-be.

By: our man in Canberra

our man in Canberra — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:32:45 +0000

Bruce Dawe nailed it:

When children are born in Victoria
they are wrapped in club-colours, laid in beribboned cots,
having already begun a lifetime’s barracking…

By: c.willaton

c.willaton — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:18:39 +0000

Grand Final day in 1936 I was playing kick to kick with the son of our neighbours who was lucky enough to have a football. ( He was an only child) I’ll be South Melbourne and you’ll be Collingwood he said. Over seventy years later I consider that I have served my penance for all my sins many times over. It has got so that I find it difficult to watch a game. I’ve been present at the last three premierships and like the woman with three sets of twins. Hundreds of time nothing.

Charles Willaton

By: Adam Barker

Adam Barker — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:14:42 +0000

It’s unbelievable that there are still people out there that can’t see it’s no longer a game, it’s a business, full of hanger’s-on. The players and clubs are the pro’s, the owners are the pimp’s, and you are all the John’s, eating it up.

I’ll never understand what drives people to cry, scream, yell at their TV or punch the wall - or someone else - in frustration. I was witness to this behaviour a few weeks ago in Adelaide when the Crows were ousted from the finals race. Disgraceful.

By: Carol Bruce

Carol Bruce — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 04:57:17 +0000

I was raised on Collingwood, but in 1966 went to the Collingwood/St Kilda Grand Final, with my fiance, a St Kilda Supporter. At that stage, and for the sake of the marriage, I changed to St Kilda. My daughter, a St Kilda fan, married a Collingwood Fan. They have stuck to their respective clubs. But they are both working overtime on their two and a half year old daughter to win her over to their team!

By: Heathdon McGregor

Heathdon McGregor — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:40:26 +0000

My father was a life member of Footscray, my mother barracked for the saints due to the underdog factor, my older brothers barracked for Collingwood and Richmond, my older sister Footscray. The only rule was that you stick with the team you pick. Unfortunately for me I chose Richmond.

I recall my brother bringing his 3 month old to the Western Oval in a car crib so he could tell him that he saw Collingwood there when he grew up.

Mama were all crazy now