I wrote in these pages last week that us Collingwood supporters didn’t want the support of rival Victorian fans when it came to the AFL grand final and their conduct in the wake of Saturday’s match has done nothing to change my view.
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Thankfully here in Albury-Wodonga that we don’t have to contend with too many West Coast Eagles supporters but you wouldn’t have known that after 5pm on Saturday.
I was at the pub and you’d swear with the amount of carry-on when the final siren sounded that everyone had just won a premiership – even Carlton supporters who tasted victory just twice in 2018!
The reality is that Collingwood just lost a grand final and, with no guarantees about what might happen next year, it’s going to be a long off-season.
So here’s a list of retorts for all those “anti-fans” out there:
Adelaide: unlikely to sling much mud after their grand final choke last year. Has anyone found Tex Walker yet?
Brisbane: I’m still dirty with them after 2002-03. Thankfully they’ve hardly won a game since.
Carlton: After just two victories for the year, you almost start to feel sorry for the poor sods. I said “almost”. Their supporters must have forgotten what it’s like to celebrate anything.
Essendon: Talked a big game pre-season and then missed the eight. Haven’t won a final since 2004. I’d be keeping quiet with a record like that.
Fremantle: Am confident I’ll hear nothing from Dockers fans but, just in case, thanks for Chris Mayne. What a great grand final he played.
Geelong: Bucks has won as many finals in the past three weeks as Chris Scott has in the past five years.
Gold Coast: Who?
Greater Western Sydney: I think all seven of their supporters are 500km north of the Border.
Hawthorn: Six-love, six love. Thank you linesmen, thank you ball boys.
Melbourne: I’ve always found Dees fans pretty respectful and with no flags since 1964, you can understand why.
North Melbourne: Played in seven straight preliminary finals in the 1990s but been largely irrelevant since then.
Port Adelaide: Promised a lot and delivered little in recent years. They still wish they were the Magpies.
Richmond: A few Tiger fans took the opportunity to remind me they don’t hand out cups for preliminary final wins. I know that – just like they don’t hand them out for being the best side all year and then choking when it counts.
St Kilda: There’s no chance I’ll hear from a poor old Saints fan. They’re more cursed than Collingwood when it comes to grand final heartache.
Sydney: Clearly feeling the pinch of the AFL removing their ridiculous Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA). It becomes a fair bit harder to buy flags when the playing field is level, isn’t it?
Western Bulldogs: One premiership in 60-odd years is likely to ensure the Doggies remain humble.
West Coast: Well done, Eagles. As good as Collingwood was, the better side won on the day. Deserved winners.