I think I’m a pretty resilient person – I’ve lived through six COVID-19 lockdowns so far – and I think I’m a pretty normal sort of AFL supporter too.
I love my team and I suffer when they lose. I deeply resent teams that have poured misfortune, humiliation and hurt upon my team, and I quite justifiably have deep feelings that can only be satiated not just by their defeat by my team but by their downfall in general.
I would use the word schadenfreude if I didn’t think it pseudo-intellectual (if not self-satisfying) and the sentiment not quite strong enough.
But 2021 is messing with my mind, my comfort and my sense of wellbeing. I feel like the Christians in the 1600s. Everything was nicely ordered. They knew where they stood in the world, had God to love, devils to hate and bishops to respect, support and tell them what to think. And this mad scientist named Galileo Galilei said he had proof that the earth was moving. The earth was meant to be fixed, as were their beliefs. That’s how I feel. All my certainty has been cut loose and is drifting.
Hawthorn Hawks
I’m unsure if it is just Cats fans or all AFL supporters – maybe excluding Hawks fans – who really want Hawthorn to lose and lose badly. Do all people put an extra 30 seconds onto the 1989 grand final so another team wins? In fact I forget: did the Cats come back and win the game, and is Gary Ablett Sr a premiership player as well as a Norm Smith medallist? The Kennett curse was the most enjoyable four years for Geelong. From 2008 they suffered not a single loss to Hawthorn, some via kicks after the siren.
The 2021 season was always going to be risky for the Hawks. They had topped up their team with former champions who were recovering from serious injuries. They could have pushed for the top four, or the injury-prone players could have succumbed to injury. Unfortunately (for them) it was the latter. I enjoyed a narrow victory in Round 3, as it always is.
I noticed Hawthorn’s injuries build and their slow march down the ladder to the bottom two or three. And then something really strange happened. I wanted them to win, and when they did I was happy about it. The sand beneath my feet was shifting.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
West Coast Eagles
The 1990s was a decade of interesting music and also of much pain. West Coast in 1992 and 1994 claimed their first two premierships by pushing the Cats onto their knees, anointing them bridesmaids. No matter that it had been 1963 that the Cats last won the cup.
This year the Cats gave West Coast a 97-point thumping at Kardinia Park. This caused a little flakiness in the side. In Round 16 the Swans recorded a 92-point shellacking at the same ground. As I said at the time, the team had become a herd or Bambis. They still can’t pull their gaze from the car headlights. I don’t think they have changed. But I have. I am starting to support them. I want them to make the eight.
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood are not really my team’s enemy. They are more like the enemy of all AFL supporters. They have a huge supporter base and an even larger number of supporters who hate them. For me the qualifying final in 2019 resonates. But any game at the MCG in front of 80 per cent Magpie supporters is enough.
Then 2021 happens. Eddie McGuire humiliates both himself and the club (again) and is forced to retire. Nathan Buckley goes on a losing streak, humiliates himself and his club and is forced to resign. The Magpies start dwelling at the base of the ladder with a temporary coach and half the side out injured.
And then it happens. It used to be ABC – anyone but Collingwood. Then I start to barrack for them. I wanted them to beat Melbourne, Richmond and West Coast, and they did. I even wanted them to win when they played turgid football against free-flowing teams.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Richmond Tigers
Richmond is only a recent addition to my list of reviled teams. They were always my second team, dear to me from my youth and my godmother’s family. I have been cured the last few years. A close come-from-behind defeat in the 2019 preliminary final followed by a come-from-behind defeat in the 2020 grand final cured me of my ailment.
The relentless fan confidence certainly encouraged this, but ultimately the pointed overconfidence of the coach, captain and full-forward made it a fait accompli.
Now the mighty have fallen. Last year’s premiers have had a run of seven losses in nine games, and some of those losses are to the cellar dwellers. Two thumpings by the Cats gave me a nice warm feeling inside. There were lots of jokes about Ninthmond – hilarious to all but the fans who put up with 37 years in the wilderness.
But then they were locked out of the eight, no possibility of sneaking in, and all that feeling evaporated. They were in the same boat as North Melbourne. And I didn’t care – no, worse: I felt for their supporters.
So has 2021 destroyed your peace of mind? Have you been able to maintain your traditional rivalries?
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Windrince, I am not sure I am the one to ask. I can’t do a straight analysis article like say Chucka. I tried it with the Demons and Doggies and had to turn it into something else entirely. For me, I need something to say besides football. Even it is just to have a laugh or for the reader to have one. I tried to write one on the Abletts. It was becoming a novel. So I tried it on just a facet. The only one that grabbed me was the overwhelming sadness of what has happened. But that was no good, I wanted to be positive, not a downer on a champion family. So if you could write an article on the Abletts or one of them through your eyes, your feelings. I will read it. Good luck.
