Comments on: Why I can’t bear to watch the Storm in Grand Finals

By: andrew

andrew — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:17:09 +0000

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.

By: Crosscoder

Crosscoder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:02:18 +0000

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.

By: andrew

andrew — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 06:04:09 +0000

Greg, I’ve had two recently but that hasn’t lessened the nerves.
In fact they’ve given me another reason to escape!

By: Greg Russell

Greg Russell — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:21:57 +0000

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.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 05:01:24 +0000

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.

By: Bay35Pablo

Bay35Pablo — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:18:16 +0000

As Nelson Muntz would say “Haw-haw!”

By: Bay35Pablo

Bay35Pablo — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:16:04 +0000

Except for Sydney based Brumbies fans.

Oh and a lot of Man U fans.

Oh, and all the recent Chelsea fans ….

By: Nam Turk

Nam Turk — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:09:22 +0000

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.

By: Brett McKay

Brett McKay — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:21:39 +0000

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…

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:25:40 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:14:11 +0000

Yes – well – as they say – you can’t pick your family.

Can you pick your football team?

I’ve never believed you can.

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 22:07:38 +0000

I’ve been spoiled rotten really. I’m guessing you’re a Footscray (Bulldogs) fan.

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:53:04 +0000

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.

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:28:21 +0000

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!

By: andrew

andrew — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:16:42 +0000

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.

By: Dogs Of War

Dogs Of War — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:45:20 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:31:52 +0000

I don’t really know this feeling – my AFL team has never been in a grand final in my life time.

By: Bay35Pablo

Bay35Pablo — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:44:01 +0000

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?

By: katzilla

katzilla — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:25:19 +0000

I only get like this when the TAB has my drinking money or 70 minutes into an All Blacks World Cup debacle.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 04:00:37 +0000

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.

By: Pippinu

Pippinu — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 03:16:19 +0000

This article is hilarious.

I couldn’t understand where it was heading till the writer revealed he was a Collingwood supporter.

By: mattamkII

mattamkII — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:04:58 +0000

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.

By: bever fever

bever fever — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:40:26 +0000

What did you do in 1990 ?.

By: Midfielder

Midfielder — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:37:14 +0000

By: Nam Turk

Nam Turk — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:02:54 +0000

Uh…being a sports fan is about experiencing ups and downs. If you don’t know the agony, you’ll never appreciate the thrill.