By Andrew Sutherland -
October 17th 2009 @ 1:11am
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Loading ...Why I can’t bear to watch the Storm in Grand Finals
I’m a Melbourne Storm fan, but I refused to watch the grand final against Parramatta because I’m also a coward. I have never understood supporters who say they ‘enjoy’ a grand final.
Especially those you see laughing and waving at the camera when the opposition has just scored.
No, I’m so frightened of losing that when a premiership is being played for, I disappear.
I have a history from childhood of doing this and the precedents aren’t good.
Following Collingwood as a kid meant you lost whatever you did.
I took off for the 1977 grand final against North Melbourne, and after a three hour bike ride to escape the tension, arrived one minute too early and was forced to watch Ross “Twiggy” Dunne insist on trying to save the game with the most inaccurate kick of all, the torpedo punt.
In 1980, I repeated the bike journey (I made it three and half hours to be sure) but shouldn’t have bothered as Richmond had it won by halftime.
Against the Broncos in 2006 I only lasted until the early Steve Turner try. I went for a walk on that one, only to return to see the Storm undone by Brisbane’s steely defence and four crucial, horribly incorrect refereeing decisions (Wayne Bennett referred to those favourable decisions as having “a bit of luck”).
People often suggested watching the next time so that my team may win.
Well, I was forced to watch the 1977 replay as my uncle had kindly bought me a ticket and we lost. I watched the last quarter of the 1979 final against Carlton because it looked like we had it won and we lost.
Oh, and that Manly game last year. I saw that one, too.
Apparently I was at the 1972 VFA grand final at the Junction Oval. My team Oakleigh won, but all I can remember is sitting behind the picket fence eating dim sim sandwiches when my mother, laughing, said: “Dim sims? Oh no, pet, you’re eating lambs brains!”
I just wanted it over with and for the Storm to establish themselves as one of the greatest by winning this grand final.
And they had to.
The Roosters have been dismissed for winning only one of three. I was so nervous I didn’t even want to hear anything advantageous for Paramatta. Like a reprieve for Hayne, which was imminent after the judiciary hearing was brought forward (a courtesy not granted to Cameron and Jeremy Smith last year), and the antics of Parramatta CEO Paul Osborne, who had suddenly decided to continue the tradition of his loudmouth predecessor.
That’s not to denigrate the Cinderella story of Parramatta.
Of course, it wasn’t really a rags to riches tale because a team that rich in talent should never have found itself near the bottom of the ladder. And some may question the fortitude of a side that started to win only when it believed it couldn’t make the finals.
Did its late surge in the grand final come only after it thought the premiership was out of its grasp?
The Storm had to stay four nights and then play in the heartland of rugby league – a hot and alien environment that included media commentary incapable of hiding its mortification at the prospect of a Storm try (“Oh no, there’s trouble here!”)
The exception, as usual, was Peter Sterling, a Parramatta legend and someone who could be excused for showing some favouritism or resentment.
I chose a bike path this time (no windows for the sound of Ray Warren’s “HAYNE, HAYNE!” to waft out of) and Melbourne won.
I’d like to think it was my cowardly act that won us the premiership.
However, everyone knows the victory was engineered by a great coach who had the courage and audacity to say before the game: “They’ll boo us … that’s great!”
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(25)
Nam Turk said | October 17th 2009 @ 5:02am | Report comment
Uh…being a sports fan is about experiencing ups and downs. If you don’t know the agony, you’ll never appreciate the thrill.
andrew said | October 18th 2009 @ 7:16am | Report comment
You’re right of course. It’s about having the courage to face the prospect of losing; which I still haven’t developed. It’s also a a bit disrespectful to your team not to be with them through the drama.
Nam Turk said | October 18th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
As someone who has put his fist through many a bedroom wall, I have to say I’d rather patch up those holes than wait by and check the score upon completion. The intensity of the game is a constant, whether it be positive or negative. Thankfully, being an adult now, I have a healthier perspective and will trade banter on internet forums instead of taking out aggressions on my personal property. My passion is no less extreme, though.
Midfielder said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:37am | Report comment
bever fever said | October 17th 2009 @ 9:40am | Report comment
What did you do in 1990 ?.
andrew said | October 18th 2009 @ 7:28am | Report comment
Funny you should ask that. I played briefly at Collingwood in 1987 and have hated them ever since. So after a childhood destroyed by heartbreaking grand final losses there I was in 1990 hoping and praying they’d lose. So I did my usual disappearing act …and they won!
mattamkII said | October 17th 2009 @ 10:04am | Report comment
You mind if I use this article in a sales meeting on Monday?
your line:
“No, I’m so frightened of losing that when a premiership is being played for, I disappear”
sounds exactly like our Singapore sales team.
Pippinu said | October 17th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
This article is hilarious.
I couldn’t understand where it was heading till the writer revealed he was a Collingwood supporter.
Jerry said | October 17th 2009 @ 2:00pm | Report comment
I don’t get this. If you’re only interested in the win, why bother watching any game? Just check the results in the paper on Monday morning.
katzilla said | October 17th 2009 @ 3:25pm | Report comment
I only get like this when the TAB has my drinking money or 70 minutes into an All Blacks World Cup debacle.