Windrince
Roar Rookie
Yep. My only problem is I can't think of anythink to write an article about. got any ideas yattz?
Brent
Guest
Righto
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Ahh 2007 Grand Final.... My 1st trip to Melbourne for Grand Final week. As a neutral, thank god a communication mix up between my mate and I meant we ended up missing out on Grand Final tickets. We spent the Day in the Casino instead, which I ended up walking out a K richer. Good times.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
I'd say that the umpires on the day got it right and the AFL are interpreting their own rules incorrectly - Wood didn't contact Hannebery below the knees, which is the rule, nor did he slide, which is the rules. The umpires adjudicated that correctly. It's not the umpires fault, nor Wood's, that Hannebery has weak knees. The rest of that report says that Sydney were on the wrong end of 3 decisions; it doesn't allude at all to any free kicks for the Bulldogs that were missed. 3 decisions don't decide a game, and it reads more like an appeasement of Sydney supporters than an actual review of the game, which is pretty poor because Sydney supporters have been banging on about this for 5 years now.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the generous comments Christie. I am not sure if you are in lockdown, but writing and reading articles is a good distraction. I can't really find a way to hate any of the top six. Maybe the Swans because of the last second goal goal by Nick Davis in the semi final. In fact Papley did it again to the Cats this year.
Brent
Guest
Sorry if I upset you. It was meant to be a bit of light hearted response to a light hearted article. I don't think we were robbed in the "we would have won apart from the umps" sense. But I do feel like a good contest by two good teams was ruined by bad umpiring. The AFL review of the umpiring found it to be below standard (https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afls-review-of-grand-final-finds-umpiring-was-not-up-to-the-standard-expected/news-story/4e760a1f4843a76ae52dc8b60ec163ea). Would you agree that if the AFL itself acknowledges that your team was hard done by in a grand final that you lost then you'd maybe have some lingering resentment about the whole thing? In Bud's defence, he significantly rolled his ankle in about the first 5 minutes and was fighting through an injury that probably would have seen him removed from any other game. And the Boyd goal was about the best grand final goal I have ever seen and it hurts everytime I accidently see it! :crying:
christy olsen
Roar Rookie
This is a great article: funny, relatable, well-written! And a fun question to ponder, too! Yes, I did find myself rooting for some unexpected teams this year, at least a little. Collingwood? Maybe a little pity for their horrendous mess, but not enough to cheer for them. Hawthorn? They're probably a little unlucky for having Kennett around, but then, I think they could have gotten rid of him if they'd really wanted to. The strange one for me is Melbourne. I actually wouldn't mind if they won it all.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Yeah ok. Neither GWS nor Sydney were dudded, they just couldn't get the job done. GWS lost it when they all pushed forward with a couple of minutes to go and then allowed JJ to run with the ball and kick it to Bont in a paddock who kicked a goal. Not sure you can blame the umpires for GWS' tactics and Bont's good skills. Sydney lost it when Bud didn't have the awareness to know that he was about to be run down by Dale Morris, and then Tom Boyd having the foresight and skill to pick the ball up and bang a goal from inside the centre square. Not sure how the umpires made that happen either.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
This was Garry not Steel. In 1981.
RT
Roar Rookie
A couple of possible reasons for people not minding Hawthorn that much. 1. Respect for Clarko. 2 At the time of the threepeat I always felt Hawthorn supporters weren't that bad, considering. Certainly not how a lot of people feel about Richmond recently, it would seem.
RT
Roar Rookie
Do buses in Geelong normally pick up naked passengers?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Your lads are brilliant at the moment l’m not expecting any miracles :thumbup:
Brent
Guest
Actually, I don't think it was the only reason, just a big contributing factor. Probably the supporters who should feel the most aggrieved are the GWS mob who were dudded the week earlier. Instead of getting beaten by the Dogs the Swans should have been flogged by the Giants :silly: I don't think (and never thought) that the Swans would have definitely won if there were less dodgy free kicks that directly resulted in Bulldog goals...I just think that they were denied a chance because the umps were swept up in the fairytale that was a Bulldogs flag...heck, I would have been rooting for them too if they had of been playing anyone else!
Maxy
Roar Rookie
He has taken young Willem Drew under his wing this year,tackling machine he is.Little Libba is in for a tough day at the office
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Essendon supporters are the worst. They don’t just brag that they won, they rub your nose in it and carry on like they’ve won the flag and started a dynasty and it’s all your fault. Even the other day when they only won cos the Dogs kicked woefully you’d have thought they’d beaten a team that hadn’t been beaten for a decade.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
It’s nice to hear that Sydney supporters still think the only reason they lost the 2016 granny was because of the umpires.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
He’s a gun a real danger!
Maxy
Roar Rookie
If thats the case that is a blow,the Raging Bull will have to get to work with his cohorts and try and nullify your advantage