Bay35Pablo said | October 17th 2009 @ 3:44pm | Report comment
Yeah, I understand that. I recall being 60 minutes into the Tigers v Cowboys final in 2005 and thinking “We might still lose it. It could be 1989 all over again. If I think we’ve won it I’ll jinx it ….”.
However, it also meant that when we won it was so much sweeter (that plus the 15 years of suffering without a finals appearance before then). I think I still have stubble rash from kissing and hugging grown men (don’t worry, I knew them and it wasn’t on the mouth – hell, the Italians get away with it).
So like Nam Turk says, swings and roundabouts. Being a Collingwood supporter might explain it … too many roundabouts not enough swings?
andrew said | October 18th 2009 @ 7:53am | Report comment
It’s nice to know there are other overly sensitive supporters around! Like you said if people like us can sit through it the victory is sweet. I did go to the 2007 final because I wanted redemption for ‘06 and that made the win a great one – of course I did disappear briefly after Crocker flattened Stewart because I was frightened of a Crocker sin binning and a revenge fuelled comeback by Manly.
Pippinu said | October 17th 2009 @ 4:31pm | Report comment
I don’t really know this feeling – my AFL team has never been in a grand final in my life time.
andrew said | October 18th 2009 @ 8:07am | Report comment
I’ve been spoiled rotten really. I’m guessing you’re a Footscray (Bulldogs) fan.
Pippinu said | October 18th 2009 @ 8:14am | Report comment
Yes – well – as they say – you can’t pick your family.
Can you pick your football team?
I’ve never believed you can.
Bay35Pablo said | October 18th 2009 @ 5:16pm | Report comment
Except for Sydney based Brumbies fans.
Oh and a lot of Man U fans.
Oh, and all the recent Chelsea fans ….
Chris said | October 19th 2009 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Are there actually Sydney based Brumbies fans? Here I was thinking you all hated us with the same passion we hated you!
Anyone who supports Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal (or for that matter any of the top clubs in the English, Spanish or Italian Leagues) IS NOT A REAL FAN – plain and simple (unless they were brought up supporting the team from childhood – or actually live near the area the team is named for.
Dogs Of War said | October 17th 2009 @ 4:45pm | Report comment
I have a similar experience, but only when attending Bulldogs finals matches. Never seen the Bulldogs win live. Sat through the 1998 GF (though I did leave the ground singing we are the best in New South Wales), and many other finals matches including the loss against Parra this year.
I’m sure I will eventually break my duck as watching sport live is the best.
andrew said | October 18th 2009 @ 8:25am | Report comment
Yes, to appreciate the skill and toughness of these players you have to see the game live.
The Bulldogs were magnificent in defeat this year. They missed out on the minor premiership due to a points deduction and dodgy penalty and then lost three players (2 of them illegally) in the prem final without a complaint.
Brett McKay said | October 18th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
This reminds me of the story from the 1997 ARL GF where two Manly supporters decided with 10 minutes to go – and Manly 10 points up – that they’d get the jump on everyone else and head for the Leagues Club early. The estimate was they could well have been crossing the Harbour Bridge by the time Newcastle scored the match-winning try in the dying seconds. As good a place to jump as anywhere…
Bay35Pablo said | October 18th 2009 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
As Nelson Muntz would say “Haw-haw!”
Greg Russell said | October 20th 2009 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Andrew, I have some sympathy for you, but I tend only to experience your nervousness with cricket and, oddly, netball.
There is an easy solution for your sort of problem: have some children.
andrew said | October 20th 2009 @ 4:04pm | Report comment
Greg, I’ve had two recently but that hasn’t lessened the nerves.
In fact they’ve given me another reason to escape!
Crosscoder said | October 26th 2009 @ 6:02am | Report comment
This type of “nervosa club sportova” hits me whenever the Sharks are televised.I sometimes watch the kickoff and the first few minutes.if the team muffs the first few play the balls,i will switch off and await the result.Then should they win,which is a lottery,I tend to go off my tree,pour a celebratory drink ,knowing full well this may well be the last victory of the year.
That is why i prefer to watch them at the ground.I know full well there are a few thousand others there,who will share my suffering andon the very rare occasion joy.
andrew said | October 26th 2009 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
Were you watching the prem final last year? I assume you turned it off after the first 5 mins! But don’t worry I didn’t watch it either – i was sure we were going to lose that one. We lost the Smiths and had played a ‘grand final’ at Suncorp. Also you had beaten us at home with great defence. I’m still not quite sure what happened in the prem final. I think it was a combination of us trying to get revenge on the judiciary (and your coach) and you getting too nervous.
Yes, you’re right about it being easier to contemplate losing with other supporters around you. Still, I could always find an excuse to go off to the toilet if things got a bit edgy, or go for a walk behind the scoreboard at Olympic Park. That’s where I spent the last ten minutes of last yrs qualifying final against the Warriors. Of course when I stuck my head around to see how long there was to go (about 3 mins) Vatuvei made the linebreak that cost us the game.